Feedyard Trainee – Cattle, Feed, Mill or Yard Departments

5rcattle; Dalhart (TX); On-site; USD 30,000 - 45,000; Part time

Job summary

5rcattle is seeking a Feedyard Trainee to learn and perform duties across cattle, feed, mill, and yard departments in preparation for future management roles. The role is hourly and ag-exempt, with supervision responsibilities possible and compliance with applicable regulations.

The candidate will gain hands-on experience in cattle handling, feed management, maintenance planning, and yard operations while developing professional knowledge through ongoing training and mentoring.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree and 1–2 years of related experience or training.
• Knowledge of word processing, spreadsheets, and databases.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Ability to read and interpret safety rules, manuals, and instructions.
• Ability to work with fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions.
• Ability to solve practical problems with limited standardization.
• Ability to interpret various instructions in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Responsibilities

• Supervise employees on a limited basis as assigned.
• Assist in department duties across cattle, feed, mill, or yard roles.
• Comply with OSHA, FDA, EPA regulations and maintain records.
• Model safe work practices and train employees in safety.
• Help develop department budgets and manage expenses.
• Manage department supplies inventory and ordering.
• Maintain professional knowledge through workshops and publications.
• Inspect incoming loads of cattle and record load information.
• Identify sick cattle and segregate for treatment.
• Move cattle in a low-stress manner.
• Assist in shipping cattle and monitor withdrawals.
• Medically treat livestock per protocol.
• Tag, vaccinate, and re-implant cattle as needed.
• Ensure no animal leaves without required withdrawals.
• Monitor feed intake and distribute feed by pattern.
• Ensure accurate feed delivery and timely distribution.
• Coordinate feeding with cattle department for new arrivals.
• Minimize truck downtime with maintenance scheduling.
• Maintain cattle feeding records.
• Fill in for driver by operating feed truck or equipment.
• Minimize mill downtime with maintenance scheduling.
• Monitor quality control of commodities.
• Maintain finished feed quality with recommended ingredients.
• Comply with OSHA, FDA, EPA regulations and records.
• Plan and supervise yard construction and replacement projects.
• Maintain machinery operation and schedule repairs.
• Coordinate utility repairs and water systems.
• Maintain fencing and grounds.
• Maintain roads, pens, and cleanliness.
• Ensure environmental compliance and record-keeping.
• Apply agronomic methods for crops and pest control.
• Inspect, maintain, and record department maintenance and safety.

Skills

Undergraduate degree

1–2 years related experience

Word processing

Spreadsheet

Database software

Valid driver’s license

Read & interpret documents

Mathematical concepts

Problem solving

Interpret instructions

Education

Undergraduate degree

Job description

JOB TITLE: Feedyard Trainee – Cattle, Feed, Mill, or Yard Departments

REPORTS TO: Department Manager

FLSA STATUS: Hourly, Ag-exempt

FUNCTION: Learns department roles, responsibilities in preparation for a management role in the future. Performs the following duties personally or through subordinates.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Other duties may be assigned.

• May supervise employees on a limited basis. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities may include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

• Assigned duties as they pertain to specific departmental roles and responsibilities. May include production job assignments in the area of experience and education for management preparation.

• Complies with applicable OSHA, FDA, and EPA regulations; maintains appropriate compliance records.

• Sets a positive example for employees by modeling safe work practices and following safety rules and policies. Communicates critical safety information to employees by conducting regular safety training; monitors workplace for unsafe/non‑compliant behavior.

• Participates in the development of department capital and operating budgets; manages expenses by studying historical data, anticipating needs, and researching costs.

• Manages department supplies inventory by researching costs, designing inventory systems, determining inventory levels, anticipating needed supplies, and approving orders.

• Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; participating in professional societies.

DEPARTMENT SPECIFIC ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Cattle:

• Inspects incoming loads of cattle for miscounts, sick animals, or other inconsistencies between received load and A report; checks in cattle; records load information.

• Utilizes a horse to ride through assigned pens and identify sick animals by observing outward signs of distress; segregates sick cattle for treatment by driving them to nearest hospital pen; calls deads in for removal.

• Moves/drives cattle in a low‑stress manner.

• Assists in the shipment of fat cattle by opening gates, driving cattle to shipping areas for weighing; counting cattle and separating strays; checking withdrawals.

• Medically treats livestock according to protocols established by management and consulting veterinarian; administers treatment in a humane manner.

• Internally examines dead animals to determine the cause of death. Processes cattle by ear tagging, administering vaccines, implants, parasitics, and other preventivemeasures; sorts, re‑implants, mass treats, and re‑vaccinates cattle according to established protocol; administers vaccines and treatment according to label specifications.

• Ensures that no animal leaves the facility without meeting applicable withdrawals by maintaining thorough and accurate records.

Feed:

• Monitors cattle intake and assigns subsequent distribution of feed by familiarizing self with cattle eating patterns according to gender, days on feed, weather, and breed; maximizes feed intake of cattle by following guidelines issued by consulting nutritionist.

• Ensures accurate feed delivery by monitoring feed bunks and assessing feed distribution, quantity, type, and timeliness of delivery.

• Ensures that newly received cattle are fed in a timely manner by coordinating feeding with the cattle department.

• Minimizes truck downtime by scheduling maintenance/repair; develops and implements feed truck preventative maintenance program.

• Maintains cattle feeding records by compiling, entering, and analyzing information.

• Fills in when a driver is absent or as necessary by operating a feed truck, hay machine or tractor.

Mill:

• Minimizes mill downtime by completing maintenance requirements and scheduling maintenance/repair; develops and implements mill preventative maintenance program.

• Monitors quality control of commodities received through regular inspection.

• Maintains quality of finished feed rations by using quality ingredients and following recommendations from consulting Nutritionists.

• Complies with applicable OSHA, FDA, and EPA regulations; maintains appropriate compliance records.

Yard:

• Identifies current and future maintenance requirements through communication with management and production personnel.

• Ensures operation of machinery and mechanical equipment by completing maintenance requirements for rolling stock including feed trucks, tractors, and other heavy equipment, and scheduling maintenance and repair.

• Coordinates utility repairs with appropriate service providers. Directs maintenance activities on water systems and tanks to provide a continuous supply of drinking water to livestock.

• Maintains fencing and gates by repairing damage in a timely manner.

• Maintains facility appearance by ensuring that grass/weeds are mowed regularly and trash is properly disposed of.

• Plans and supervises all yard construction, renovation, and replacement projects.

• Maintains roads, pens, and alleys by filling in holes, controlling dust, and removing accumulated manure.

• Maintains environmental compliance and corresponding records according to specified EPA guidelines; collects soil and water samples for testing.

• Utilizes best methods of planting, cultivation, harvesting, and knowledge of various climatic conditions on crops to ensure high yields; develops methods for control of noxious weeds, crop diseases, and insect pests.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Undergraduate degree and one to two years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Knowledge of Word Processing software; Spreadsheet software and Database software.

• Valid driver’s license.

• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.

• Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.

• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.

• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

COMPETENCY:

Expected to coordinate projects, manage difficult or emotional employee situations, participate in meetings, understand business implications of decisions, work within the approved budget, develop and implement cost-saving measures, conserve organizational resources, demonstrate knowledge of EEO policy, adapt to changes in the work environment, exhibit sound, and accurate judgment, observe safety and security procedures, and report potentially unsafe conditions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to airborne particles. The employee is frequently exposed to work near moving mechanical parts and outdoor weather conditions. The noise level in some work environments can be loud. The employee may be required to climb or balance and is exposed to work in high, precarious places. Exposure to cattle and horses, equipment, and machinery. Manual labor may be assigned as it pertains to on‑the‑job training for certain departments.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Mill employees are required to wear hardhat; eyes, ears, and respiratory protection daily. PPE assigned per department requirements. Ability to lift, carry, push, pull, kneel, stand, sit, walk, run, bend stoop, twist, reach above and below, climb, and grasp. In some cases when working around livestock the ability to move quickly, jump and climb are imperative.

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