Animal Caretaker

Columbus Junction, IA

EOE/Vet/Disability

• Must take an active role in the safety program, including following safety procedures, enforcing policies, and participating in continued training.
• Must take an active role in the bio-security program, including enforcing policy and participating in continued training.
• Must recognize and report any broken or faulty equipment to a supervisor.
• Meet company expectations for attendance and punctuality.
• Follow all rules and procedures from the employee handbook and from supervisors.
• Attend all mandatory meetings and training and be willing to participate in system improvement teams.
• Maintain a good working relationship with all co-workers.
• Be receptive to constructive criticism from co-workers and supervisors.
• Perform all required duties in a timely manner as outlined in the SOP (Standard Operating Procedure).
• Understand and demonstrate farm bio-security requirements.
• Achieve PQA+ (Pork Quality Assurance Training).
• Understand and demonstrate correct handling techniques for animals of all ages.
• Understand and demonstrate safe and efficient power-washing techniques (under indirect supervision).
• Understand and demonstrate correct methods of medication handling and storage.
• Understand and demonstrate correct methods of euthanasia of animals.
• Understand and demonstrate correct methods of dead-animal disposal (incinerator, composting, and other forms).
• Understand and demonstrate correct methods of treating and vaccinating for animals of all ages.
• Understand and demonstrate all aspects of piglet processing including castration.
• Understand and demonstrate general housekeeping and sanitation skills (e.g., laundry, showers, medication rooms).
• Understand and demonstrate artificial insemination protocols and procedures under direct supervision.
• Understand and demonstrate semen handling, heat detection, and breeding of weaned sows, gilts, and opportunity animals under direct supervision.
• Understand and demonstrate proper feeding techniques in breeding, gestation, and lactation.
• Understand and demonstrate proper sow monitoring in farrowing.
• Understand and demonstrate proper day-0-3 pig care.
• Understand and demonstrate proper sorting and fostering techniques.
• Understand and demonstrate proper manure feedback techniques.
• Understand and demonstrate proper prostaglandin use.
• Ensure all bio-security procedures outlined by Tri Oak Foods are followed.
• Ensure all animal welfare procedures outlined by Tri Oak Foods are followed.
• Perform all other duties as may be assigned.

• Willingness to listen and learn.
• Ability to be a team player.
• Able to work in a physically demanding environment.
• Able to work weekends and holidays as required.
• Display honesty, trustworthiness, and dependability at all times.
• Show pride in work well done.
• Be respectful of others.
• Maintain a strong work ethic.
• Show initiative to seek additional work upon completion of a task.

• Able to lift in excess of 50 lbs., move up to 100 yards daily, lift 15 lbs. repeatedly on a daily basis from side to side for at least one hour. Push/pull a minimum of 500 lbs. in a cart with wheels when required.
• Capable of repeated actions.
• Responsive to visible signs of animal discomfort.
• Responsive to verbal alarms and sounds of animals.
• Effectively communicate orally and in writing with colleagues and company contacts.
• Move, load, and unload animals weighing 600 plus pounds.
• Walk and stand for long periods on different surfaces, including concrete.
• Climb in and out of crates and over obstacles.
• Climb different types of ladders, including feed-bin ladders.
• Maintain balance on all surfaces.
• Retain and perform written and spoken instructions.
• Must not own or live near any swine, and must not live with anyone who has contact with swine.

• During summer months outside temperatures can exceed 100 °F for the entire scheduled workday.
• During winter months outside temperatures can fall below zero for the entire scheduled workday.
• During and after heavy rains or snowfalls, roads in and around the farm can become extremely muddy, snow-covered, icy, and difficult to maneuver.
• Noise inside or outside barns can become very loud…