Livestock labourers
Career Overview
Livestock labourers assist other farm workers to:
- Raise cattle, poultry and other animals
- Help with feeding, health and breeding programs
- Process animal products
- Maintain and repair farm equipment and buildings
- Work on livestock farms
Job Titles
Duties
Livestock labourers:
- Feed and tend livestock and poultry
- Milk cows, goats, manually or with a machine
- Sort, brand and handle animals
- Maintain or assist in the maintenance of facilities and farm infrastructure, including cleaning stables, barns, barnyards and pens
- Assist with breeding activities
- May monitor health of animals and provide care
- May prepare animals for transportation
- May operate and maintain farm machinery and equipment
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
3,030% Employed Full Time
37%Key aspects of the work in this occupation:
- Work takes place both indoors and outdoors, so workers may be exposed to various weather conditions
- Workers use machinery, tools and heavy farm equipment, such as tractors, which can pose the risk of injury
- Strong odours are common on a farm
- Farmers may be exposed to chemicals, such as pesticides, and dust and sand in the workplace
- Workers may also be exposed to infectious bacteria and viruses as a result of treating sick animal
- Workers may be exposed to enough noise to affect hearing
- Some machinery can cause a vibrating or back and forth motion in the body
Career Pathways
Progression to other livestock worker positions is possible with experience.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.
For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
- There are no specific education or training requirements
- Basic farm knowledge, usually obtained from working on a family farm, may be required for employment
- A course or certificate in first aid may be required
Education programs in B.C.
Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Watching gauges, dials or other indicators to make sure that a machine is working properly.
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
3,030Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 210 | 6.9% |
| Kootenay | 130 | 4.3% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 1,605 | 53.1% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 120 | 4.0% |
| Northeast | 105 | 3.5% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 480 | 15.9% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 380 | 12.6% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)
490Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 20 | 0.3% |
| Kootenay | 0 | -0.5% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 320 | 0.7% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 10 | 0.1% |
| Northeast | 0 | 0.1% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 70 | 0.1% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 60 | 0.3% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Agriculture and Fishing | 300 |
| Manufacturing | 70 |
| Information, Culture and Recreation | 70 |
| Repair, Personal and Non-Profit Services | 10 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 10 |
Resources
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Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Councilcahrc-ccrha.ca
