Barcelona City Council | Capital humà

Shepherd

A livestock farm is the facility intended for the breeding, production, fattening or maintenance of livestock used for food production or for the manufacture of products of animal origin for any industrial use. These farms can be classified according to the type of livestock: beef, goat, pig, rabbit, poultry, among others or depending on the animals' accommodation: extensive (if they are grazing and are not in closed facilities) or intensive (when they are permanently closed on the premises).

Livestock technicians are in charge of the process of production and handling of animals and/or animal products in a livestock farm, in accordance with current regulations and technical specifications to produce in an optimized way. They are responsible for the animals on the farm and for making decisions about their feeding and cleaning, as well as for implementing sanitary and reproductive prevention programmes. In order to do their job properly, they have to apply criteria of quality, sustainability, and profitability, complying with production legislation and guaranteeing animal welfare, quality control and following regulations for the prevention of occupational hazards, environmental protection, and food safety.

• Take care of animal feed and health.
  Receive new animals, checking documentation of origin and health status.
  Incorporate making and/or identification systems according to the animal species.
  Manage the processes of conservation, preparation and distribution of food and water rations.
  Monitor feeding, weight gain, looking for signs that indicate changes in animal health.
  Apply preventive health programmes for livestock exploitation (vaccination, pest, or infection management, etc.).
  Know the basic operations that must be followed to care for sick animals, applying the necessary veterinary measures and treatments.
• Carry out livestock grazing (in the case of extensive farms).
  Adopt optimal grazing systems to take advantage of the resources of the natural environment.
  Provide the main precautions in the handling of livestock, making correct use of closures, fences, electric shepherds, drinking fountains and/or other elements related to grazing operations.
• Carry out livestock breeding operations.
  Run the monitoring of the behaviours of the females of each species when they come into heat to determine the right time for mating.
  Carry out basic and sanitary care in the gestation period for each animal species.
  Develop the necessary actions with the young during the lactation period to achieve maximum survival.
• Manage the transport and distribution of animals.
  Have the methods of obtaining, transporting, storing, and preserving production (animals for sale, products, or by-products such as milk, eggs, honey, wool, feathers, etc.)
• Ensure the maintenance of livestock facilities and machinery.
  Condition the facilities to guarantee the health of the farm.
  Carry out an environmental control, managing the temperature and ventilation conditions of the facilities where the animals are located.
  To be in charge of the basic maintenance operations of equipment, supplies and tools of the livestock farms.
• Apply current legislations and risk prevention measures.
  Carry out the necessary cleaning, disinfection, and conditioning operations, in accordance with the occupational and environmental risk prevention measures required by current regulations. Apply labour risk prevention and environmental protection measures in the manoeuvring of tractors and/or traction equipment used on the farm.

Regulated training and graduates

• Certificat de Professionalitat de la Família Agrària: Activitats auxiliars en ramaderia (Nivell 1)
• Certificat de Professionalitat de la Família Agrària: Producció porcina intensiva (Nivell 2)
• Certificat de Professionalitat de la Família Agrària: Producció intensiva de remugants (Nivell 2)
• Certificat de Professionalitat de la Família Agrària: Producció avícola i cunícola intensiva (Nivell 2)
• Certificat de Professionalitat de la Família Agrària: Ramaderia ecològica (Nivell 2)
• Certificat de Professionalitat de la Família Agrària: Gestió de la producció ramadera (Nivell 3)
• Certificat de Professionalitat de la Família Agrària: Assistència a la gestió i control sanitari d'animals de granja i producció (Nivell 3)
• Professional Training Course(s) in the field of Agricultural Activities - Intermediate Level: Farming production, livestock production professional profile
• Professional Training Course(s) in the field of Agricultural Activities - Advanced Level: Landscaping and rural environment
• Professional Training Course(s) in the field of Agricultural Activities - Advanced Level: Management and Organisation of Farming Companies
• Professional Training Course(s) of the Agricultural Professional Family - Advanced Level: Livestock and animal health care

Complementary training

Strategic orientation: Level 2

Analytical thought: Level 2

Planning and organisation: Level 2

Concern for order and quality: Level 3

Team work and cooperation: Level 2

Management

The organisation, administration and control of a company or entity are the main interests of people related to the management field. Activities included in this field of interest vary from effective resource management, feasibility analyses and solving business problems to the development of skills and fostering of motivation in relation to human resources. Knowledge regarding specific techniques of strategic administration and business management are required to carry out these activities.

Logistics

The planning, organisation, control and carrying out of logistics and administrative tasks are the focus of people who work in the field of logistics. Activities in the field of logistics include the organisation and planning of supply, storage, production and distribution systems, taking inventories, controlling stock and estimating production, as well as the organisation and/or carrying out of the administrative tasks necessary for the implementation of these activities. Knowledge of organisation, control and management techniques is essential for carrying out these activities.

Environment

People who work in this field focus their professional interests on the preservation, improvement or restoration of the environment (vegetation, fauna, flora) in both built-up areas and natural spaces. Some of the activities that represent this field are the detection, analysis and control of pollutants, the carrying out of measurements and tests in relation to climatic or environmental variables and the reduction of the harmful effects of human activity on the environment. The carrying out of these activities requires knowledge of the environment, for its planning and use, and of environmental regulations.

Ecological agriculture operator

Environmental and chemical safety specialist

Product Distribution Plannner

Natural area planning and organisation technician

Supervisor of assembly of fishing gear and equipment

• Work hours

  Full-time.
  

• Salary

  Variable depending on the size and responsibility of the livestock farm: from 14,057 to 18,052 euros per year. The average salary is around 15,930 euros gross per year.
  
  Source: Report "Observatory of Jobs and Salaries of the Labour Market. Barcelona Activa", elaborated by ICSA Grupo. April 2015.