RANGE SHEEPHERDER

About the role

Required to be available up to 24 hours per day, 7 days a week and spend the majority of workdays on the range.

Responsibilities

• Administer emergency minor medical care to sick/injured pregnant ewes using roping methods to gently immobilize animal without causing undue stress
• Apply herbicides to noxious, invasive and poisonous plant species on grazing areas
• Assist in the shearing of sheep by herding sheep into corrals and through the shearing plant
• Assist with docking
• Assist with gathering and sorting lambs for shipping
• Assist with irrigating forage
• Assist with loading trucks with lambs and/or ewes for transportation
• Assist with sorting and cutting of culls
• Assist with tagging sheep when the shearing crew needs it
• Assist with weed control on grazing areas (including noxious, invasive and poisonous plant species)
• Attend to lambing ewes (including night checks)
• Care for newly born offspring
• Clean feeding equipment and the lambing shed
• Ensure newly born lambs stand and nurse
• Feed and water and ensure adequate provision of both
• Feed, water and tend to the dogs (both guard and working dogs) and horses
• Guard against predatory animals and from eating poisonous and/or noxious plants
• Identify and administer appropriate medication for various health issues such as internal parasites, respiratory issues, injuries, etc.
• Identify ewes that are preparing to give birth
• Intensely monitor and treat both mother and young vulnerable to the colder temperatures and sickness
• Keep accurate record of new lambs born
• Load bales of hay and/or sacks of grain onto truck or trailer used for feeding
• Maintain access to fresh water for animals
• Mix and feed supplemental milk to bum lambs
• Monitor animals for weight gain, thrift and health problems
• Monitor for birthing problems and take correct actions when problems are identified
• Monitor forage on grazing areas to identify dangerous plants and assess available feed
• Report to rancher on water/forage/weather conditions
• Round up strays using dogs and/or fence
• Spray livestock with insecticide

Qualifications

Minimum of 6 months experience with all job duties.