CareerZone Pennsylvania

First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Animal Husbandry and Animal Care Workers

Description

Directly supervise and coordinate activities of animal husbandry or animal care workers.

Job Zone

Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed

Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. Some may require a bachelor's degree.

Education Requirements

Moderate-term on-the-job training - Necessary skills are acquired through on-the-job training lasting 1 to 12 months.

Interests

Realistic: Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Knowledge

English Language	Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Personnel and Human Resources	Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
Medicine and Dentistry	Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
Biology	Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
Administration and Management	Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Skills

Learning Strategies	Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Mathematics	Using mathematics to solve problems.
Systems Analysis	Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
Equipment Selection	Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.
Management of Financial Resources	Determining how money will be spent to get the work done, and accounting for these expenditures.
Complex Problem Solving	Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Systems Evaluation	Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
Reading Comprehension	Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Monitoring	Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Management of Material Resources	Obtaining and seeing to the appropriate use of equipment, facilities, and materials needed to do certain work.

Tasks

• Assign tasks such as feeding and treatment of animals, and cleaning and maintenance of animal quarters.
• Confer with managers to determine production requirements, conditions of equipment and supplies, and work schedules.
• Direct and assist workers in maintenance and repair of facilities.
• Establish work schedules and procedures.
• Inspect buildings, fences, fields or ranges, supplies, and equipment in order to determine work to be performed.
• Monitor animal care, maintenance, or breeding; or packing and transfer activities to ensure work is done correctly.
• Train workers in animal care procedures, maintenance duties, and safety precautions.
• Perform the same animal care duties as subordinates.
• Observe animals for signs of illness, injury, or unusual behavior; notifying veterinarians or managers as warranted.
• Plan budgets and arrange for purchase of animals, feed, or supplies.
• Prepare reports concerning facility activities, employees' time records, and animal treatment.
• Recruit, hire, and pay workers.
• Study feed, weight, health, genetic, or milk production records in order to determine feed formulas and rations and breeding schedules.
• Transport or arrange for transport of animals, equipment, food, animal feed, and other supplies to and from worksites.
• Treat animal illnesses or injuries, following experience or instructions of veterinarians.

Wages

In 2006, the Pennsylvania average annual wage was $51,380.00. The entry-level wage was $33,060.00 while an experienced worker made $60,540.00.

Outlook

During 2004, there were approximately 2,000 people employed in this field in Pennsylvania. It is projected that there will be 2,180 employed in 2014. This occupation will have about 18 openings due to growth and about 46 replacement openings for approximately 64 total annual openings. This occupation experienced moderate growth.

Colleges and Training

Below are college programs that are generally associated with this occupation. To view colleges that offer these programs, click on the titles below.

• Animal/Livestock Husbandry and ProductionA program that prepares individuals to select, breed, care for, process, and market livestock and small farm animals. Includes instruction in basic animal science, animal nutrition, and animal health as applied to various species and breeds; design and operation of housing, feeding, and processing facilities; and related issues of safety, applicable regulations, logistics, and supply.

For additional college information and related training about this career path, please visit:

AES EducationPlanner, PA Dept of Labor, PA Career Link, college.gov, and College Navigator

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