Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators
Career Overview
Specialized livestock workers:
- Carry out feeding, health and breeding programs on dairy, beef, sheep, poultry, swine and other livestock farms
Farm machinery operators:
- Operate and maintain farm machinery and equipment
They work on crop, livestock, fruit, vegetable and specialty farms.
Job Titles
Duties
Specialized livestock workers:
- Put together a feeding program
- Carry out a pasture or pen breeding program
- Perform or assist in performing animal husbandry activities
- Follow safety and bio-security procedures
- Recognize and treat certain livestock health problems
- Maintain livestock performance records
- Select livestock for sale
- Set and monitor water lines, air flow and temperature in barns, pens and chicken coops
- Train horses
- Maintain inventory and order materials
- May be responsible for the collection of semen and and the insemination of donor females
- May supervise general farm workers and harvesting labourers
Farm machinery operators:
- Operate farm equipment and machinery to till soil, plant, cultivate and harvest crops, and load and unload crops or containers of materials
- Perform equipment and machinery maintenance
- Monitor equipment and machinery operations to detect malfunctions
- Follow safety procedures
- May perform minor repairs to farm equipment and machinery
Special duties
Specialized livestock workers usually specialize in one type of farm animal, such as beef cattle, dairy cattle, poultry or swine.
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
3,320% Employed Full Time
37%Key aspects of the work in this occupation:
- Work takes place in a controlled indoor setting, however in some areas temperatures may vary
- Work also takes place outdoors in various weather conditions
- The workplace may contain strong odours
- Workers may be exposed to infectious bacteria and viruses because of treating sick animals
- Workers use machinery, tools and heavy farm equipment, such as tractors, which can pose the risk of injury
Career Pathways
Progression to supervisory 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
- Specialized livestock workers may need a college certificate or other training in agriculture or livestock husbandry
- There are no specific education or training requirements for farm machinery operators. However, a college certificate or courses related to farming, such as farm equipment mechanics, agricultural welding and pesticide application, are available
- Basic farm knowledge, usually obtained from working on a family farm, may be required
- A course or certificate in first aid may be required
Education programs in B.C.
The following program areas are related to this occupation:
- Agriculture Related
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.
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
3,320Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 105 | 3.2% |
| Kootenay | 135 | 4.1% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 1,725 | 51.9% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 85 | 2.6% |
| Northeast | 110 | 3.3% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 655 | 19.7% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 515 | 15.5% |
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)
670Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 10 | 0.4% |
| Kootenay | 10 | -0.7% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 440 | 0.6% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 10 | 0.1% |
| Northeast | 10 | 0.1% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 110 | 0.2% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 90 | 0.4% |
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 | 480 |
| Information, Culture and Recreation | 80 |
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services | 20 |
| Educational Services | 20 |
| Retail Trade | 10 |
Resources
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BC Dairy Association (BCDA)bcdairy.ca/dairyfarmers
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BC Fruit Growers' Association (BCFGA)www.bcfga.com
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BC Grain Producers Association (BCGPA)bcgrain.com
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BC Greenhouse Growers Associationwww.bcgreenhouse.ca
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British Columbia Landscape and Nursery Association (BCLNA)bclna.com
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BC Pork Producers’ Associationbcpork.ca/producers/bc-pork
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BC Poultry Association (BCPA)www.bcac.bc.ca/member-associations/bc-poultry-association
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BC Tree Fruits Cooperativewww.bctreefruits.com/
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BC Vegetable Marketing Commissionwww.bcveg.com
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British Columbia Blueberry Councilwww.bcblueberry.com
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British Columbia Cattlemen’s Association (BCCA)www.cattlemen.bc.ca
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British Columbia Cranberry Growers' Association (BCCGA)www.bccranberrygrowers.com
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British Columbia Grapegrowers Associationwww.grapegrowers.bc.ca
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Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Councilcahrc-ccrha.ca
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Certified Organic Associations of BC (COABC)www.certifiedorganic.bc.ca
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Horse Council British Columbia (HCBC)www.hcbc.ca
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Raspberry Industry Development Council (RIDC)www.bcraspberries.com
