Animal Care Technician

Christensen Farms; Paris (IL); On-site; USD 23,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Flexible spending account (FSA)

Life insurance

Short-term disability

Long-term disability

401(k) plan

Paid holidays

Paid time off bank

Employee assistance program (EAP)

Job summary

Christensen Farms is seeking an Animal Care Technician to support Farrowing and Breeding, performing daily care, feeding, heat checks, birthing support, and record keeping in a fast-paced barn environment.

The role emphasizes animal welfare, biosecurity, and safety, with the candidate expected to work a full-time schedule, Monday–Friday (with some weekend rotation), starting at $20 per hour and a comprehensive benefits package.

Qualifications

• Reliable and hard-working with a strong work ethic.
• Physically able to perform barn tasks and long shifts.
• Ability to follow SOPs and safety protocols.

Responsibilities

• Provide feed and water to the animals daily to maintain health.
• Heat check sows in heat daily and perform gilt heat induction per protocols.
• Process piglets—castrate, tail dock, and administer iron/antibiotics.
• Assist farrowing with litter care and ensure piglet warmth.
• Monitor sows and litters daily; identify health issues and provide treatments.
• Maintain sanitation: cleaning, disinfecting, pit draining, and record-keeping per biosecurity.

Skills

Reliability

Strong work ethic

Physical stamina

Follow SOPs

Teamwork

Biosecurity awareness

Attention to detail

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.