Overview
Outlook
Data
Training
Description
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 are employed on crop, livestock, fruit, vegetable and specialty farms.
Job Titles
- Horse trainer
- Shepherd
Main Duties
- Perform or assist in performing animal husbandry activities
- Implement pasture or pen breeding programs
- Develop and implement feeding programs
- Follow safety and bio-security procedures
- Detect and treat certain diseases and health problems in livestock
- 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 as required
- May be responsible for the collection of semen and the insemination of donor females
- May supervise general farm labourers.
Workplaces
- Crop farms
- Fruit farms
- Livestock farms
- Specialty farms
- Vegetable farms
Skills
- Equipment and Tool Selection
- Management of Material Resources
- Operation and Control
- Operation Monitoring of Machinery and Equipment
- Preventative Maintenance
Abilities
- Multi-Limb Coordination
- Static Strength
- Body Flexibility
- Control of Settings
- Dynamic Strength
Personal Attributes
- Adaptability
- Independence
- Attention to Detail
- Collaboration
- Leadership
Similar Occupations
- Managers in agriculture (80020)
- Livestock labourers (85100)
- Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors (82030)
Source: OaSIS
Employment Outlook
The employment outlook will be very good for Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators (84120) in Prince Edward Island for the 2022-2024 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
- Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.
- Several positions will become available due to retirements.
- There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Here are some key facts about Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators in Prince Edward Island:
- Approximately 300 people work in this occupation.
- Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators mainly work in the following sectors:
- Agriculture (NAICS 111, 112, 1151, 1152): 87%
- The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
- Full-time workers: 91% compared to 84% for all occupations
- Part-time workers: 9% compared to 16% for all occupations
- 37% of specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators work all year, while 63% work only part of the year, compared to 59% and 41% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 34 weeks compared to 41 weeks for all occupations.
- 7% of specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators are self-employed compared to an average of 13% for all occupations.
- The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
- Men: 83% compared to 51% for all occupations
- Women: 17% compared to 49% for all occupations
- The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
- no high school diploma: 31% compared to 11% for all occupations
- high school diploma or equivalent: 39% compared to 28% for all occupations
- apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 12% compared to 11% for all occupations
- college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor’s: 10% compared to 25% for all occupations
- bachelor’s degree: 7% compared to 17% for all occupations
- university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 8% for all occupations
Source: Job Bank
Prevailing Wages
| AREA | LOW | MEDIAN | HIGH |
|---|---|---|---|
| PEI | $16.00 | $18.00 | $24.45 |
| Canada | $14.00 | $20.00 | $29.00 |
Training
There are no known training programs for this occupation in PEI. If you are aware of a local training program, please contact us.
More Info
View the full occupational profile with details on work characteristics, interests, employment requirements and more on the Occupational and Skills Information System (OaSIS) website.