Profession livestock advisor

Livestock advisors provide complex specialist advice to farmers and livestock breeders to ensure that their business and production is optimised.

Personality Type

• Investigative / Realistic

Related professions livestock

• Agricultural advisor
• Arable farm manager, field crop or vegetable
• Arable farmer manager, mixed crop
• Artificial inseminator
• Cattle breeder
• Cattle station helper
• Dairy producer
• Herdsman
• Livestock breeder, all other
• Livestock dealer
• Livestock farm manager
• Livestock farm worker
• Livestock farmer
• Livestock machinery installer
• Livestock machinery mechanic
• Pig breeder
• Poultry producer
• Quality inspector cattle, meat, fish
• Stockman
• Subsistence livestock farmer
• Veterinarian inspector
• Veterinarian, all other
• Veterinary aid
• Veterinary practitioner
• Veterinary technician
• Veterinary vaccinator

Knowledge

• Marketing principles

  The principles of managing the relationship between consumers and products or services for the purpose of increasing sales and improving advertising techniques.

• Consultation methods

  Techniques used to facilitate clear and open communication and the provision of advice between individuals, communities or the government, such as discussion groups or one-on-one interviews.

• Animal welfare legislation

  The legal boundaries, codes of professional conduct, national and EU regulatory frameworks and legal procedures of working with animals and living organisms, ensuring their welfare and health.

• Livestock farming systems

  The allocation of farming ressources in relation to livestock farming and husbandry systems.

• Health and safety regulations

  Necessary health, safety, hygiene and environmental standards and legislation rules in the sector of particular activity.

• Livestock species

  Livestock species and relevant genetics.

• Livestock reproduction

  Understand natural and artificial reproduction techniques, gestation periods and birthing for livestock. Understand the humane destruction of relevant animals in accordance with national legislation.

• Animal nutrition

  Aspects of how different animal species are fed and provided water. Different types of animal food, the quality criteria for animal food and methods to feed and give water to animals.

• Quality criteria for livestock feed production

  Quality assurance approaches, procedures and systems to allow for analysis of feeds and feed ingredients and determine their nutritional value. Evaluation of the functioning of a feed analysis laboratory and of its compliance to international standards.    

• Livestock feeding

  Food given to domestic animals in the course of animal husbandry. 

• Biosecurity

  Be aware of the general principles of the concept of bio-security and in particular, the disease prevention rules to be implemented in case of epidemics endangering public health.

• Agricultural production principles

  Principles and conditions of organic and sustainable agricultural production.

• Livestock selection principles

  Selection criteria of livestock and determination of livestock classes.  

• Customer relationship management

  The customer-oriented management approach and basic principles of successful customer relations that focus on interactions with customers such as technical support, customer services, after-sales support and direct communication with the customer.

• Crop production principles

  Principles in growing crops, the natural cycle, nursing of nature, growth conditions and principles of organic and sustainable production. Quality criterias and requirements of seeds, plants and crop.

Skills

• Make decisions regarding livestock management

  Decide on various aspects in providing technical support for livestock management. Gather information on work practices regarding the breeding and productivity of livestock.

• Manage livestock

  Manage production programmes, birth plans, sales, feed purchase orders, materials, equipment, housing, location and stock management. Manage the destruction of relevant animals in humane manner and in accordance with national legislation. Follow businesses requirements and integration into qualitative research and knowledge transfer.

• Advise on livestock productivity

  Advise on improving livestock health and productivity, strengthening efficiency and value of the livestock by using appropriate methods and taking into account the livestock species.

• Supervise hygiene procedures in agricultural settings

  Ensure that hygiene procedures in agricultural settings are followed, taking into account the regulations of specific areas of action e.q. livestock, plants, local farm products, etc.

• Use agricultural information systems and databases

  Use relevant information systems and databases to plan, manage and operate agricultural enterprise and production.

• Comply with agricultural code of practice

  Adhere to a decree which talks about a series of rules and practices in business transactions between horticultural growers and sellers.

• Use different communication channels

  Make use of various types of communication channels such as verbal, handwritten, digital and telephonic communication with the purpose of constructing and sharing ideas or information.

• Estimate costs in farm

  Provide cost analysis for relevant solutions and proposed actions taking into account the farm type and long term planning principles.

• Provide livestock advice and guidance

  Through observation and analysis on the farm, propose options, possible solutions, types and levels of advice required based on the customer's needs and by using appropriate techniques and methods.

• Research livestock production

  Collect and use the livestock production facts and the results of analysis as an input to scientific research. Research and keep up to date with any relevant developments in livestock production review and gather information to inform business decisions

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB