Animal Care Technician - Sleepy Eye, MN

christensenfarms; Sleepy Eye (MN); On-site; USD 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) plan

Paid time off

Job summary

Christensen Farms is seeking a dedicated Animal Care Technician to support the Farrowing and Breeding departments in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota. The ideal candidate will ensure the health and comfort of our swine herd through daily care, feeding, and sanitation practices. This hands-on role requires reliability and a strong work ethic.

Additional benefits include health, dental, vision insurance, a flexible spending account, and a 401(k) plan. The typical schedule is Monday to Friday from 6:00 am to 3:30 pm, with a rotating weekend. This is a great opportunity for those passionate about livestock production.

Qualifications

• Reliable and hardworking, committed to animal welfare.
• Physical readiness for barn work.
• Strong teamwork and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide feed and water to the animals daily.
• Assist with farrowing and litter care.
• Maintain sanitation and biosecurity measures.

Job description

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.

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 40‑43 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.