Sow Farm Technician - Lafayette, MN

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

Since 1991, Wakefield Pork has been an industry leader in pork production, operating from south central Minnesota to northern Iowa. As a forward-thinking leader in the pork industry, the Wakefield Pork family strives to deliver a quality pork product that nourishes families across the world. We are looking for all kinds of employees with different types of experiences. We believe work ethic and strong values are as important as industry expertise.
Summary: A Breeding Technician is responsible for assisting with all daily aspects of swine breeding, including maintaining breeding and farrowing targets, daily artificial insemination (AI) breeding, semen inventory and delivery, herd health and vaccination program, nutrition, isolation and acclimation of replacement gilts, and record keeping. Wakefield Pork is seeking a dedicated individual who is interested in the pork industry and can bring an element of team dynamics to Wakefield Pork’s goal-orientated system.
A Farrowing Technician is responsible for assisting with all daily aspects of swine farrowing, including maintaining farrowing targets, individual sow and piglet care, feeding, farrowing, piglet health and vaccination program, nutrition, and record keeping. Wakefield Pork is seeking a dedicated individual who is interested in the pork industry and can bring an element of team dynamics to Wakefield Pork’s goal-orientated system.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Breeding:

• Ensure the highest standards of ethical animal treatment
• Assist Department Lead
• Conduct artificial breeding (AI), as directed
• Perform daily estrous checks on animals and check bred groups 
• Perform routine and seasonal vaccinations, as directed
• Assist with monthly inventory counts
• Perform general feed maintenance on bred and open animals
• Assist farrowing department 
• Assist in maintaining all sow breeding records and documentation on sow removal records, transactions, and treatment records

Farrowing:

• Ensure the highest standards of ethical animal treatment
• Assist Department Lead with preparation of pre-farrow rooms
• Execute proper farrowing of sows & execution of day one pig care 
• Perform inducing of sows**
• Assist Department Lead in ensuring that piglets are with the correct sow and stall; transfer and size piglets as directed
• Keep stalls full of lactating sows
• Process and castrate piglets
• Feed lactating sows as per protocol
• Assist with piglet weaning
• Assist breeding department
• Assist Department Lead with maintaining accurate documentation (i.e. weekly, monthly inventory of sows and piglets)

ALL Farm Employees:

• Exhibit strong teamwork, including working to achieve team goals, embracing new technologies, working on new projects, etc.
• Maintain a clean and organized working environment
• Ensure a proper animal environment, including but not limited to ventilation, water, feed, and animal husbandry
• Maintain PQA Plus & TQA certification status
• Ensure that WPI training program requirements and procedures are being met and executed
• Assist in power washing, as assigned
• Attend and participate in all staff meetings and trainings
• Follow all safety rules and practices and encourage coworkers to do the same
• Ensure the highest level of a safe work environment 
• Follow all biosecurity measures as per WPI policies

Basic Qualifications:

• Be capable of lifting a minimum of 50 pounds with reasonable accommodation
• Ability to do basic math – addition, subtraction, and multiplication
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively
• Regular, consistent attendance 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Industry experience preferred, but not required

Physical Demands: 

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to have ordinary ambulatory skills sufficient to move throughout the farm; and the ability to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, climb 3-foot gates, and manipulate (lift, carry, move) light to medium weights of up to 50 pounds. Position requires good hand-eye coordination, arm, hand and finger dexterity, including ability to grasp. Frequently required, for extended periods of time, to sit, stand, walk, reach with hands and arms, and communicate.

Organizational Relationships: 

• Interacts closely with Sow Barn Manager, Department Leads, and other Technicians

Hours:  

• Typically, Monday – Friday 7:00 am – 4:00 pm (actual hours vary by location) and an every 3rd weekend rotation

Pay and Benefits: 

• Full-time employees are eligible for paid vacation, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, HSA account, and 401(k) with match. 
• $18-$22 per hour
• Wages and salaries are set commensurate with the employee’s skills and experience and in accordance with Wakefield Pork’s wage and benefit policies.

Position requires a high level of respect for team members and animals. Must demonstrate communication and time-management skills, as well as the ability to adapt and function effectively in a fast paced, changing environment.
Preceding statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed of this position. This list is not all-inclusive as additional duties may be assigned. ** = This duty is not to be performed by individuals who are asthmatic, pregnant or wanting to conceive, etc.