Breeding Technician

What you need:

• A breeding technician requires a high school diploma. It is common for breeding technicians to have an animal science or veterinary technology diploma. Employers will provide on-the-job training for new employees to ensure they are well trained in their area of work.

What you do:

• As a breeding technician you are responsible for managing the breeding herd. This will include several aspects including heat checks, breeding, pregnancy checks, herd health management, accurate record keeping and proper animal handling.
• Identifying sows and gilts in heat is crucial to maintaining efficient production and allows the technician to breed for optimum results.
• Nutrition requirements of the gestating sow differ from that of a lactating sow. It is important that you feed her according to her own requirements for optimum results. Environment of the barn can also affect the health of the animals.
• Accurate record keeping is a crucial part of any production unit. Past records allow you to know the history of individual sows and assist in maintaining an efficient breeding herd.

What’s the best part?

• “Seeing a healthy, content sow ready to deliver a litter.”

What you need:

• A farrowing technician needs a high school diploma. If you have training in veterinary technology or pork production programs is also very helpful and will decrease the learning curve and be very helpful. Employers will provide on-the-job training for new employees.

What you do:

• It is your job to ensure proper handling and comfort of the sows, gilts and piglets. You must be able to recognize any difficulties when the sows are farrowing and provide assistance as needed. Feeding is very important at this stage as the sow is excreting large amounts of nutrients in her milk. Paying close attention to their nutrient requirements is essential.
• Processing piglets is your responsibility. This job includes docking tales, administering iron shots and castrating male piglets. You must also be able to recognize any disease or disorders in the sows or piglets and administer proper medications and/or vaccines.
• Accurate record keeping is essential. Records for individual sows and gilts will follow them through their life and assist other technicians to properly care for each animal.

What’s the best part?

• “I love nurturing and caring for the sows and piglets.”

Nursery Technician

What you need:

• A starting nursery technician requires a high school diploma, however, training in pork production is beneficial. Employers will provide on-the-job training for new employees.

What you do:

• As a nursery technician, you provide care for newly weaned pigs. You must monitor the pigs for health and growth and treat for any disease or disorders. It is important to maintain a proper environment for the animals. This includes monitoring and adjusting room temperature as the pigs grow and produce more heat on their own.
• As they are ready to move to the grow/finish wing of the barn you must weigh and sort the pigs accordingly. Accurate record keeping and data input for the automated control systems are crucial to keeping the animals healthy.

What’s the best part?

• “I enjoy watching the weanlings play and grow.”

Finishing Technician

What you need:

• A finishing technician must have a high school education and will be provided with on-the-job training. It is beneficial for the technician to have an animal science or veterinary technology diploma.

What you do:

• You are responsible for the health and growth of the animals in the grow/finish wing until they are ready for market.
• As a finishing technician, you must monitor barn environment and conduct daily health checks of the animals. Room temperature, humidity and air quality can all affect the health and growth of the animals.
• Ensuring feed and water availability may involve handling equipment and routine maintenance. You will also be responsible for updating data for the automated control systems.
• You will be responsible for selecting animals of appropriate market weight on a regular basis.

What’s the best part?

• “My job gives me hands on work with the animals and keeps me fit!”

Maintenance Technician

What you need:

• A maintenance technician should have a good general understanding of maintenance and operating mechanical systems. If you have training in a trade such as welding, carpentry or electrical, this will definitely be an asset. You must be capable of working independently and with a team.

What you do:

• You are responsible for maintaining barn equipment and facilities in good working order. This will include working with staff to build, develop or make adjustments to existing equipment and facilities as needed. You will always be looking for ways you can improve/maintain equipment.

What’s the best part?

• “My job varies a lot from day to day.”

Hog Transportation

What you need:

• You will require a class 1A driver’s license to operate a tractor-trailer unit. You will also need the Trucker Quality Assurance® program for the transport of live hogs.

What you do:

• You will load and haul animals according to producers’ bio-security protocols. During transport, you are responsible for maintaining health, comfort and safety of the animals on board. Animal injuries and losses mean diminished returns to producers.

What’s the best part?

• “I get to meet a variety of industry people everyday.”

Feed Mill Technician

What you need:

• You will require a high school education, knowledge of grains, good communications and mathematical skills. You will receive on-the-job training. It is important to have good work habits.

What you do:

• You are responsible for ensuring the feed mill is fully operational and clean. You will make feed for all rations used in the barn and keep inventory of what diets are on hand. Accurate record keeping is essential to ensure that medicated feeds remain separate from non-medicated feeds. This job requires that you receive grain and inspect it for quality.

What’s the best part?

• “Producing safe, high quality feed is very satisfying.”