Animal Care Technician II

Universities of Wisconsin; Town of Prairie du Sac (WI); On-site; USD 28,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous vacation

Health insurance

Retirement benefits

Job summary

University of Wisconsin–Madison Dairy Forage Research Center is seeking an Animal Care Technician II to milk cows, calf feed, and move cattle to parlor, under supervision.

Experience in dairy cattle handling is preferred, and training is available. The role emphasizes safety, accurate recordkeeping, and supportive teamwork in an outdoor, farm environment; shift is 1:30 PM–12:00 AM with four 10-hour days.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of dairy cattle handling and animal husbandry with willingness to learn health monitoring and recordkeeping.
• Ability to work safely around large livestock and farm equipment.
• Strong communication and ability to follow written and oral instructions.
• Team-oriented with willingness to learn and assist others.

Responsibilities

• Inventory, clean, and organize animal holding spaces and supplies.
• Inspect and report equipment problems to ensure safe operation.
• Collect samples, administer medications, and perform treatments per protocols for research.
• Observe animal behavior and provide basic care, reporting concerns.
• Prepare food and feeds according to schedules.
• Maintain records related to research procedures.

Skills

Dairy cattle handling

Animal husbandry

Safety compliance

Teamwork

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Skid steers

Farm equipment

Job description

Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process.

Job Category:

University Staff

Employment Type:

Regular

Job Profile:

Animal Care Technician II

Job Summary:

Tucked in a bend of the Wisconsin River about 30 miles north of Madison, the field facilities of the U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center are a catalog of current dairy technology.

The duties of the PM Animal Care Technician II will be milking cows, calf feeding, and moving cattle to parlor. Other duties may include feeding, cleaning, handling, and general care of the dairy cattle in an efficient and accurate manner. This position uses the employee’s experience and training to complete tasks and to care for livestock with limited supervision.

To be successful in this position you must also exhibit a positive working attitude, communicate well and develop a good working relationship with co-workers and supervisors and show initiative to see what needs to be done and to get it done. Previous farm experience is preferred, though we are willing to train a candidate desiring to learn.

For more information about the Dairy Forage Research Center, please visit https://dairyforage.ars.wisc.edu/.

Key Job Responsibilities:

• Inventories, cleans, and maintains organization of animal holding spaces and supplies
• Inspects and reports equipment problems to ensure optimal and safe operation
• Collects samples from animals and administers medications, injections, and treatments according to established protocols and procedures to be used for diagnostic tests and research
• Observes animal behavior, performs basic animal care, and reports concerns to the appropriate entities to contribute to the health and well-being of animals and promote research
• Prepares food and formulas and feeds animals according to established schedules and specifications
• Maintains organization of and updates records related to research procedures

Department:

UW-Madison Dairy Forage Research Center

Compensation:

The anticipated salary range for this position is $20.00 - $22.00. However, final salary will depend on experience and qualifications. Employees in this position can expect to receive benefits such as generous vacation, holidays, and paid time off; competitive insurances and savings accounts; retirement benefits. Additional benefits information can be found at: https://www.wisconsin.edu/ohrwd/benefits/download/univstaff.pdf

Required Qualifications:

• Knowledge of dairy cattle handling and animal husbandry principles, with the ability and willingness to learn animal health monitoring, recordkeeping, and treatment protocols through on‑the‑job training. (e.g., safely moving and handling cows, observing changes in behavior or appetite, and learning to document health observations as trained).
• Ability to work safely and effectively in an agricultural environment, including around large livestock, farm equipment, and operational hazards. (e.g., following safety protocols when working near cattle, skid steers, or uneven surfaces, and using PPE as required)
• Strong communication skills and the ability to interpret and follow written and oral instructions. (e.g., accurately following written procedures or communicating concerns or task completion to a supervisor)
• Team‑focused approach with a willingness to learn, assist others, and contribute to shared goals.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior farm or agricultural work experience (e.g., general farm labor, agricultural internships, or seasonal agricultural work)
• Previous experience working with dairy cattle, calves, or other livestock in a farm or research setting (e.g., feeding, bedding, monitoring animal health, or assisting with herd movement)
• Experience operating skid steers, tractors, or other farm and utility equipment (e.g., using a skid steer to clean pens, move feed, or transport materials)

Work Schedule:

This is an afternoon to midnight position hours of work are 1:30 PM – 12:00 AM, 4 ten-hour days with alternating 3-day weekends off or working.

Education:

H.S. Diploma Preferred

Additional Information:

• Criminal Background Check is required
• Evaluation/Probationary Period required
• Work will vary between non-climate-controlled animal housing and outdoors in all weather conditions. Must be able to lift 50 lbs.

Contact Information:

Andrew Vaudt, HR Generalist ([e-mail])

Institutional Statement on Diversity:

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal OpportunityEmployer.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgroundsand encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website.

To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre‑employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR)in the division you are applying to.Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.

Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment. The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7). The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department.