Livestock and Farm Maintenance Worker

Perform all duties required in the care, production, and maintenance of beef cattle, pigs and chickens on a diversified family farm.

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Feed and water livestock; provides supplemental feed and hay during winter months; breaks ice on water troughs and tanks during freezing weather.
• Graze cattle and goats in an open range located on a portion of the farm.
• Monitor animal health daily; identify sick or injured animals; administer basic care and medications as directed; notify owner of serious conditions.
• Assist with breeding, calving, farrowing, and chick hatching; assist cows, goats, and pigs during difficult or first-time births, including pulling calves/kids/piglets when needed.
• Be on call 24 hours per day, seven days per week (including nights, weekends, and holidays) to respond immediately to livestock emergencies such as animals escaping pastures or pens, sick or injured animals requiring care, birthing difficulties, or extreme weather events that threaten animal welfare (e.g., freezing temperatures requiring bedding, wind breaks, or relocation of animals).
• Castrate bull calves and male pigs using surgical methods; dock tails and clip needle teeth on piglets as required.
• Vaccinate, ear-tag, dehorn, sort, and load cattle and pigs.
• Weld steel to fabricate and repair H-braces, fence posts, gates, corrals, cattle guards, and farm equipment using arc (stick) and/or wire-feed (MIG) welding processes.
• Repair and maintain fences, corrals, pens, and barns, including cutting, bending, and welding metal components.
• Operate, maintain, and perform minor repairs on farm tractors, skid steer loaders, and other equipment to plant, cultivate, and harvest crops; haul hay bales; spread manure; clear land for new or replacement fencing; and improve field drainage.
• Plant, cultivate, and harvest a vegetable garden.
• Seed drill and maintain winter pasture (wheat, oats, and/or rye) for cattle grazing.
• Load and unload hay, feed, and other farm products by hand or with equipment.
• Clean and maintain livestock housing areas, remove manure, and spread bedding.
• Perform general farm maintenance, including clearing brush, digging ditches, and minor repair of equipment and facilities.

A worker must be able to lift 50 pounds repeatedly, work in all weather conditions, perform strenuous physical labor, and have experience welding and cutting steel, and using woodworking equipment for agricultural fencing, barn, and equipment repairs. Due to the nature of livestock production, the worker must live on the farm premises or nearby (employer-provided housing at no cost) and be available 24 hours per day for emergency animal care.

Rental or public accommodations

The employer will furnish free and convenient cooking and kitchen facilities to all workers so they may prepare their own meals. These facilities include a fully equipped kitchen with refrigerator, stove/oven, microwave, sink, cooking utensils, and adequate food storage space.

The employer will provide or pay for transportation and subsistence expenses from the worker’s place of recruitment (or home) to the employer’s place of employment in Aledo, Texas. Transportation will be provided by a common carrier (e.g., van, bus, or airline) or employer-arranged vehicle. Inbound transportation costs will be reimbursed to the worker no later than the first pay period after the worker completes 50% of the contract period.

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