Feedyard Trainee - Cattle, Feed, Mill or Yard Departments

JOB TITLE: Feedyard Trainee – Cattle, Feed, Mill, or Yard Departments

REPORTS TO: Department Manager

FLSA STATUS: Hourly, Ag-exempt

FUNCTION: Learns department roles, responsibilities in preparation for a management role in the future. Performs the following duties personally or through subordinates.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Other duties may be assigned.

• May supervise employees on a limited basis. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities may include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

• Assigned duties as they pertain to specific departmental roles and responsibilities. May include production job assignments in the area of experience and education for management preparation.

• Complies with applicable OSHA, FDA, and EPA regulations; maintains appropriate compliance records.

• Sets a positive example for employees by modeling safe work practices and following safety rules and policies. Communicates critical safety information to employees by conducting regular safety training; monitors workplace for unsafe/non-compliant behavior.

• Participates in the development of department capital and operating budgets; manages expenses by studying historical data, anticipating needs, and researching costs.

• Manages department supplies inventory by researching costs, designing inventory systems, determining inventory levels, anticipating needed supplies, and approving orders.

• Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; participating in professional societies.

DEPARTMENT SPECIFIC ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Cattle:

• Inspects incoming loads of cattle for miscounts, sick animals, or other inconsistencies between received load and A report; checks in cattle; records load information.

• Utilizes a horse to ride through assigned pens and identify sick animals by observing outward signs of distress; segregates sick cattle for treatment by driving them to nearest hospital pen; calls deads in for removal.

• Moves/drives cattle in a low-stress manner.

• Assists in the shipment of fat cattle by opening gates, driving cattle to shipping areas for weighing; counting cattle and separating strays; checking withdrawals.

• Medically treats livestock according to protocols established by management and consulting veterinarian; administers treatment in a humane manner.

• Internally examines dead animals to determine the cause of death. Processes cattle by ear tagging, administering vaccines, implants, parasitics, and other preventive measures; sorts, re-implants, mass treats, and re-vaccinates cattle according to established protocol; administers vaccines and treatment according to label specifications.

• Ensures that no animal leaves the facility without meeting applicable withdrawals by maintaining thorough and accurate records.

Feed:

• Monitors cattle intake and assigns subsequent distribution of feed by familiarizing self with cattle eating patterns according to gender, days on feed, weather, and breed; maximizes feed intake of cattle by following guidelines issued by consulting nutritionist.

• Ensures accurate feed delivery by monitoring feed bunks and assessing feed distribution, quantity, type, and timeliness of delivery.

• Ensures that newly received cattle are fed in a timely manner by coordinating feeding with the cattle department.

• Minimizes truck downtime by scheduling maintenance/repair; develops and implements feed truck preventative maintenance program.

• Maintains cattle feeding records by compiling, entering, and analyzing information.

• Fills in when a driver is absent or as necessary by operating a feed truck, hay machine or tractor.

Mill:

• Minimizes mill downtime by completing maintenance requirements and scheduling maintenance/repair; develops and implements mill preventative maintenance program.

• Monitors quality control of commod