Animal Technician

Mississippi State University; Starkville (MS); On-site; USD 32,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

Mississippi State University in Starkville seeks a hands-on Calf Operations Technician to support the Bearden Dairy Center. You will manage daily calf operations, feed calves, sanitize housing, and monitor growth and health while maintaining accurate records.

The role requires a high school diploma or GED, at least one year of animal care experience, and a valid driver’s license. Weekend and holiday shifts are possible; be prepared for physically demanding work in a dairy environment.

Qualifications

• Education: High school diploma or GED.
• Experience: At least 1 year in animal care.
• Licensure: Valid driver’s license.

Responsibilities

• Manage daily calf operations including feeding and housing.
• Administer milk, grain, and fresh water; sanitize hutches and equipment.
• Monitor calf health, record treatments, and assist with vaccinations.
• Coordinate weaning, growth milestones, and specialized feeding with veterinary staff.

Skills

Animal care

Dairy knowledge

Flexible schedules

Good communication

Valid driver’s license

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

Position Function

To provide technical support for the calf operation of the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station (MAFES) Bearden Dairy Research Center (Bearden Center). The Bearden Center is a 350-animal dairy consisting of a modern double eight parallel milking parlor, modern working facilities for the care of the replacement heifers, and approximately 1,200 acres of pasture and crop land.

Salary Grade

11

Please see Staff Compensation Structure or Skilled Crafts and Service Maintenance Compensation Schedule for salary ranges. For salary grade UC, these positions are "Unclassified" and salary ranges are determined by the hiring department.

Department Profile

The Animal and Dairy Sciences Department currently houses approximately 625 undergraduate students, 40 graduate students, and 26 faculty, both on the main campus and at Research and Extension Centers throughout Mississippi. The Department offers a Bachelor of Science degree with concentrations in Pre-Vet/Science, Pre-Vet Med Tech, Production Management, Business and Industry and newly approved Food Science. Master of Science, Master of Agriculture, and Ph.D. degrees are offered in Animal and Dairy Sciences through the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. The Department conducts teaching, research, and extension activities on the 1,200 acre H.H. Leveck Animal Research Center and 1,200 acre Bearden Research Dairy. The Department’s 15,000 sq. ft. Meat Science and Muscle Biology Laboratory was completed in 2018 and houses state of the art equipment to harvest and fabricate carcasses and process into wholesale and retail cuts. The new Animal and Dairy Sciences building opened in 2019. This 38,000 square foot facility houses three teaching areas including a teaching laboratory and distance education equipped classrooms as well as research laboratories and animal rooms for teaching and research needs. The South Farm is home to our new Livestock Evaluation Laboratory. Our research and teaching herds include dairy, beef, horses, sheep, goats, rabbits and swine on the Mississippi State University main campus.

Area of Specialization

Dairy Unit

Anticipated Appointment Date

November 2026.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Manage daily calf operations.
• Feed calves: administer milk, grain, and fresh water.
• Sanitize hutches, pens, water troughs, and feeding tools.
• Manage weaning process and growth milestones.
• Bag, load, and feed pastures for yearling heifers.
• Observe calves for health problems.
• Process newborn calves: administer colostrum, tag, and tattoo calves.
• Give vaccinations and medications while keeping records of all treatments.
• Schedule and assist with castrations, dehornings, vaccinations with the MSU Vet School.
• Coordinate specialized feeding for weak, premature, or high-risk calves.
• Maintain bedding and bedding replacement schedules.
• Maintain calf facilities.
• Assist with research activities.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Shifts will vary. The successful candidate will be expected to work weekends and holidays as needed, and the job requires flexible scheduling.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: High school diploma or GED

Experience: One (1) year experience in animal care.

Licensure: Valid driver’s license.

Preferred Qualifications

Dairy cattle production/milking experience, and farm equipment operational experience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of dairy cows.

Ability to follow instructions.

Ability to work flexible schedules.

Good communication skills.

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

Frequent heavy or intense physical requirements, combined with exposure to several disagreeable elements, such as heat, cold, noise, dust, dirt, chemicals. Job frequently requires standing, walking, reaching, climbing, or balancing, talking, hearing, handling objects with hands, and lifting up to 50 pounds. Job occasionally requires sitting, stooping/kneeling/crouching/crawling, and lifting more than 100 pounds.

Screening Date

October 29, 2026, until filled.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Mississippi State University is an equal opportunity institution. Discrimination is prohibited in university employment, programs or activities based on race, color, ethnicity, sex, pregnancy, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, or any other status to the extent protected by applicable law. Questions about equal opportunity programs or compliance should be directed to the Office of Civil Rights Compliance, 231 Famous Maroon Band Street, P.O. 6044, Mississippi State, MS 39762, [phone].

What do I do if I need an accommodation?

In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with Mississippi State University, please contact the Department of Human Resources Management at tel: [phone] or [e-mail].

If you have any questions regarding this policy, contact the Department of Human Resources Management at [phone] or [e-mail]. Upon request, sections of this job listing are available in large print, and readers are available to assist the visually impaired.