Livestock Manager
Vet Assistants and Technicians
A program that focuses on the application of biological and chemical principles to the production and management of livestock animals and the production and handling of meat and other products.
What Livestock Managers Do
A program that focuses on the application of biological and chemical principles to the production and management of livestock animals and the production and handling of meat and other products.
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 Managers
Work Environment
Locations
- • Ranches and feedlots
- • Dairy, poultry, or swine operations
- • Aquaculture farms and hatcheries
- • Meat processing and packing facilities
- • Agricultural extension offices and field sites
Schedule
Schedules often start early and can include weekends or seasonal peaks, with moderate time pressure and occasional on-call needs during births, health issues, or harvests.
Physical Demands
Work is a mix of office planning and hands-on time in barns, pens, or outdoor range conditions, with moderate standing, walking, and handling of equipment. You may need to bend, lift, and work around animals, odors, noise, and varying weather.
Salary & Job Outlook
National Employment: 924,600 jobs
Top Paying States
Why Demand May Grow
Demand can rise as producers adopt more data-driven feeding, breeding, and animal-health practices to improve efficiency and meet food-safety and animal-welfare expectations. Growth in aquaculture and specialty/locally branded meat products can also increase the need for skilled managers and supervisors.
Skills You'll Need
Pros & Cons
Pros
- • Work that combines science with hands-on animal care
- • Strong pathway to supervisory and operations leadership roles
- • Transferable skills across livestock, aquaculture, and meat production
- • Opportunity to improve animal welfare and food safety outcomes
- • Variety of work settings, from farms to processing facilities
Cons
- • Early mornings, weekends, and seasonal long hours are common
- • Exposure to weather, dust, odors, and biosecurity risks
- • Work can be physically demanding and sometimes hazardous around animals and machinery
- • Income and job stability can be affected by market prices and disease events
- • High responsibility for animal health, compliance, and worker safety
Common Questions About the Livestock Manager Trade
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