Livestock Farm Manager
Animal Sciences & Husbandry
Select, breed, care for, process, and market livestock and small farm animals.
What Livestock Farm Managers Do
Select, breed, care for, process, and market livestock and small farm animals.
Common Tasks
Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
- 1Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
- 2Advise students on academic and vocational curricula and on career issues.
- 3Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.
- 4Supervise laboratory sessions and field work and coordinate laboratory operations.
- 5Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
What You'll Learn
Types of Livestock Farm Managers
Work Environment
Locations
- • Livestock farms and ranches
- • Dairy operations
- • Feedlots and animal housing facilities
- • Hatcheries and aquaculture facilities
- • Agricultural extension offices and field sites
Schedule
Schedules often start early and can include weekends and seasonal peaks, with routines shifting based on weather, animal needs, and production cycles.
Physical Demands
Work typically involves a mix of office planning and hands-on time in barns, pens, or outdoor areas, including standing, walking, lifting, and handling animals or equipment. Conditions can be noisy, dusty, and outdoors in heat or cold, with safety risks around animals and machinery.
Salary & Job Outlook
National Employment: 932,500 jobs
Top Paying States
Why Demand May Grow
Demand can rise as producers adopt more data-driven breeding, nutrition, and animal-health practices to improve yields and meet food supply needs. Growth in specialty markets (local, organic, animal-welfare certified) can also increase the need for skilled livestock managers and supervisors.
Skills You'll Need
Pros & Cons
Pros
- • Hands-on work with animals and production systems
- • Clear pathways to supervisory and management roles
- • Transferable skills across livestock species and operations
- • Opportunities in both production and education/outreach
- • Work that can be mission-driven (food supply, animal welfare)
Cons
- • Long or irregular hours, including weekends and holidays
- • Physical work and exposure to weather, odors, dust, and noise
- • Risk of injury from animals, equipment, and biohazards
- • Income can be sensitive to market prices and disease events
- • High responsibility for animal health, compliance, and staffing
Common Questions About the Livestock Farm Manager Trade
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