Livestock Agricultural Assistant - Arkell Poultry & Equine Research Stations

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Livestock Agricultural Assistant - Arkell Poultry & Equine Research Stations

Location:

Arkell, ON, CA, N1H 6H8

Primary Category Page:
Staff and Management

Division:
Research Facilities

Requisition

Department:  OMAFRA Research Facilities
This position is covered by the Collective Agreement with the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation District 35 - Technician/Administrative/Research/Agricultural

If you are a current employee of the University of Guelph you must apply on the internal Career Page in order to be considered as an internal applicant.
Career Opportunities ()

General Purpose
Reporting to the Research Facility Foreperson, the Livestock Agricultural Assistant brings advanced knowledge and working experience to oversee the daily care, husbandry, and management of both a comprehensive poultry flock/hatchery and an equine herd. This role supports critical research initiatives by executing precise data collection protocols, adhering to strict animal care guidelines, and maintaining high standards of biosecurity, facility cleanliness, and operational safety.

Duties and Responsibilities

Manage various poultry categories (including commercial egg layers, broilers, roasters, turkeys, broiler breeders, heritage lines, and special needs lines) across multiple facilities and a specialized hatchery. Duties include health observation, artificial insemination, natural breeding, egg collection, incubation, hatching, chick processing, vaccinating, brooding, rearing, data entry, and humane euthanasia.

Manage a herd of up to 50–80 horses and ponies (including Standardbreds, Thoroughbreds, and OVC teaching animals). Monitor for health issues such as sickness, injury, lameness, and heaves. Duties encompass reproductive care (breeding, semen collection, assisting with AI, foaling), administering vaccinations (oral/injectable), hoof trimming, bandaging/poulticing, and deworming.

Safely operate farm equipment including loader tractors, skid steers, forklifts, trailers, and dump wagons.

Maintain accurate, organized written and computerized individual animal records for health, management, and breeding cycles.

Administer experimental treatments, handle and weigh animals, and feed specific experimental rations according to research timelines.

Collect, store, and submit research samples (e.g., blood, feed, fecal matter) in strict compliance with protocols and drug withdrawal regulations to ensure non‑compliant products do not enter the commercial stream.

Ensure rigorous sanitation of facility housing, data collection spaces, passageways, and common areas.

Perform routine and preventative maintenance on machinery, equipment, automated feed delivery systems, and computerized ventilation networks.

Maintain strict adherence to Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) guidelines, the Animals for Research Act, and institutional Health & Safety Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

Requirements

A two-year Associate Diploma in Agriculture plus one (1) year of current commercial experience in either the poultry or equine industry, or an equivalent combination of education and experience totaling approximately three (3) years of combined qualification.

Valid Ontario Class G driver’s license with proven ability to operate tractors, skid steers, and loaders.

First Aid/CPR certifications and Forklift certification are highly preferred

Must be willing to obtain a rabies vaccination.

Competent computer skills for data entry, emailing, and interacting with computerized livestock management programs and automated ventilation systems.

Strong communication and positive interpersonal skills. Demonstrated capability to work effectively within a collaborative team environment as well as…