Herdsperson - Sow Farm Trainee

About the Role

When you join Smithfield, you become part of something special – a company that's sustainably feeding people around the world, producing good food the right way with respect for our people, animals, communities and planet. Smithfield offers challenging and rewarding careers where you can grow, contribute and make a real impact.

Compensation

Start pay: $16.75 per hour plus incentives. Full‑time, dependable work with career advancement opportunities.

Core Responsibilities

• Feeds, waters, vaccinates, and performs general animal husbandry tasks including basic veterinary procedures.
• Maintains flexibility with a willingness to change plans according to the direction of farm leadership.
• Assists in moving animals and maintaining efficient animal flows.
• Sanitizes and washes multiple areas on the farm using high‑pressure equipment.
• Processes piglets, including injecting medications, castrating, docking tails, and ear notching.
• Maintains accurate production information and updates all department records as required.
• Treats sick animals with a variety of pharmaceuticals by injection, oral application, or other methods as required.
• Follows Standard Operating Procedures, Production Manuals, or appropriate training guides as required.
• Assists with facility and equipment maintenance.
• Assists with maintaining barn, office cleanliness, and laundry duties.
• Follows the company’s animal welfare policies, providing a suitable physical environment, adequate water and high‑quality feed, humane treatment, proper identification, health care, and euthanasia guidelines.
• Responsible for complying with all environmental, safety, and biosecurity laws and procedures.
• May perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED preferred.
• Previous livestock handling experience helpful.
• Ability to perform hard physical labor.
• Strong commitment to teamwork.
• Willingness to shower daily in and out of the facility.
• Ability to follow instructions and handle standardized situations.
• Must be able to work an average 48‑hour work week, with frequent variations.
• Weekend, evening, and holiday work required as needed.
• On‑call for emergency situations such as power outages or personnel shortages.
• Ability to work well with others in a fast‑paced, dynamic environment.
• Respectful, approachable, and team‑oriented attitude, fostering strong working relationships and a positive work environment.

Work Environment & Physical Demands

• Vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, and ability to adjust focus.
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 lb.
• Frequent standing, walking, hand use, reaching, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, and verbal communication.
• Must be able to work with and around a wide range of antibiotics (e.g., penicillin).
• Must tolerate blood, animal dander, manure, dust, odors, and frequently noisy conditions.

Relocation Package

A relocation package is available for eligible candidates.