Herdsperson - Farm 85311

Smithfield Foods•Woodland, NC

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Herdsperson assists Herd Technicians with routine animal care and general farm tasks to support animal welfare, including sanitation, animal removal, and animal movement. The position may operate farm equipment as directed and may involve training toward an advanced Herd Technician designation. The Herdsperson is responsible for the care of animals at the designated work site, particularly their health, growth, and breeding. The role includes feeding, watering, vaccinating, and carrying out general animal husbandry tasks and basic veterinary procedures; processing piglets; treating sick animals; maintaining production records; sanitizing farm areas; and helping maintain facilities and equipment. The Herdsperson must follow animal welfare, environmental, safety, and biosecurity requirements and may perform other duties as assigned. The position requires an average 48-hour work week, which may vary frequently. Weekend, evening, and holiday work is required as needed, and the employee must be available on call for emergencies. Work involves physical labor and exposure to animals, antibiotics, manure, dust, odors, and noisy conditions.

Requirements

Ability to do hard physical labor.
Strong commitment to teamwork.
Willingness to shower daily in and out of the facility.
Ability to follow instructions and deal with standardized situations.
Ability to work an average 48-hour work week, which can vary frequently.
Availability for weekend, evening, and holiday work as needed.
Must be on call for emergency situations, including power outages or personnel shortages.
Ability to work well with others in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
Ability to be respectful, approachable, and team oriented while building strong working relationships and a positive work environment.
Ability to occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 lbs.
Ability to stand, walk, handle or feel, reach, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, and talk or hear frequently.
Ability to work with and around a wide range of antibiotics, including penicillin.
Ability to tolerate blood, animal dander, manure, dust, odors, and frequently noisy conditions.

Nice To Haves

High school diploma or GED preferred.
Previous livestock handling is helpful.

Responsibilities

Feed, water, vaccinate, and perform general animal husbandry tasks, including basic veterinary procedures.
Assist with moving animals and maintaining efficient animal flows.
Sanitize and wash farm areas using high-pressure equipment.
Process piglets, including injecting medications, castrating, docking tails, and ear notching.
Maintain accurate production information and update department records.
Treat sick animals with pharmaceuticals by injection, oral application, or other required methods.
Follow Standard Operation Procedures, Production Manuals, and appropriate training guides.
Assist with facility and equipment maintenance.
Help maintain barn and office cleanliness and perform laundry duties.
Follow company animal welfare policies and procedures, including providing suitable environments, adequate water and feed, humane treatment, identification and treatment of animals needing care, and euthanasia guidelines.
Comply with environmental, safety, and biosecurity laws and procedures.
Maintain flexibility and adjust plans according to farm leadership's direction.
Operate mowers, tractors, trucks, buses, and other farm equipment as directed.
Perform other duties as assigned.