Careers in the Animal Industry

Three steps in choosing an occupation Self -analysis Study an occupation Make a decision

Self-Analysis- the first step in selecting an occupation. Ability- capacity to perform. Talent- natural aptitude to do a job. Physical make-up- strength, stamina, health. Previous experience- work done in the past. Interests- things that hold one’s attention.

Self-Analysis- the first step in selecting an occupation. Educational aspirations- how much education a person wants and can obtain. Attitude and values- how a person sees himself or herself. Flexibility- willing to change. Personality- how others see a person’s traits.

Study an Occupation- get information. Nature of the work- hours, location, conditions, skills, etc. Educational requirements- amount, licenses, special training. Demand, pay, benefits, opportunity for promotion, job security. The best way to learn more about an occupation is work experience.

Make a Decision- last of three steps. Match oneself with the best occupation for the person. Have a second choice. Leave opportunities to change plans in the future.

Sources of Occupational Information Counselors and career development coordinators. Agriculture education teachers. Parents and relatives. Persons working in specific jobs. Dictionary of Occupational titles- provides descriptions of more than 20,000 jobs in the United States. Books and pamphlets. Internet sites. Work experiences.

Educational Requirements Scientists and engineers usually require masters or doctoral college degrees. About 85% of the jobs in agricultural marketing, merchandising and sales representatives that require college degrees require baccalaureate degrees. Most jobs that have “laborer, helper, aide, attendant or worker” in the title require high school diplomas.

Career Areas in Animal Industry Meat and Dairy Production Meat and Dairy Production Companion Animal Companion Animal Poultry Poultry Aquaculture Aquaculture Equine Equine Exotic Animals Exotic Animals Service Animals Service Animals Animal supplies and services Animal marketing

Careers in Food Animal Areas Farm or Ranch Worker Farm or Ranch Worker People who want to own & operate their own farm may start out as a farm or ranch worker People who want to own & operate their own farm may start out as a farm or ranch worker Duties: general farm labor (feeding, sanitation, moving animals) or more complicated tasks (treating sick animals) Duties: general farm labor (feeding, sanitation, moving animals) or more complicated tasks (treating sick animals) Requirements: general knowledge of livestock and work competently with animals; learn quickly Requirements: general knowledge of livestock and work competently with animals; learn quickly

Careers in Food Animal Areas (cont.) Farm Manager Farm Manager Carries out everyday operation of the farm Carries out everyday operation of the farm May include long-range planning and setting production goals May include long-range planning and setting production goals Requirements: extensive experience or combination of experience and education (often education beyond high school) Requirements: extensive experience or combination of experience and education (often education beyond high school) Duties: selecting & marketing animals, formulating feed, maintaining herd health, supervising employees Duties: selecting & marketing animals, formulating feed, maintaining herd health, supervising employees

Careers in Pleasure and Service Animal Areas Horse Industry Worker Horse Industry Worker Jobs: stable attendant, horse trainer, riding instructor, stable manager, barn boss Jobs: stable attendant, horse trainer, riding instructor, stable manager, barn boss Stable hands: spend most of time doing essential work (barn cleaning, feeding horses) Stable hands: spend most of time doing essential work (barn cleaning, feeding horses) Also jobs in the race industry Also jobs in the race industry

Careers in Pleasure and Service Animal Areas (cont.) Game and Fisheries Workers Game and Fisheries Workers Wildlife Conservation Officer: educates public about fish and wildlife and enforces game & fish laws; work at state and federal agencies Wildlife Conservation Officer: educates public about fish and wildlife and enforces game & fish laws; work at state and federal agencies Duties: conducting workshops on wildlife & environment Duties: conducting workshops on wildlife & environment Game Farm Workers: raise & manage different wildlife species Game Farm Workers: raise & manage different wildlife species Desired qualities: high school diploma, interest in working with game birds & animals Desired qualities: high school diploma, interest in working with game birds & animals

Careers in Pleasure and Service Animal Areas (cont.) Game and Fisheries Workers (cont.) Game and Fisheries Workers (cont.) Fish Hatchery Technicians: raise & manage fish Fish Hatchery Technicians: raise & manage fish Fish may be for stocking public and private waterways Fish may be for stocking public and private waterways Care for brood fish, tend eggs, maintain water quality, feed fish, provide healthy environment, manage facilities Care for brood fish, tend eggs, maintain water quality, feed fish, provide healthy environment, manage facilities Work under direction of a fisheries biologist Work under direction of a fisheries biologist Helpful High School Coursework: math, science, chemistry, biology, aquaculture Helpful High School Coursework: math, science, chemistry, biology, aquaculture Training & Interests for Game & Fisheries: Training & Interests for Game & Fisheries: Interest in wildlife/fisheries/conservation, most officers must pass a test & go through training, beneficial to have experience & a college degree in a wildlife area Interest in wildlife/fisheries/conservation, most officers must pass a test & go through training, beneficial to have experience & a college degree in a wildlife area

Careers in Pleasure and Service Animal Areas (cont.) Service Animal Workers: raise animals that serve humans Service Animal Workers: raise animals that serve humans Train draft animals, companion animals, dogs for the blind Train draft animals, companion animals, dogs for the blind Are large producers of service animals, but many animals are raised by small producers or individuals Are large producers of service animals, but many animals are raised by small producers or individuals

Careers in Pleasure and Service Animal Areas (cont.) Laboratory Animal Workers: raise and keep lab animals under best possible conditions Laboratory Animal Workers: raise and keep lab animals under best possible conditions Animals are bred to meet specific qualifications for research Animals are bred to meet specific qualifications for research Requirements: in-depth knowledge of science, chemistry, & biology; interest in animal research Requirements: in-depth knowledge of science, chemistry, & biology; interest in animal research

Careers in Science-oriented Areas Animal Scientist: study animals & develop improved methods of production Animal Scientist: study animals & develop improved methods of production Positions: animal nutrition specialists, animal reproduction specialists, geneticists, chemist, & biotechnologists Positions: animal nutrition specialists, animal reproduction specialists, geneticists, chemist, & biotechnologists Animal Research Scientist: advanced college degree in specialized area of research; need high interest in scientific inquiry & knowledge of biology, chemistry, & microbiology Animal Research Scientist: advanced college degree in specialized area of research; need high interest in scientific inquiry & knowledge of biology, chemistry, & microbiology

Careers in Science-oriented Areas (cont.) Laboratory Assistant Laboratory Assistant Help with experiments, care of lab animals, & raise lab animals Help with experiments, care of lab animals, & raise lab animals Requirements: attention to detail; minimum of high school diploma w/ emphasis in animal agriculture; most have some college education Requirements: attention to detail; minimum of high school diploma w/ emphasis in animal agriculture; most have some college education

Careers in Science-oriented Areas (cont.) Agricultural Engineer Agricultural Engineer Work with animal facilities, waste management, environmental impact, & improving animal products Work with animal facilities, waste management, environmental impact, & improving animal products Requirements: bachelor’s degree, ability to assess a problem & prepare a solution; knowledge of ag and animal industry is helpful Requirements: bachelor’s degree, ability to assess a problem & prepare a solution; knowledge of ag and animal industry is helpful

Careers in Science-oriented Areas (cont.) Wildlife Biologist Wildlife Biologist Focus on wildlife animals and habitat Focus on wildlife animals and habitat May study endangered species or try to improve the environment for many animals May study endangered species or try to improve the environment for many animals Work can include genetics, studying environmental impact of industry, or repopulating an animal Work can include genetics, studying environmental impact of industry, or repopulating an animal Requirements: college education for entry, higher degrees for advancement; need interest in biology, chemistry, animal science, math, & research Requirements: college education for entry, higher degrees for advancement; need interest in biology, chemistry, animal science, math, & research

Service Career Areas Veterinarian Veterinarian Promote animal health; provide care for sick & injured animals; may specialize or generalize Promote animal health; provide care for sick & injured animals; may specialize or generalize Bachelor’s degree in animal sci. or biology, attendance at school of veterinary medicine Bachelor’s degree in animal sci. or biology, attendance at school of veterinary medicine Sales & Service Sales & Service Sell feed, ensure quality products, sell retail products, service equip., operate stock yards, etc. Sell feed, ensure quality products, sell retail products, service equip., operate stock yards, etc. Many sales positions require a college education Many sales positions require a college education

Service Career Areas (cont.) Livestock Buyer Livestock Buyer Need to know what the industry & consumer demand in a meat animal Need to know what the industry & consumer demand in a meat animal May work for him or herself or have clients in the production or packing industry May work for him or herself or have clients in the production or packing industry Requirements: training in animal selection Requirements: training in animal selection Other beneficial knowledge: training in animal science, business management, & public relations at postsecondary level; high school ag, biology, math Other beneficial knowledge: training in animal science, business management, & public relations at postsecondary level; high school ag, biology, math

Education, Extension, & Communication Areas “People” side of the animal industry “People” side of the animal industry Agriscience Teacher Agriscience Teacher Work in public schools, teaching basic agriculture & specialized classes Work in public schools, teaching basic agriculture & specialized classes Requirements: bachelor’s degree in ag or related area & certification to teach ag Requirements: bachelor’s degree in ag or related area & certification to teach ag Involve students in FFA & supervised agricultural experience programs Involve students in FFA & supervised agricultural experience programs

Education, Extension, & Communication Areas (cont.) Agricultural Extension Agent Agricultural Extension Agent Work with local producers to help improve production or solve problems Work with local producers to help improve production or solve problems Requirements: bachelor’s degree in ag; many states require a master’s degree within a few years Requirements: bachelor’s degree in ag; many states require a master’s degree within a few years

Education, Extension, & Communication Areas (cont.) Agricultural Communication Specialist Agricultural Communication Specialist Share information about animals; may work with newspapers, in public relations, & with broadcast media Share information about animals; may work with newspapers, in public relations, & with broadcast media Requirements: university degree in agriculture or communication; need broad animal knowledge & people-oriented personality Requirements: university degree in agriculture or communication; need broad animal knowledge & people-oriented personality

THE END!!! Reference Reference Lee/Hutter/Rudd/Westrom/Bull/Mohr/Pollok (2000). Introduction to Livestock & Companion Animals (2 nd ed.). Danville, Il.: Interstate Publishers, Inc. Lee/Hutter/Rudd/Westrom/Bull/Mohr/Pollok (2000). Introduction to Livestock & Companion Animals (2 nd ed.). Danville, Il.: Interstate Publishers, Inc.

Occupational Categories Review

Scientists, Engineers, and Related Specialists Perform research to improve the competitive position of agriculture in the United States Animal scientist, biochemist, entomologist, food scientist, geneticist, microbiologist Agricultural engineer environmental engineer, food engineer Nutritionist, veterinarian These workers do essential research and development that improves the competitive position of the United States in world markets.

Managers and Financial Specialists Use human relation and communication skills to provide guidance within an agriculture business Business manager, food service manager, retail manager, wholesale manager Economist, financial analyst, credit analyst.

Marketing, Merchandising, and Sales Representatives Use communication and technology skills to trade agriculture products Marketing manager, livestock buyer, market analyst Food broker, grain merchandiser Sales representative, technical service representative About one-third of the projected openings for college graduates with degrees in agriculture are in this category.

Education, Communication, and Information Specialists Use communication skills to share information about agriculture Agriculture education teacher, college faculty member, extension agent Public relations specialist, reporter, editor.

Social Services Professionals Use communication skills and technical expertise to provide information about agriculture Dietician, nutrition counselor Food inspector.

Agricultural Production Specialists Use technical skills to produce agriculture products Farmer, ranchers Professional farm manager, feedlot manager.