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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Goat Worker

💰 $ - $

🎯 Role Definition

A Goat Worker (also called Goat Farmhand, Goat Herder, or Goat Attendant) is responsible for the daily care, health management, and husbandry of goats on a commercial or small-scale farm. This role includes feeding and watering, monitoring animal health and behavior, assisting with birthing (kidding), performing routine hoof and coat care, maintaining pastures, operating milking equipment (for dairy operations), and keeping accurate herd records. The Goat Worker supports animal welfare, biosecurity, and farm productivity while working closely with veterinarians, herd managers, and other farm staff to implement breeding, nutrition, and parasite-control programs. Strong physical stamina, attention to detail, and basic technical competencies with farm tools and milking systems are essential.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Farm Hand / General Farm Worker
  • Agricultural Labourer / Seasonal Farm Worker
  • Animal Care Assistant / Kennel or Stable Worker

Advancement To:

  • Lead Herdsman / Senior Goat Technician
  • Dairy Goat Manager / Farm Supervisor
  • Livestock Operations Manager
  • Breeding Specialist / Herd Genetic Coordinator

Lateral Moves:

  • Dairy Technician (milking-focused)
  • Livestock Sales Representative
  • Agricultural Equipment Operator / Maintenance Technician

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Provide daily feeding and watering for does, bucks, and kids according to prescribed rations, ensuring feed hygiene, accurate portioning, and rotation of feed stocks to maintain optimal body condition and production.
  • Conduct morning and evening herd checks to monitor goat behavior, appetite, mobility, breathing and general condition; log abnormalities immediately and escalate health concerns to the herd manager or veterinarian.
  • Assist with kidding (birthing) processes by preparing kidding pens, providing hands-on support during difficult births, drying and warming newborn kids, and ensuring colostrum intake within the first hours of life.
  • Operate, clean and sanitize milking equipment and parlors for dairy goat operations; perform pre- and post-milking udder hygiene, test milk for quality, and report somatic cell count or contamination issues.
  • Administer routine preventative treatments under direction (vaccinations, deworming, topical and injectable medications), following label directions and maintaining accurate medication and treatment records.
  • Perform hoof trimming and basic foot care on a scheduled basis to prevent lameness, identify foot rot or other infections, and coordinate veterinary care when advanced treatment is required.
  • Implement and monitor parasite control and biosecurity protocols, including pasture rotation, fecal monitoring, quarantine procedures for new or sick animals, and cleaning of shared equipment.
  • Maintain detailed herd records (births, deaths, treatments, breeding dates, milk yields, weights) using farm management software or paper logs to support traceability and production analysis.
  • Assist with breeding programs by heat detection, moving animals for natural service or artificial insemination schedules, and recording breeding outcomes and gestation timelines.
  • Perform building, fence and pen maintenance—repairing fencing, gates, shelters and shade structures to ensure safe containment and predator protection for all goats.
  • Mix and prepare specialized rations, supplements and mineral blocks according to nutritionist or manager instructions, and monitor feed inventory to place timely replenishment orders.
  • Monitor pasture condition and implement rotational grazing plans to maximize forage use, prevent overgrazing and reduce parasite loads across paddocks.
  • Operate farm vehicles and equipment safely, including ATVs, tractors, feed mixers and front-end loaders, to move feed, bedding and supplies around the property.
  • Clean and prepare kidding pens, quarantine pens and general animal housing by removing soiled bedding, disinfecting surfaces and replacing bedding to maintain hygienic living conditions.
  • Conduct routine health screenings and diagnostic sample collection (fecal samples, milk samples) for laboratory testing, following chain-of-custody and biosecurity guidelines.
  • Support milk handling logistics such as cooling, storage and transfer to bulk tanks or processors, and ensure adherence to milk hygiene standards and local dairy regulations.
  • Participate in culling decisions by documenting chronic health, production declines or behavioral issues and assisting in humane removal procedures as directed by management and veterinary guidance.
  • Train and mentor seasonal workers, interns or volunteers in safe goat handling, milking procedures, record keeping and biosecurity practices to raise team competency and consistency.
  • Implement animal welfare, OSHA and workplace safety practices across daily tasks—wearing PPE, using safe handling equipment, and reporting hazards or injuries promptly.
  • Assist with on-farm sales and customer interactions by supporting farm tours, explaining basic husbandry practices, assisting with direct-to-consumer sales of animals or milk products, and ensuring a professional farm presentation.
  • Coordinate with the herd manager and veterinarian on herd health plans, nutrition adjustments, vaccination schedules and emergency response protocols, providing timely updates from daily observations.
  • Perform basic facility repairs and preventative maintenance on feeders, waterers, gates and milking systems and coordinate professional repairs when specialized skills are required.
  • Participate in seasonal herd management activities including weaning, grading, sorting for market, and transport preparation while ensuring appropriate identification and documentation for each animal.
  • Document and implement improvements to standard operating procedures (SOPs) for animal care, milking, cleaning and equipment use to increase efficiency, safety and animal welfare consistency.

Secondary Functions

  • Assist with inventory control for supplies (feed, medicines, bedding) and prepare purchase lists to maintain uninterrupted farm operation.
  • Support record digitization and farm software updates by entering production and health data promptly and accurately to help the management team analyze performance trends.
  • Contribute to on-farm biosecurity education for visitors and seasonal staff by helping to enforce boot-wash stations, visitor logs and restricted access to sensitive areas.
  • Help organize and participate in farm open days, educational workshops or school visits to represent the farm and educate the community about goat husbandry and sustainable farming practices.
  • Aid in emergency response actions such as extreme weather preparations, temporary sheltering, and evacuation of animals if required, and assist in post-event recovery and rebuilding efforts.
  • Coordinate with marketing or sales teams to prepare animals for shows, markets, or customer pickups by ensuring proper grooming, identification, and paperwork.
  • Support research or pilot projects led by the herd manager, veterinarian, or external partners (e.g., feed trials, breeding experiments) by following protocols and accurately collecting data.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Goat husbandry and basic ruminant physiology, including life-stage-specific care (kids, lactating does, bucks).
  • Milking procedures and dairy hygiene best practices for goat milk production, including cleaning and sanitizing milking equipment and bulk tanks.
  • Animal health monitoring and basic veterinary assistance: identifying common diseases, administering routine vaccinations and medications under supervision, and working with vets on treatment plans.
  • Kidding management and neonatal care: assisting births, administering colostrum, warming and monitoring newborn kids, and recognizing dystocia signs.
  • Hoof trimming and foot health management to prevent lameness and foot rot.
  • Pasture management and rotational grazing planning to optimize forage quality and reduce parasite burdens.
  • Feed formulation basics, ration preparation, and supplement dosing to meet production and growth goals.
  • Operation and basic maintenance of farm equipment (tractors, ATVs, feed mixers) and small tools used in daily care.
  • Familiarity with herd record systems and farm management software (e.g., AgriWebb, Farmbrite, Excel-based records) for tracking production, health and breeding.
  • Biosecurity protocols, quarantine procedures and sanitation practices to prevent disease spread on-farm.
  • Basic fencing construction and repair skills (wire, electric, gates) for secure containment.
  • Milk testing and quality monitoring fundamentals (basic SCC awareness, odor/appearance checks).

Soft Skills

  • Strong observational skills and attention to detail for early detection of health or behavior changes.
  • High physical stamina and comfort with manual labor and outdoor work in varying weather conditions.
  • Clear communication and teamwork to coordinate with managers, veterinarians, and other farm staff.
  • Problem-solving aptitude and ability to make quick, informed decisions in animal welfare situations.
  • Time management and organizational skills to balance daily routines, seasonal tasks and record keeping.
  • Empathy for animals and commitment to humane handling and welfare standards.
  • Adaptability and willingness to learn new husbandry techniques, equipment or software.
  • Dependability, punctuality and ability to work independently with minimal supervision.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • High school diploma or equivalent; vocational training or certifications in agriculture or animal care preferred.

Preferred Education:

  • Certificate or associate degree in Animal Science, Agriculture, Livestock Management, or Veterinary Technology.
  • Short courses or certifications in dairy goat management, animal welfare, or livestock handling.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Animal Science
  • Agriculture / Agronomy
  • Veterinary Technology / Animal Health
  • Sustainable Livestock Systems
  • Farm Management

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 0–5+ years depending on farm size and role seniority.

  • Entry (0–1 year): basic animal care, seasonal farm work, or related agricultural experience.
  • Intermediate (1–3 years): hands-on goat-specific care, milking experience, and basic health/treatment exposure.
  • Experienced (3–5+ years): lead herdsman duties, herd health coordination, breeding program participation, and equipment operation.

Preferred:

  • 1–3 years of direct goat husbandry experience for junior roles; 3–5+ years for lead or supervisory positions.
  • Demonstrated experience with dairy milking systems for dairy goat operations or herd management experience for meat goat operations.
  • Prior training or hands-on work with kidding assistance, hoof trimming, and basic veterinary protocols.
  • Valid driver’s license and experience operating farm vehicles and light machinery.
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