What are the responsibilities and job description for the Open Range Livestock Herder position at Living Lands LLC?
By the middle of June livestock is on summer range. During this season the goats eat brush and invasive weeds, and they are biological control agents for these plants. We move the livestock often during this season to various lands, including the Forest Service. The number of locations is variable, often 5-10 locations. The brush and weed control efforts extend from mid-June to March, when we slow down the animal movement to prepare for production season.
The Open Range Livestock Herder will be required to be On-Call 24/7 and live on the range more than 50% of the time. Range Duties include: Assist with loading and unloading the livestock from livestock hauling trucks when moving between the seasonal weed control projects. Attends livestock that is grazing on range or pasture. Herds livestock and rounds up strays using trained dogs. Takes down and sets up of portable electric fencing and also working corrals. Beds down livestock near evening campsite. Guards Livestock from predatory animals and from eating poisonous plants. Drenches livestock. May examine livestock for signs of illness and administer vaccines, medications and insecticides according to instruction. May perform other farm or ranch chores related to the production and husbandry of livestock on an incidental basis. May sort and cut culls. May feed livestock supplementary rations. Must be able to ride and handle horses in a manner to assure the safety of the worker, co-workers and livestock. Employee must be willing to perform tasks capably and efficiently without close supervision, and live and work singly or in small groups of workers in isolated areas for extended periods of time. The job may entail operating a 4-wheeler for movement of livestock. Worker must be able to lift and carry items weighing up to 100 pounds. Most duties are performed out-of-doors and entail exposure to extreme heat and cold; dust, rain, snow, and wind; and herding hazards; poisonous snakes and predators common in range lands. General supervision will be provided by the ranch owner