84120 – Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators
TEER 4Occupations usually requiring a high school diploma or several weeks of on-the-job training
Lead statement
Specialized livestock workers carry out feeding, health and breeding programs on dairy, beef, sheep, poultry, swine and other livestock farms.
Main duties
- Perform or assist in performing animal husbandry activities
- Implement pasture or pen breeding programs
- Develop and implement feeding programs
- Follow safety and bio-security procedures
- Detect and treat certain diseases and health problems in livestock
- Maintain livestock performance records
- Select livestock for sale
- Set and monitor water lines, air flow and temperature in barns, pens and chicken coops
- Train horses
- Maintain inventory and order materials as required
- May be responsible for the collection of semen and the insemination of donor females
- May supervise general farm labourers.
- Operate farm equipment and machinery to till soil, plant, cultivate and harvest crops, and load and unload crops or containers of materials
- Perform equipment and machinery maintenance
- Monitor equipment and machinery operations to detect malfunctions
- Follow safety procedures
- May perform minor repairs to farm equipment and machinery.
Employment requirements
- Specialized livestock workers may require a college certificate or other specialized training in agriculture or livestock husbandry.
- Basic farm knowledge, usually obtained from working on a family farm, may be required for employment.
- A course or certificate in first aid may be required.
- There are no specific education or training requirements for farm machinery operators. However, a college certificate or specialized courses related to farming, such as farm equipment mechanics, agricultural welding and pesticide application, are available.
Example job titles
livestock driver · apiary technician · beekeeping technician · herdsman/woman · herdsperson · livestock attendant · herd attendant · sheep herdsperson · shepherd · horse trainer · combine operator · hay baler operator - agriculture · cropsprayer machine operator · baler - agriculture · cultivator operator · farm machinery operator · harvester machine operator · farm equipment operator
Wages (per hour)
| Province / territory | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | $15.00 | $22.00 | $32.00 |
| Nova Scotia | $16.50 | $19.00 | $31.95 |
| New Brunswick | $15.65 | $20.00 | $31.41 |
| Quebec | $16.10 | $21.00 | $30.00 |
| Ontario | $17.60 | $21.15 | $32.50 |
| Manitoba | $16.00 | $21.54 | $33.00 |
| Saskatchewan | $17.00 | $27.50 | $40.00 |
| Alberta | $15.00 | $25.00 | $32.00 |
| British Columbia | $17.85 | $20.00 | $32.00 |
Source: Job Bank wages, 2025 release (ESDC). Low and high are the 10th and 90th percentiles.
Occupation details: ESDC OaSIS 2025, based on NOC 2021.