Livestock Herdsperson - Animal Care & Breeding Support

Murphy-Brown LLC; Virginia (MN); On-site; USD 19,000 - 27,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Be Well programs

LinkedIn Learning access

Smithfield Scholarship Program

Tuition assistance

Relocation package available

Job summary

Smithfield Foods, Inc. is seeking a Herdsperson to assist herd technicians with routine animal care, sanitation, and general farm tasks. The role supports animal welfare and requires ability to perform hands-on labor in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities include feeding, vaccinating, moving animals, maintaining records, and following SOPs. The position may involve on-site lab work, equipment operation, and on-call shifts, including weekends and holidays.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or GED preferred.
• Previous livestock handling helpful.
• Ability to do hard physical labor.
• Strong commitment to teamwork.
• Willingness to shower daily in and out of facility.
• Ability to follow instructions and deal with standardized situations.
• Must be able to work an average 48-hour work week, which can vary frequently.
• Weekend, evening, and holiday work required as needed.
• Must be on call for emergency situations to include but not limit to, power outages or personnel shortages.
• Ability to work well with others in fast paced, dynamic environment.
• Ability to be respectful, approachable and team oriented while building strong working relationships and a positive work environment.

Responsibilities

• Feeds, waters, vaccinates, and performs general animal husbandry tasks including basic veterinary procedures.
• Maintains flexibility with a willingness to change plans according to the direction of farm leadership.
• Assists in moving animals and maintaining efficient animal flows.
• Sanitizes and washes multiple areas on the farm using high pressure equipment.
• Collect boars, process collection in on-site laboratory, and distribute semen doses to sow farms.
• Maintains accurate production information and update all department records as required.
• Treats sick animals with a variety of pharmaceuticals by injection, oral application, and/or other methods as required.
• Follows the Standard Operation Procedures, Production Manuals, or Appropriate Training Guides as required.
• Assists with facility and equipment maintenance.
• Assists with maintaining barn, office cleanliness, and laundry duties.
• Follows the Company’s animal welfare policies and procedures including: providing a physical environment that meets the animal’s needs, providing access to adequate water and high quality feed, providing humane treatment of the animals, providing identification and appropriate treatment of animals in need of health care and following the guidelines for euthanasia.
• Responsible for complying with all environmental, safety and biosecurity laws and procedures.
• May perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Teamwork

Physical stamina

Follow instructions

On-call readiness

Safety awareness

Hard work ethic

Education

High School diploma or GED

Job description

Smithfield Foods, Inc. is seeking a Herdsperson to assist herd technicians with routine animal care, sanitation, and general farm tasks. The role supports animal welfare and requires ability to perform hands-on labor in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities include feeding, vaccinating, moving animals, maintaining records, and following SOPs. The position may involve on-site lab work, equipment operation, and on-call shifts, including weekends and holidays.