Profession stockman

Stockmen attend to live farm animals, e.g. cattle, sheep, pigs, horses and poultry. Their duties may include e.g. feeding, watering, herding, grooming, weighing, catching and loading animals.

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Tasks stockman

• Herd or move livestock to desired locations, e.g. pastures for grazing, or to scales, lorries and enclosures.
• Weigh and measure foodstuffs, and mix feed, additives and medicines in prescribed portions.
• Monitor food and water supplies, and distribute feed and water to livestock.
• Drive lorries, tractors and other equipment.
• Clean barns, sheds, pens, yards and equipment, e.g. using disinfectant solutions, brushes, shovels, water hoses, pumps, etc.
• Groom, clip, trim, shoe and castrate animals, dock ears and tails, shear coats to collect hair, and mark livestock to identify ownership and grade using brands, tags, paint or tattoos.
• Milk animals, such as cows and goats, and collect eggs, honey, etc.
• Examine animals to detect illness, injury or disease, and to check physical characteristics, such as rate of weight gain.
• Care for sick animals, treat minor ailments and administer medications, vaccinations or insecticides as appropriate.
• Perform duties related to livestock reproduction, such as breeding animals within appropriate timeframes, performing artificial inseminations and helping with animal births.
• Keep records on animals, e.g. about feeding and breeding.
• Maintain farm machinery and buildings.

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