Animal Care Technician

Christensen Farms; Butterfield (MN); On-site; USD 24,796 - 30,307; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sign-On Bonus $2,500

Benefits package

Job summary

Christensen Farms is seeking an Animal Care Technician to support the Farrowing and Breeding departments, focusing on daily animal care, health monitoring, and biosecurity in a busy barn environment.

Starting pay is $20 per hour with a $2,500 sign-on bonus for eligible newly-hired staff. The full-time role includes a comprehensive benefits package, a Monday–Friday schedule with rotating weekends, and reports to the Sow Farm Manager.

Qualifications

• Must be reliable with a strong work ethic.
• Able to follow established protocols and SOPs.
• Willing to learn and grow in livestock operations.

Responsibilities

• Provide feed and water to animals daily.
• Heat checking and breeding sows in heat per schedule; perform gilt heat induction.
• Process piglets (castration, tail docking, iron/antibiotics).
• Assist with farrowing and ensure piglet warmth.
• Monitor health of sows and litters; provide treatments as needed.
• Maintain sanitation and biosecurity; keep records and manage animal movements.

Skills

Reliability

Physical stamina

Follow SOPs

Willingness to learn

Teamwork

Biosecurity awareness

Job description

Christensen Farms is offering a Sign-On & Retention Bonus of $2,500 for all eligible newly-hired Animal Care Technicians.

Position Overview

We're looking for a dedicated Animal Care Technician to join our team, supporting both the Farrowing and Breeding departments. This hands‑on role is essential to the daily care of our animals and overall barn operations, ensuring the health, comfort, and well‑being of our swine herd. The ideal candidate is reliable, hardworking, and comfortable working in a fast‑paced, physical environment. A passion for animal welfare, attention to detail, and a strong commitment to biosecurity and safety are key. If you're seeking a meaningful, long‑term career in livestock production with an industry leader, this is a great place to start. Join our team!

What You Will Do

• Provide feed and water to the animals daily to maintain consistent health and nutrition
• Heat checking/Breed sows in heat per daily schedule, and perform gilt heat induction following established protocols
• Process piglets by castrating, tail docking, and administering iron/antibiotics
• Assist with farrowing with litter care, and ensuring piglet warmth
• Monitor sows and litters daily to identify health issues, provide treatments, and support animal well‑being
• Maintain sanitation through cleaning, disinfecting, and pit draining; handle animal movements, assist with weaning, and keep accurate records while adhering to biosecurity and safety protocols

What You Offer Us

• Consistent reliability and strong work ethic, with a commitment to showing up prepared and performing daily tasks with precision
• Physical readiness and resilience to handle the demands of barn work while maintaining high standards of animal care
• Ability to follow established protocols and SOPs with attention to detail across all areas, including feeding, breeding, and sanitation
• Eagerness to learn, take direction, and grow within the livestock industry through hands‑on experience and structured training
• Strong teamwork and communication skills, contributing to a positive, efficient, and safety‑focused work environment
• Dedication to upholding biosecurity measures, animal welfare standards, and company policies in all aspects of daily work

Pay and Benefits

This Animal Care Technician position starts at $20/hr. We also offer a great benefits package including health, dental, vision, a flexible spending account (FSA), life insurance, short‑term disability, long‑term disability, a 401(k) plan, paid holidays, a paid time off bank, and an employee assistance program (EAP).

Work Schedule

Although hours may vary, the typical work schedule for an Animal Care Technician position is Monday through Friday, 6:00 am 3:30 pm with a rotating weekend. When you work the weekend, you will have a scheduled day off during the week. This full‑time job averages 43-45 hours a week.

Reports To

Sow Farm Manager

Christensen Farms is an equal opportunity employer. It is our policy to select the most qualified person for each position in the organization. No employee of CF will discriminate against any applicant for employment or a fellow employee because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, citizenship status, genetic information, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, military status, veteran status or any other prohibited basis under applicable local, state, or federal law.