Herdsperson 4 - BS 7082

Smithfield Foods • Laurel Hill, NC

6d

About The Position

The Herdsperson assists Herd Technicians with routine animal care and general farm tasks to support animal welfare, including farm sanitation, animal removal, and animal movement. The role provides care for animals at the designated work site, with particular attention to their health, growth, and breeding. The employee may operate mowers, tractors, trucks, buses, and other farm equipment as directed, and may train toward an advanced Herd Technician designation.

The position requires following animal welfare, environmental, safety, and biosecurity policies and procedures. Work may involve physical labor, animal-care procedures, cleaning and sanitizing farm areas, and assisting with facility and equipment maintenance. The schedule averages 48 hours per week and may vary frequently; weekend, evening, holiday, and emergency on-call work may be required.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED preferred.
• Previous livestock handling is helpful.
• Ability to perform hard physical labor.
• Strong commitment to teamwork.
• Willingness to shower daily when entering and leaving the facility.
• Ability to follow instructions and handle standardized situations.
• Ability to work an average 48-hour work week, which may 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 perform the essential duties with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Vision abilities including close vision, distance vision, and ability to adjust focus.
• Ability to occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to frequently stand, walk, handle or feel objects, reach, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, talk, and hear.
• Ability to work with and around a wide range of antibiotics, such as penicillin.
• Ability to tolerate blood, animal dander, manure, dust, odors, and frequently noisy conditions.

Nice To Haves

• Previous livestock handling experience.

Responsibilities

• Feed, water, vaccinate, and perform general animal husbandry tasks, including basic veterinary procedures.
• Adapt plans as directed by farm leadership.
• 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 using pharmaceuticals administered by injection, oral application, or other required methods.
• Follow Standard Operation Procedures, Production Manuals, and applicable training guides.
• Assist with facility and equipment maintenance.
• Help maintain barn and office cleanliness and perform laundry duties.
• Follow animal welfare policies and procedures, including meeting animals’ physical needs, providing adequate water and high-quality feed, humane treatment, identification and appropriate care of animals needing health care, and euthanasia guidelines.
• Comply with environmental, safety, and biosecurity laws and procedures.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED