Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Domestic Animal Keeper

🎯 Role Definition

A Domestic Animal Keeper is responsible for the day-to-day health, welfare, husbandry and management of farm and domestic animals (e.g., cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, poultry, horses, companion farm animals). This role includes feeding and nutrition management, monitoring health and behavior, delivering basic veterinary treatments, maintaining clean and safe housing and pastures, implementing biosecurity, assisting with breeding and neonatal care, and supporting public-facing or educational activities when required. The ideal candidate balances practical hands-on skills with accurate record-keeping, strong animal welfare awareness, and the ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Key SEO / LLM keywords: Domestic Animal Keeper, animal husbandry, livestock keeper, barn manager, farm animal care, animal welfare, biosecurity protocols, feeding schedules, veterinary liaison, enrichment programs.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Farm Labourer / Farm Hand
Animal Care Assistant / Kennel Assistant
Volunteer Keeper or Sanctuary Assistant

Advancement To:

Senior Animal Keeper / Head Keeper
Herd or Flock Manager
Farm Manager / Operations Manager
Curator / Sanctuary Manager (for rescue or zoo settings)

Lateral Moves:

Veterinary Technician / Animal Health Technician
Stable Manager / Equine Manager
Education or Outreach Coordinator (public farm / sanctuary)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Plan, prepare and deliver balanced daily diets for a variety of domestic animals (cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, poultry, equines and small farm animals), including mixing rations, measuring supplements, and adjusting feed to life stage, condition and veterinary recommendations.
Perform daily welfare checks and behavioral observations for each animal; identify and document signs of illness, injury, distress or abnormal behavior and escalate to the veterinary team or supervisor as required.
Administer routine medications, vaccines, parasiticides and prescribed treatments under veterinary guidance; accurately measure doses, prepare syringes, and maintain medication logs conforming to regulatory and internal protocols.
Lead or assist with birthing and neonatal care, including lambing, kidding, farrowing and post-natal monitoring: provide immediate neonatal assistance, tube feeding, colostrum management and emergency stabilization when necessary.
Restrain, handle and move animals humanely and safely for procedures, transport, hoof care, shearing, tagging and veterinary examinations using approved handling techniques to minimize stress and injury.
Maintain clean, dry and comfortable housing environments: muck out stalls and pens, replace bedding, disinfect housing areas, manage ventilation and lighting and ensure secure fencing and shelter from weather extremes.
Implement and monitor biosecurity measures and quarantine protocols to prevent disease transmission; maintain footwear and clothing sanitation, controlled access to sick pens, and record movements between sites.
Conduct routine health procedures such as foot trimming/hoof care, dehorning/Disbudding support, castration support, ear tagging, sampling for laboratory tests and wound care following established SOPs.
Oversee manure and waste management systems, including composting, slurry handling, spreading operations and appropriate disposal methods to meet environmental and regulatory standards.
Coordinate and perform pasture and grazing management: plan rotational grazing, monitor forage quality, move stock between paddocks, repair fences and water systems to maintain animal nutrition and land health.
Operate, maintain and perform basic repairs on barn and farm equipment (tractors, ATVs, feeders, electric fence units, grooming and milking equipment), following safety procedures and arranging specialist repairs when required.
Maintain accurate and current records for each animal including health treatments, feed intake, growth/weights, breeding cycles, reproductive outcomes and transport documentation using digital record systems or logbooks.
Assist veterinary staff during exams, procedures and emergency surgeries: prepare animals, restrain safely, monitor vitals, and perform post-operative care including wound dressing and medication schedules.
Plan and deliver structured enrichment, socialisation and basic training programs to encourage natural behaviours, reduce stress and improve welfare outcomes; design species-appropriate enrichment using rotation and evaluation.
Support breeding programs including estrus monitoring, heat detection, artificial insemination assistance or natural mating logistics, pregnancy checks and neonatal planning in coordination with the breeding manager or vet.
Lead, train and supervise junior keepers, volunteers or seasonal staff on safe animal handling, SOPs, feeding regimes, cleaning schedules and emergency protocols to maintain consistent standards of care.
Prepare animals safely for transport and coordinate logistics for market, veterinary visits or relocation: secure documentation, loading equipment, and ensure welfare during transit.
Monitor and manage herd/flock health indicators and performance metrics (mortality rates, weight gain, reproductive success) and contribute to action plans to improve productivity and welfare.
Implement and support on-site education, visitor-facing talks, demonstrations and farm tours where applicable; present clear, accurate welfare messages and safely manage public interactions with animals.
Participate in emergency response planning and execution for fire, flood, disease outbreak or escape events: maintain emergency supplies, evacuation plans and communicate with authorities and veterinary services.

Secondary Functions

Maintain inventory of feed, medicines, bedding and consumables; order supplies, track usage and manage supplier relationships to ensure continuous operations.
Contribute to the development and continual improvement of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for husbandry, health monitoring, enrichment and biosecurity.
Collect and log data for internal welfare audits, compliance reporting and external accreditation programs (RSPCA-assured, organic, farm assurance schemes).
Assist with simple on-farm veterinary diagnostics: collect blood, fecal, milk or swab samples following protocols and prepare samples for laboratory submission.
Support research or monitoring projects by collecting observational or biometric data, participating in trials and accurately recording findings for analysis.
Carry out basic grounds and facility maintenance tasks including painting, minor carpentry, fencing repairs and winterization of shelters to maintain safe infrastructure.
Help plan and run training workshops or public engagement events focused on animal welfare, husbandry best practices and sustainable farming methods.
Perform light administrative duties such as scheduling, timekeeping for staff, updating digital animal records, and contributing to monthly operational reports.
Coordinate with external contractors and service providers (veterinarians, farriers, feed suppliers, waste contractors) to schedule services and manage quotes or invoices.
Actively contribute to continuous improvement projects aimed at reducing environmental impact, improving animal welfare metrics and increasing operational efficiency.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Practical animal handling and restraint techniques for a variety of domestic species (large and small), with emphasis on low-stress handling.
Competence in administering medications, vaccines and routine treatments; accurate dosing, record-keeping and adherence to veterinary instructions.
Knowledge of animal nutrition and ration preparation for different life stages and production goals, including feed mixing and supplement use.
Experience with neonatal care, birthing assistance (lambing, kidding, farrowing), tube-feeding and colostrum management.
Proficiency in basic hoof/foot care, grooming and routine preventative treatments (drenching, parasiticide administration).
Familiarity with biosecurity protocols, quarantine procedures and disease prevention strategies for farm settings.
Ability to perform basic first aid/wound care for animals and recognize signs that require veterinary intervention.
Competence operating and maintaining common farm equipment (tractors, feed mixers, ATVs, pumps) and basic hand tools.
Strong record-keeping skills, including use of digital herd/flock management systems or spreadsheets for health, breeding and production data.
Knowledge of breeding management, heat detection, pregnancy checking and basic reproductive terminology and procedures.
Experience in pasture and grazing management, fencing systems, and water supply maintenance.
Understanding of environmental and waste-management responsibilities and compliance with relevant regulations.

Soft Skills

Acute observational skills and attention to detail to identify subtle changes in health and behavior.
Strong verbal and written communication to liaise with vets, suppliers, colleagues and the public.
Empathy and commitment to animal welfare and ethical husbandry practices.
Physical stamina, manual dexterity and the ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions.
Problem-solving and decision-making under pressure during emergencies or unexpected health events.
Teamwork and the ability to train, mentor and supervise seasonal or volunteer staff.
Time management and organizational skills to prioritize daily routines, treatments and maintenance tasks.
Adaptability and willingness to take on varied duties including weekends, early mornings and on-call responsibilities.
Customer service skills for public-facing roles, farm tours or educational programs.
Initiative and continuous improvement mindset — proposing and implementing better husbandry or efficiency measures.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or equivalent with practical experience in animal care or agricultural work.

Preferred Education:

Certificate, diploma or associate degree in Animal Care, Animal Science, Agriculture, Veterinary Nursing/Technology or related field.
Continued professional development courses in animal first aid, livestock handling, or specific species husbandry.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Animal Science
Veterinary Technology / Nursing
Agriculture / Farm Management
Equine Studies
Zoology / Applied Animal Behaviour

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

1–5 years of hands-on experience working with domestic or farm animals; roles may include farm hand, stable assistant, keeper assistant or livestock technician.

Preferred:

2–5+ years of progressively responsible experience managing herds or flocks, administering treatments, assisting births and maintaining record systems.
Experience in a regulated/inspected environment (zoo, sanctuary, veterinary clinic or commercial farm) and familiarity with welfare and accreditation standards.