TES Farm Animal Assistant

Auburn University; Auburn (AL); On-site; USD 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine seeks a TES Farm Animal Assistant to provide technical support to veterinarians diagnosing and treating food and fiber producing species, including training on animal husbandry, nutrition, handling, restraint, and ethology.

Responsibilities include assisting with exams, vaccinations, and catheter placement; maintaining supplies and facilities; and communicating with clients while supporting students and clinicians in a busy teaching hospital

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Experience handling and managing food animals safely.
• Veterinary assistant or technician experience.
• Farm animal experience.
• Large animal experience.
• Animal science degree or related field.

Responsibilities

• Assist with student instruction on exams and animal handling.
• Provide direct patient care: exams, vaccinations, catheter placement.
• Maintain floor stock and restock supplies; clean facilities.
• Communicate with clients about concerning patients.
• Prepare for procedures and surgeries with supplies and setup.
• Operate and clean equipment and transport vehicles.
• Perform routine lab procedures and monitor animal health.
• Lift 50 pounds and stand for long periods.
• Transport livestock on campus using farm equipment.
• Handle and restrain livestock using chutes and handling systems.
• Assist clinicians on farm calls.
• Organize animal housing and care.

Skills

Livestock handling

Animal handling safety

Teamwork

Critical thinking

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Animal science degree or related field

Veterinary assistant or technician experience

Job description

Overview

Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine seeks a TES Farm Animal Assistant to provide technical support to veterinarians diagnosing and treating food and fiber producing species, including training on animal husbandry, nutrition, handling, restraint, and ethology.

Working Hours

Mon – Fri, 7:30 am to 6:00 pm. Flexibility required for occasional call‑backs or weekends.

Responsibilities

• Assist with veterinary student instruction on exams, catheter placement, oral intubation, hoof trims, animal handling (cattle, small ruminants, swine, camelids, large exotics), animal behavior, surgical preparation, fluid therapy, and related equipment.
• Provide direct patient care: physical exams, medication and vaccination administration, catheter placement, oral intubation, biomedical sample collection, fluid/blood/plasma therapy, and case monitoring.
• Maintain floor stock, order supplies, restock, and perform routine cleaning of hospital barns, lab equipment, research facilities, and ambulatory vehicles.
• Communicate with clients regarding concerning patients.
• Assist in preparing for medical procedures, including surgeries, by gathering supplies, preparing surgical fields, nerve blocks, and sedation protocols.
• Operate, maintain, repair, and clean animal handling and laboratory equipment.
• Perform routine laboratory procedures on biomedical samples, inspect facilities, equipment, and supplies daily, and monitor health status and environmental conditions of university and client‑owned animals.
• Lift a minimum of 50 pounds and stand for 3–6 hours at a time; frequent standing, walking, and lifting heavy objects are required.
• Transport livestock on university property, utilizing trucks, trailers, tractors, forklifts, and other farm equipment.
• Handle and restrain livestock, including cattle, small ruminants, swine, camelids, and some large exotic animals.
• Use alley systems, manual chutes, hydraulic chutes, hydraulic tables, and other large‑animal restraining equipment.
• Assist clinicians on farm calls.
• Organize animal housing, feeding, and overall care of livestock animals.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Experience handling and managing food animals safely.
• Veterinary assistant or technician experience.
• Farm animal experience.
• Large animal experience.
• Animal science degree or related field.

Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Proficient in the use of trucks, trailers, tractors, forklifts, and other farm equipment.
• Skilled in livestock handling and restraint, including cattle, small ruminants, swine, camelids, and some large exotic animals.
• Knowledge of alley systems, manual chutes, hydraulic chutes, hydraulic tables, and other large‑animal restraining equipment.
• Ability to work as a team and possess critical‑thinking skills.

Equal Opportunity Compliance Statement

It is our policy to provide equal employment and education opportunities for all individuals without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other classification protected by applicable law. Please visit the Office of Equal Opportunity Compliance website to learn more.