..

 

 

 

 

Horse Breeders breed and raise horse for competition, dressage, eventing, showjumping, riding for pleasure, and working.

 

ANZSCO ID: 121316

Specialisations: Serious breeders typically specialize on one breed of horse eg. thoroughbred horses.

Stud Master/Mistress; Stallion Manager; Brood Mare Manager;

 

Knowledge, skills and attributes

Breeding, raising and keeping horses is an expensive pursuit and one that requires a wide variety of knowledge, skills and abilities if one is to do it correctly. In order to be a successful horse breeder, you must be extremely knowledgeable and experienced in areas of equine behavior, management, breeding techniques, and reproduction.

You will need to be able to handle horses skillfully and confidently because you may need to facilitate breedings through both artificial insemination and live cover. This means that you must be confident and capable of handling mares in heat and powerful and excitable stallions.

You may be required to attend foalings, and you will surely need to be capable of assisting anytime the veterinarian, farrier or other equine professional comes to attend your horses.

In addition to hands-on horse handling skills and knowledge, you also need to be able to manage your staff and keep business records.


To be a successful horse breeder, you will need solid, working knowledge of all aspects of horse behavior and health. You will especially want to focus on subjects such as:

Reproduction
Physiology
Nutrition
Anatomy
Genetics

As a breeder, you’ll want the world to know about the quality of your horses, so you will also need to participate in shows and create advertising materials describing the best attributes of your stallions and mares and the foals they produce.

Hoof care, veterinary care, barn, stable and fence maintenance, vehicle upkeep, insurance costs, employee salaries and more are all costs that you will need to take into account when you are considering breeding horses.

(Source: Horses & Foals)

 

Duties and Tasks

• breeds and raises livestock for competition, dressage, eventing, show jumping, riding for pleasure and working

• maintains the health and condition of livestock

• provides pastures and fodder to maintain appropriate nutritional levels

• moves livestock to optimise feeding opportunities

• conducts farming operations

• oversees general farming activities such as maintaining stalls, fertilising, controlling pests and weeds, and growing fodder

• maintains fences, equipment and water supply systems

• organises the sale, purchase and transportation of livestock

• evaluates records of farming activities, monitoring market activity and planning production

• manages business capital including budgeting, taxation, debt and loan management

• may select, train and supervise staff and contractors.

Working conditions

Physically demanding
Requires driving
Working outdoors


Around 79% of people employed as Horse Breeders work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined.

Tools and technologies

Just the Job - A Career in Equine Breeding and Stable Procedures
https://youtu.be/NZ8lAV8pq1o

 

 

Education and training/entrance requirements

You usually need livestock farming experience to work as a Horse Breeder. While formal qualifications aren't essential, a Vocational Education and Training (VET) course in horse breeding may be useful.

You should seek out a degree in a subject such as equine reproduction, animal science and/or equine science.

 

 

Other Livestock Farmers includes Alpaca Farmer, Camel Farmer, Crocodile Farmer, Dog Breeder, Emu Farmer, Llama Farmer, and Ostrich Farmer.

 

ANZSCO ID: 121399

Knowledge, skills and attributes

• Knowledge of breeds

• Animal care skills

• Patience

• Discipline

• Attention to detail

• Communication skills

• Marketing skills

Crocodile hatching (Source: Hartley's Creek)	Emu Farmers (Source: The Land)
Llama Farmer (Source: ABC News)	Ostrich Famer (Source: Victorian Chamber of Commerce & Industry)

Duties and Tasks

• breeding and raising livestock for the production of meat, milk, eggs, skins, feathers, and wool

• monitoring and maintaining the health and condition of livestock

• providing pastures and fodder to maintain appropriate nutritional levels

• moving livestock to optimise feeding opportunities

• conduct general and minor farm maintenance jobs (e.g. cleaning paddocks, feeding livestock, halter training the young alpacas and cleaning water troughs).

• organising and conducting farming operations such as catching, drenching and milking livestock, sterilising machines, and collecting, grading and packaging produce

• directing and overseeing general farming activities such as maintaining pens, sheds and cages, fertilising, controlling pests and weeds, and growing fodder

• maintaining fences, equipment and water supply systems

• organising the sale, purchase and transportation of livestock and produce

• maintaining and evaluating records of farming activities, monitoring market activity and planning production accordingly

• managing business capital including budgeting, taxation, debt and loan management

• may select, train and supervise staff and contractors

Education and training/entrance requirements

You usually need livestock farming experience to work as an Other Livestock Farmer. While formal qualifications aren't essential, a Vocational Education and Training (VET) course in agriculture may be useful.

Did You Know? A Dog Breeder is an animal expert who cares for dogs while they produce new litters of puppies. A dog breeder is a professional who mates dogs to produce puppies and matches those puppies to new owners. This typically involves taking care of grown dogs and puppies and helping them find new homes by connecting with potential owners. (Source: NY Scotties)   Dog breeders produce and train dogs for shows, companionship or pets, with duties ranging from feeding, grooming and bathing dogs to providing medication, assisting in births, studying up on pedigrees, and maintaining breeding records. Many dog breeders specialize in caring for a particular breed of dog, such as Chihuahuas, Golden Retrievers, Scottish Terriers or Labradors. Duties and Tasks *Select and breed dogs according to their genealogy, characteristics, and offspring. *May require knowledge of artificial insemination techniques and equipment use. *May involve keeping records on heats, birth intervals, or pedigree.

Pig farmers are responsible for the daily care and management of pigs raised for the pork production industry. Pig farmers manage the care of pigs that will eventually be slaughtered and processed for sale—often for large commercial operations that have thousands of animals on site. These large farms that specialize in one phase of pig growth and production are more prominent than farrow-to-finish farms.

Pig production involves the management of people and financial, technical and natural resources for the profitable production of pigs. Pig production is mainly an intensive farming operation and occurs in all states of Australia.

New technologies and modern management approaches are revolutionising pig production and helping to establish a basis for future investment and growth.

A farm that raises pigs is called a piggery.

There are three main types of pig farms, according to the United States Department
of Agriculture (USDA):

•  Farrow-to-finish farms raise piglets from birth to slaughter weight, which is usually 108Kg to 122Kg.

•  Feeder pig farms raise piglets from birth to somewhere in the range of 4.5Kg to 27Kg, when they are sold to finishers.

• Finally, finisher farms buy feeder pigs and raise them to slaughter weight.

ANZSCO ID: 121318

Alternative names: Piggery Enterprise Manager; Piggery Manager;

Specialisations: Pig Farmers may specialise in the type of pig they produce. Three are common in pig production - Landrace, Large White & Duroc. The remaining five breeds tend to be used by outdoor producers: Tamworth, Wessex, Saddleback, Hampshire, Berkshire and Large Black.
  
Knowledge, skills and attributes
To be successful in this role, you’ll generally need the following skills and qualities:

• Physical stamina: Pig farmers must be able to be on their feet for long periods of time, lift, and bend—especially those working on small farms.

• Analytical skills: Pig farmers must monitor and assess the health of the pigs and quality of the piglets they produce.

• Interpersonal skills: Most commercial pig farms require many staff members, and often, pig farmers must be able to effectively supervise and work with others on the farm.

(Source: Your Career)

Duties and Tasks

The job generally requires the ability to perform the following duties:

• Distributing food to pigs

• Observing animals for signs of illness and giving medication when necessary

• Performing facility maintenance

• Checking for proper ventilation and temperature conditions

• Assisting with problem births

• Performing artificial insemination or other breeding duties

• Coordinating waste removal

• Transporting stock to farms or processing plants

• business monitoring and evaluation

• management of the production system

• total quality management and control

• financial management

• product marketing

• managing human resources.

Working conditions

The work of a pig farmer may involve being exposed to the elements and extreme temperatures from time to time, although commercial pig farming is generally conducted indoors in climate-controlled buildings.

As with most farming and livestock careers, a pig farmer often must work long hours that include nights, weekends, or holidays.

Pig farmers also work closely with large animal veterinarians to ensure the proper health of their animals through vaccination and medication protocols. They may also consult animal nutritionists and livestock feed sales representatives while formulating diet plans.

Education and training/entrance requirements

Nearly all pig farmers have (at minimum) a high school diploma, with many holding degrees in areas such as animal science, agriculture, or a closely related field. Coursework for these degrees usually includes courses in animal science, production, meat science, anatomy and physiology, genetics, reproduction, nutrition, ration formulation, technology, business administration, and agricultural marketing.

 

Poultry Farmers breed and raise chickens, turkeys, ducks and other poultry for eggs, meat and breeding stock.

Most poultry farmers raise one species of fowl for a specific purpose. Nearly two-thirds of poultry revenues come from the production of broilers, which are young chickens raised for meat. Approximately one-quarter of poultry revenues come from egg production. The remaining poultry revenues are derived from the production of other species such as turkeys, ducks, game birds, ostriches, or emus.

Most farms that produce broilers are large commercial operations involved in indoor broiler production. Other types of broiler farming are free-range broiler production or organic broiler production.

 

Did You Know? Terms for Types of Chickens Bantam: A diminutive breed of domestic fowl. Boiler: A chicken 6 to 9 months old. Broiler: A cockerel of 1 - 1.5Kg, at 8 to 12 weeks old. Cock: A male chicken, also called a rooster. Cockerel: A young rooster, under 1 year old. Fryer: A chicken of 1.5 - 1.8Kg, at 12 to 14 weeks old. Hen: A female chicken. Point-of-lay Pullet: A young female, just about to lay, near 5 months old. Pullet: A young female chicken, under 1 year old. Roaster: A chicken of 1.8 - 2.7Kg, over 12 to 14 weeks old. Rooster: A male chicken; also called a cock. A Rooster (Source: Almanac)

ANZSCO ID: 121321
  
Alternative names: Chicken Farmer;

Specialisations: Poultry Farmers can specialise in egg, meat production or breeding stock.

Knowledge, skills and attributes

• Breed selection: knowledge about how and where to order chicks or pullets; know the difference between purebreed and commercial hybrid chicken breeds

• Brooding and Chick Care: know how to receive and properly handle day-old chicks

• Chicken Health: understand the importance of sanitation and biosecurity on the farm; be familiar with pathogens common to poultry

• Nutrition: be familiar with the daily nutrient requirements of all types, stages of poultry

• Know how to look after pullets

• General management: know how to hold a bird; know how to detect evidence of rodents; know how to differentiate a rooster from a hen or a cockerel from a pullet.

• Know the Australian law about the minimum space requirements; understand the role of light and ventilation

• Understand the value of manure as fertilizer

• Productivity: be able to recognise a productive bird by observing physical signs (such as the comb and legs

• Culling poorly performing hens

• Food safety regulations when selling eggs

• Selling the product: knowledge of the value of eggs

• Economics: know how to evaluate the economics of egg production; and meat production

 

 

(Source: Your Career)

 

Duties and Tasks

Routine responsibilities for a poultry farmer include:

• Distributing feed

• Administering medications

• Cleaning enclosures

• Ensuring proper ventilation

• Removing dead or sick birds

• Maintaining facilities in good working order

• Monitoring flock behaviour to detect any signs of illness

• Transporting birds to processing plants

• Restocking enclosures with young birds

• Keeping detailed records

• Overseeing various poultry farm employees

Working conditions

Poultry producers work in conjunction with poultry veterinarians to ensure the health of their flocks. Livestock feed sales representatives and animal nutritionists may also advise poultry producers on how to create nutritionally balanced rations for their facilities.

As is the case with many animal farming careers, a poultry farmer may be required to work long hours that can include nights, weekends, and holidays. Work may be carried out in varying weather conditions and extreme temperatures. Workers may also be exposed to diseases that are commonly found in poultry waste products, such as salmonella or E. coli.

Education and training/entrance requirements
  
You usually need livestock farming experience to work as a Poultry Farmer. While formal qualifications aren't essential, a Vocational Education and Training (VET) course in agriculture may be useful.

 

 

 

Sheep Farmers breed and raise sheep for wool, meat and breeding stock. This includes the raising of fat lambs, wool growing and harvesting, and sheep breeding.

Sheep and wool farming involves the production of meat and wool for profit. Successful farming requires the management of livestock, the farm property, people and finances. Sheep and wool production is carried out in all states, and across a wide range of climates.

The Australian sheep and wool industry is one of Australia’s oldest and best known industries. In the drier parts of Australia, sheep are often found on very large properties (stations) where they feed on native shrubs. Mustering and moving (droving) sheep can involve working with horses, motorbikes and sheep dogs.

In medium to higher rainfall areas, sheep are often found on smaller properties usually as part of a mixed farming operation. These sheep are often fed on non-irrigated pastures or on crop residues, and are more closely monitored and managed.

ANZSCO ID: 121322
  
Alternative names: Shepherd,
  
Specialisations: Stud Sheep Farmer, Wool Grower,

Knowledge, skills and attributes

• Sheep health: know how to take a rectal temperature; recognise signs for internal parasites; how to calculate dosage of a vaccine and de-wormer; be able to develop a biosecurity plan;

• Birthing: recogise when a ewe is about to give birth; know how to deliver a lamb; attach an ear tag;

• Sheep nutrition: understand how digestion works in a ruminant; balance a feed ration for pregnant ewes and feeder lambs; train a lamb to drink from a bottle (when applicable);

• Sheep Behaviour: understand how sheep behave in different situations; know how to load sheep onto a trailer; know how to restrain an animal

• Breeding and Reproduction: keep production records; understand the basics of articial insemination (AI);

• Sheep Facilities and other Farm Facilities: design, adapt and /or select facilities that can be cleaned and disinfected efficiently, know how to provide hay and the storage of hay; know how to check there is efficient water,

• Fencing and Pastures: understant the basics of rotational grazing; be able to evaluate a pasture for quantity and quality; how to drive a corner fence post; be able to recogise poisonous plants;

• Sale of sheep and sheep products: know how to determine when an animal is ready for market; know the grades of sheep (both quality grades and yield grades); identify marketing options;

• Wool: be able to properly prepare sheep for the shearer; know how to properly store wool to maintain quality;

• Financial management: how to select an effective financial record keeping system; know where to obtain low interest loans or grants;

• Social interactions: know your neighbours; know how to be a positive influence in your community; develop a working relationship with your veterinarian; know how to attract and keep effective farm workers

(Source: Personalised Sydney Tours)

Duties and Tasks

Sheep farmers organise and manage sheep and wool production, which includes breeding and raising sheep, sale of sheep meat and wool, budgeting and business management, and staff management. They also care for the maintenance of the property including fences, equipment and water supply systems.

Working conditions

Sheep farmers work on the farm in an office setting and outdoors in all kinds of weather. During breeding seasons and prime sales periods they may work long hours. They work with animals that may bite and kick, and operate heavy machinery. This requires them to adhere to occupational health and safety standards to reduce the risk of injury.

Tools and technologies

Sheep farmers use heavy equipment such as tractors, and hand tools to maintain vehicles and fences. Chemicals are commonly used with farming livestock. Protective clothing such as gloves, goggles, coveralls, and steel toe boots are worn to minimise risks. Sheep farmers need to be proficient with computers and may need to use specialised farm management software.

Education and training/entrance requirements

It is possible to work as a sheep farmer without any formal qualifications and get training on the job. However, entry into this occupation may be improved by obtaining a qualification in agriculture or a related area.

 

The Amazing Biggest Sheep Farm in Western Australia
https://youtu.be/4TZ_gJRer1E

 

 

 

 

 

Livestock Farm Workers perform routine tasks in livestock, egg and wool production.

 

 Duties and Tasks

• patrolling, inspecting and reporting on the condition of livestock

• providing livestock with feed and water

• assisting with maintaining the health and welfare of livestock

• mustering and droving livestock to milking and shearing sheds and between paddocks to ensure sufficient feed is available

• washing and cleaning udders, and attaching milking machines to udders and milking cows

• collecting eggs and placing in incubators

• herding sheep for shearing and keeping mobs separate during shearing

• spreading fleeces on skirting tables for classing, pressing wool and branding bales

• exercising horses by walking, riding, leading and swimming, and attending to horses at track work, barrier trials and races

• cleaning stables and hatcheries, storing bedding and performing minor repairs on fixtures, buildings and fences

• assembling, preparing and storing horse gear

 

Education and training/entrance requirements

You can work as a Livestock Farm Worker without formal qualifications, however, they may be useful. A course in agriculture might be helpful.

 

 

 

RRelated Jobs or Working with these Jobs

Animal Attendant Trainer	Beekeeper	Biosecurity Officer	Farmer
Farrier	Horse Groomer	Jillaroo/Jackeroo	Livestock Transport  Driver
Primary Products Inspector	Shearer	Veterinarian	Wool Classer

 

 

Materials sourced from/span>
Jobs & Skills WA [Sheep Farmer; ]
Open Universities Australia/a>,
Britannica;
Indeed [How to become a Dog Breeder;; ]
Horse & Foals [How to become a Horse Breeder; ]
Labour Market Insights [Horse Breeder;]
My Majors [Dog Breeder Skills;]
Acacia [Other Livestock Farmer; ]
The Balance Careers [Pig Farmer; Poultry Farmer;  ]
University of Maine [Farmer Skill and Knowledge Checklist: Poultry; Sheep Production; ]
Dept of Primary Industries [Pig breeds; ]
Food & Primary Skills Victoria [Sheep & Wool; Pigs;
Your Career [Livestock Farmer; Mixed Livestock Farmer; Other Livestock Farmer; Dairy Cattle Farmer; Goat Farmer; Sheep Farmer; Beef Cattle Farmer; Pig Farmer; Deer Farmer; Poultry Farmer; Mixed Crop & Livestock Farmer; Horse Breeder; Livestock Farm Worker;]

 

Jobs involving Horses