Farrowing Technician

Schwartz Farms Inc.; Longford (KS); On-site; USD 53,010,048 - 57,859,200; Full time

Job summary

Schwartz Farms, Inc. is seeking a Farrowing Technician to perform daily responsibilities associated with farrowing production. You will assist with pre-farrow room prep, sow induction, and ensure day one pig care.

Additional duties include piglet management, vaccination and treatment, crate maintenance, and accurate documentation while upholding animal welfare and bio-security policies.

Qualifications

• Experience with animal care and farm operations.
• Ability to work in a production environment with safety focus.
• Comfort with physically demanding tasks and lifting up to 50 lbs.

Responsibilities

• Assist Department Leader with preparation of pre-farrow rooms.
• Perform inducing of sows and execute proper farrowing.
• Ensure proper day one pig care and identify piglets needing nurse sow or litter swap.
• Assist in moving animals between sows and crates; transfer and size piglets as directed.
• Treat and vaccinate sows and piglets as directed; maintain lactating sows in crates.
• Process and castrate piglets; feed lactating sows per protocol.
• Maintain documentation of sows and piglets; assist in inventory and bio-security tasks.
• Support bio-security and animal welfare policies; maintain safe work environment.
• Lift up to 50 lbs and work as part of a cooperative team.

Skills

Teamwork

Attention to detail

Physical stamina

Communication

Job description

Our Roots

Schwartz Farms, Inc. was founded in 1978 and at the time was predominantly involved in crop farming. Although Schwartz Farms is still involved in farming, today’s primary operations are within the pork industry.

As a family company, Schwartz Farms, Inc. is committed to caring for its people and animals by demonstrating the values of humility, care, integrity, discipline and excellence. Known for quality pork production, Schwartz Farms is a proud advocate of creating opportunities for rural communities with presence in Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska and South Dakota. As a premier pork producer, Schwartz Farms embraces itself for a challenging and rewarding future.

Your Mission

The purpose of the Farrowing Technician is to perform the daily duties associated with farrowing production issues.

Specifically, the Farrowing Technician is responsible for the following activities:

Farrowing Production

• Assist Department Leader with preparation of pre-farrow rooms
• Perform inducing of sows*
• Execute proper farrowing of sows
• Ensure proper execution of day one pig care
• Identify piglets that require a nurse sow or litter swap
• Assist Department Leader in ensuring that piglets are with the correct sow and crate; transfer and size piglets as directed
• Movement of animals (sows and piglets) as directed
• Treat and vaccinate sows and piglets as directed
• Keep crates full of lactating sows
• Process and castrate piglets
• Feed lactating sows per protocol
• Assist Department Leader with maintaining accurate documentation (i.e. weekly, monthly inventory of sows and piglets)
• Assist in power washing, as assigned
• Advocate and engage in SFI's animal welfare policy, including promoting animal well-being, remedying circumstances which impede animal care, and properly reporting instances of mistreatment or abuse
• Ensure that SFI training program requirements, and procedures are being met and followed
• Ensure the highest level of a safe work environment and safe work practices
• Maintain PQA certification status
• Ensure and maintain as directed that all SFI bio-security policies and procedures are followed and enforced
• Exhibit strong teamwork, including working to achieve team goals, embracing new technologies, working on new projects, etc.
• Be capable of lifting a minimum of 50 lbs. with reasonable accommodation

Building & Equipment Maintenance

• Follow bio-security protocol
• Ensure general barn cleanliness, and specifically farrowing rooms and hallways
• Adjust heat lamps, as directed
• Notify Department Leader with ventilation questions and/or concerns to ensure optimal environment
• As assigned perform maintenance task
• Ensure and follow the highest level of a safe work environment and work practices

The preceding statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed.

Additional Responsibilities

Additional duties may be assigned as they arise.

WORKING CONDITIONS AND ENVIRONMENT

• Weekend and Holiday work rotations, as established by Manager, will be required

Salary: $18.50 per hour