RANGE SHEEPHERDER

Responsibilities

• Herds flock and rounds up strays using trained dogs.
• Attends to sheep grazing on the range to include: Herding sheep on the range or in pastures while riding on horseback, riding ATVs, or walking on foot.
• Beds down flock near evening campsite.
• Guards flock from predatory animals and from eating poisonous plants.
• Drenches sheep and/or goats.
• Examines animals for signs of illness and administers vaccines, medications and insecticides according to instructions.
• Range herding is completed when vegetation is not in a dormant state.
• May assist in lambing, docking, and shearing.
• Perform seasonal duties such as moving pregnant ewes to lambing grounds, identifying signs of labor, assisting with difficult births, identifying herd health issues, providing water, administering supplements, dispersing livestock, protecting vulnerable livestock, moving ewes and lambs to summer range grounds, and performing tasks off the range.

Requirements

• Must have 3 months experience with 800 - 1000 head flocks.
• One reference required.

Qualifications

• Knowledge and maintenance of rangeland to avoid overgrazing and prevent ingestion of noxious weeds.
• Ability to maintain a herd on a range without dispersing in large open areas.
• Predator control on the range.
• Identification and management of herd health issues including malnutrition, prolapse, and mastitis.
• Ability to safely catch lambs with a hook.
• Ability to move ewes and lambs to summer range grounds.

Skills

• Sheep and/or goat herding skills.
• Knowledge of rangeland management.
• Ability to identify and manage herd health issues.
• Basic first aid and emergency response skills.
• Ability to perform tasks both on and off the range.

Benefits

• Medical Benefits Plan chosen by the employee.
• MSU provides an additional $527 towards the medical benefits each pay period.
• Retirement fund contribution required.

Pay

$2,058.31 per month for US and H-2A workers.

Schedule

On call for up to 24 hours 7 days a week.