Animal Breeder Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of an animal breeder. Feel free to use our job description template to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as an animal breeder.
Who is an Animal Breeder?
An Animal Breeder is someone who primarily produces animals that may serve different purposes which can be for: shows, food consumption, and companion pets. Animal breeders help to produce some desirable traits in some animals.
Animal breeders have different specialties based on the animals they breed. For instance, an animal breeder who breeds dogs is called a dog breeder and the same goes for animals like cats, dogs, horses, cows, chickens, rabbits, and reptiles.
There are different kinds of animal breeders and the work-life schedule of an animal breeder solely depends on the industry he or she is working in. Breeders can perform artificial insemination of livestock to increase desirable traits such as large beef cattle that will produce more meat and milk. Some animal breeders can also work in the agricultural sector and encourage breeding activities to bring about the duplication of desirable traits. Other animal breeders can be self-employed by breeding and selling special breeds in large markets such as cats, dogs, birds, and fish. For instance, a breeder may breed a rare species like a horse to win a sporting competition.
Some animal breeders work in laboratories and breed some animals for research purposes. Breeders breed animals for scientific experiments such experiments include the effect of genetics on subsequent generations of mammals. These studies are also applied in medical areas to boast medical advancement.
Many animal breeders own large areas of land for the conducive grooming of animals. Most large-scale animal breeding has dedicated its vicinity to raising farm animals. For instance, a person who breeds a horse will require a large hectare of land to run a farm operation. Some animal breeders specialized in small-scale breeding that raises animals in their homes. For instance, a person who breeds rabbits may be able to run their business at home.
Animal breeders don’t have a typical work schedule. Those who work in the laboratories of farms may work full-time hours but sometimes they may need to do shifts to provide intensive care for the animals. Those who specialize in independent breeding may conduct their job throughout the day by feeding and caring for animals in their homes and assisting in the birth of animals.
Animal Breeder Area of Specialization
- Independent animal breeders: They breed animals individually for a profit. They encourage the production of specialized breeds. For instance, they can breed a chicken primarily for it to be large to produce more meat.
- Livestock breeders: These breeders use artificial insemination to maintain the population of livestock on farms especially if the population is scarce. In addition, they also use artificial insemination to distribute desirable traits to the younger generation.
- Laboratory breeders: these breeders breed animals for scientific research which can also help medical purposes.
Animal Breeder Job Description
Below are the animal breeder job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
- Breed animals to produce a high number of desirable breeds or to expand the bloodlines of animals with desirable traits. Animal breeders mate with animals to produce babies. The breeder usually takes away the baby once it has reached the age it can stay without the mother and sells it. The main responsibility of a breeder is to find the perfect mate for each animal.
- Creating a situation for natural breeding and performing artificial insemination.
- Assess animals produced for breeding to ascertain if the desirable qualities are available.
- Feeding animals
- Maintaining logs of reproduction fluid
- Maintain the appropriate temperature in the animal’s habitat to protect the animal from any illness
- Performing procedures on animals
- Sell breed animals, acquire the appropriate research and paperwork for the breed with certain traits and enter animals into the
- Observing ovulation cycles and patterns of mating
- Evaluating and recording data regarding fertility
- Keeping daily records of diets, weight changes, and overall changes in animal behavior
- Attach rubber collecting sheaths to the genitals of tethered bulls, and stimulate animals’ organs to induce the discharge of reproduction fluid
- Assist animals in giving birth to their young ones
- Exhibit animals at shows or entertainment events
- Examine reproduction fluid microscopically to ascertain and record the density and motility of gametes, and dilute reproduction fluid with prescribed diluents according to formulas
- Observe animals during the heat to detect the approach of estrus, and exercise animals to induce or hasten estrus if the need arises.
- Package and label reproduction fluid to be used for artificial insemination, recording information such as the date, source, quality, and concentration
- Construction of animal shelters such as hutches, pens, and fenced yards
- Arrange animals for sale and hatch eggs to hospitals, research centers, pet shops, and food processing plants
- Milking cows and goats for commercial purposes
- Perform procedures on animals such as dehorning or castration
- Treat minor injuries and ailments and contact veterinarians to get the appropriate treatment of animals with serious injuries or illness
- Label a means of identification on animals such as tattoos or tagging animals to brand them
- Prepare containers of reproduction fluid for freezing and storage shipment, placing them in dry ice or liquid nitrogen
- Measure a quantity of reproduction fluid into calibrated syringes, and insert syringes into inseminating guns
- Incubate eggs for hatching
- Consulting with farmers, vets, and other animal specialists
- Exhibiting animals at shows
- Cleaning the animal environment or animal shelters
- Special care for animals that will be bred includes: feeding, watering amid taking care of injured animals or those that are sick. In addition, vaccinating and cleaning the animal environment.
- Organizing procedures such as neutering for newborn animals
- Researching and learning the genealogy of animals for scientific experiments
Qualifications
- A calm demeanor
- Knowledge of genetics
- Knowledge of animal husbandry
- Compassion for animals
- Bachelor’s degree in agriculture or Veterinary Sciences
- A graduate or postgraduate degree in zoology
- Teamwork and stamina
- Research Oriented
Essential Skills
- Teamwork: an animal breeder must be someone who can work with other people in the field to ensure that animals are bred successfully to pass on desirable traits to the younger generation. Animal breeding is a very large venture that may require more hands to get the work done.
- Compassion for animals: this is a core skill that every animal breeder needs to have. An animal breeder must love animals and show them compassion. An animal breeder’s compassion for animals will motivate him/her to care for them when they are sick and to feed them as appropriate.
- Hand-steadiness: An animal breeder must be very good with his/her hands when performing procedures in order not to cause any risk to an animal’s health. Animal breeders usually use injections and other surgical instruments when breeding animals; these instruments must be handled appropriately.
- Monitoring: An animal breeder should be very observant to ascertain the animal’s health on daily basis and this will help to determine if the animal is sick or wants to mate with the other animal. An animal breeder should also observe an animal’s characteristics.
- Writing Skill: An animal breeder should be able to document research or paperwork about animals because this research will help the new generation of breeders.
- Sales and Marketing Skill: an animal breeder should adopt strategies he/ she can use to market a new breed of animals. This is a core skill, especially for breeders who breed for commercial purposes.
- Self-Control: the job requires containing composure and keeping emotions in check because you are dealing with animals. Control your anger and avoid aggressive behavior in very difficult situations. Remember that animals are not humans
- Stress Tolerance: breeding animals can be very stressful and so it is very paramount for an animal breeder to adapt to stress to get the best result
- Integrity: An animal breeder should be very sincere and should not recommend sick animals for breeding. An animal breeder should always protect his/her integrity by delivering the best breed of animals to customers.
How to Become an Animal Breeder
If you are considering a career as an animal breeder then you should follow the steps stipulated below:
- Acquire a Bachelor’s Degree in Animal Science or Agricultural Science
You should acquire a degree in animal science, veterinary science, animal husbandry zoology, or agricultural science to have a broad knowledge of animals. The courses should focus on animal breeding, reproductive science, and genetics. Some professional schools offer animal breeding. A degree in agricultural science usually lasts for four years.
- Acquire a Post-graduate degree in Agricultural Science
If you did not study an agricultural science-related course in your first degree and you want to be an animal breeder; you may consider acquiring a post-graduate degree in animal science to give you a broad knowledge of animals.
- Acquire a Master’s Degree in Agricultural Science
A Master’s degree in agricultural science is highly beneficial to an animal breeder especially if you want to expand your career. By acquiring a master’s degree you will gain exposure to how to conduct different research for animals; this knowledge will help you to know the best animals to breed.
- Training or Internship
To be a successful animal breeder you need to gain enough experience by enrolling in training. This training is usually done on farms. On farms, animal breeders work with animals daily and learn how to care for and inseminate animals. Most independent breeders learn from experienced breeders in the field.
- Volunteering for Non-breeding Businesses
Aspiring animal breeders who are struggling to find a proper training placement and have a passion for animals can volunteer to work in a non-breeding-based business to show special care for animals. For instance, gaining experience by working in a zoo, pet store or animal shelter will give you the knowledge of caring and tendering for animals. A specialized veterinarian can gain specialized knowledge about animal physiology and care which will lead to a successful career as an animal breeder.
Where to Work as an Animal Breeder
As an animal breeder, you can work in the following places:
- Companies providing artificial insemination: these companies need the service of an animal breeder to help them inseminate animals successfully; the company may inseminate animals for medical research or other research.
- Government Departments such as the Department of Agriculture: An animal breeder can work with the government to help them breed animals for more production of meat or other animal product that will boost the economy of a nation.An animal breeder research to help the government preserve the population of animals in a country.
- Self-employment: An animal breeder can be self-employed to provide the best breed of animals for sale to people for profit
- Laboratories: An animal breeder can work in a lab to breed animals specifically for scientific research. A breeder in this category makes sure that animals are available for future studies.
- Sporting Centre: an animal breeder can work in this kind of place to recommend the best animal for sporting activities or shows. Animal breeders also breed the best animal that can be used for sporting activities.
- Zoo: A zoo is a place where animals are kept. An animal breeder can start his/her career by working in a zoo and caring for animals.
Animal Breeder Salary Scale
The salary scale of an animal breeder varies from one country to another and sometimes from one city to another. An experienced animal breeder earns more than an entry-level animal breeder. Below is the salary scale in some countries of the world:
- In the United States, an Animal Breeder can make an average annual salary of $44,650 or $21 per hour. This salary is above average and on the other end; they can make $28,350 or $14 per hour. This depends on the location they live.
- In Nigeria, the salary range of the majority of animal livestock breeder ranches is from 23,233 to 106,606NGN per month. At the start of the job a livestock breeder usually earns between 23,233NGN to 127,582NGn per month. After five years of service, this is between 23,609 and (8,132 per month for working 44 hours a month.
- In the United Kingdom, the average pay for an animal breeder is 24,074pounds a year and 12pounds per hour. The average salary of an animal breeder ranges between 18,532pounds and 28,899pounds. master’s degree holder usually earns a very high salary because that is the highest level of education for an animal breeder. The salary includes other allowances.