Animal Husbandry Vocational training at Triangle Cross Ranch, LLC

When you want to find a Christian Boarding School for boys that also offers vocational training that can lead your loved one to a successful and productive career, please consider Triangle Cross Ranch, LLC in rural Wyoming.

While enrolled at Triangle Cross Ranch, LLC, your young boy will explore many vocation and job options that fit his personality and gifts, as well as learn new skills and gain valuable work experience that can lead to his best career. Here’s an example of what he may choose to do after enrolling in our vocational experiences at Triangle Cross Ranch, LLC, —learn Animal Husbandry!

What is Animal Husbandry?

This vocation is the science of breeding and caring for farm animals. Animal husbandry is the branch of agriculture concerned with animals that are raised for meat, fiber, milk, eggs, or other products. It includes day-to-day care, selective breeding and the raising of livestock. 2

Professionals in the field include livestock, dairy and poultry farmers. These farm professionals are responsible for breeding, marketing and caring for the animals on the farm. Daily tasks include feeding animals, cleaning stalls and pens, helping with births and maintaining equipment. Animal husbandry professionals either perform the work themselves or oversee other workers, depending on the size of the farm. In addition to animal caretaking, animal husbandry professionals often assist in the maintenance and repair of facilities for their wards. 1

Individuals interested in becoming animal husbandry professionals may choose to complete formal education in the form of an associate’s degree program or vocational training. You also may develop experience on the job through an entry-level position. Although some animal husbandry professionals hold a high school diploma, many have earned degrees in farm management or other related fields from a school of agriculture. 1

Farm management degree programs include technical farm training, as well as courses in economics, marketing and the environment. Despite this trend, many farm professionals are trained on the job by more experienced animal husbandry professionals or gain experience from living on farms their entire lives. 1

Animal husbandry is a career devoted to breeding animals in order to improve desirable traits while mitigating less desirable ones. This requires knowledge of animal genetics, which could be obtained through a degree program or through close on-the-job observation. Animal husbandry professionals could work with one or many types of animal to improve genetics of a population through breeding. This job is critically important to farmers and other professionals relying on the productivity or vigor of animals to earn a living. 1

As an animal breeder, you’ll keep detailed records to note things like the amount and quality of product animals produce, as well as the traits exhibited by their offspring. 1

It will be your responsibility to choose animals for breeding that will ultimately display the traits desired by your clients. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), desirable traits might include sheep that produce thicker wool or cows that produce more milk. You may work with a wide range of animals, including chickens, goats, cattle and other farm animals. You may also work with domestic animals, including cats, dogs and pet birds. 1

To increase your chances for successful breeding, you must understand the physiology of the animals you are attempting to breed; this requires careful monitoring and analysis of the animals. You may breed animals using artificial insemination; this is most common with very expensive or large animals, including horses. Your work in animal husbandry may involve a mix of outdoor and laboratory-based work; you might need to travel to clients’ farms. You can begin your career in animal husbandry without formal education, though earning a degree may be required by some employers. You can study animal husbandry at the associate’s, bachelor’s or master’s degree level. Both animal science and agriculture business programs may include coursework in animal breeding, with some programs offering concentrations in this field. 1

The study of animal husbandry involves learning about various animals with regards to physiology and behaviors. You’ll also study genetics in order to better understand how to achieve the best results when breeding. Related to genetics is the study of statistics; the potential expenses and complications associated with animal husbandry make a keen knowledge of statistical analysis useful. 1

You can begin your career in animal husbandry without formal education, though earning a degree may be required by some employers. You can study animal husbandry at the associate’s, bachelor’s or master’s degree level. Both animal science and agriculture business programs may include coursework in animal breeding, with some programs offering concentrations in this field. 1

Major types of animal husbandry in the world today:

• Dairy Farming.
• Poultry Farming.
• Fish Farming (Pisciculture)
• Bee Farming (Apiculture)
• Dairy Products.
• Meat.
• Land Management.
• Fiber.

Personality and Skills needed:

Analytical skills. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers monitor and assess the quality of their land or livestock.

Critical-thinking skills. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers determine how to improve their harvest and livestock while reacting to conditions that may affect their short- or long-term plans.

Initiative. Many farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers are self-employed. They must be self-motivated in order to maximize crop or livestock production. 

Interpersonal skills. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers supervise laborers and other workers, so they must be able to communicate and interact with a variety of people.

Mechanical skills. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers operate complex machinery and occasionally perform routine maintenance.

Physical stamina. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers—particularly those who work on small farms—must be able to do physically strenuous, repetitive tasks, such as bending, stooping, and lifting. 4

To show competency in farm management, agricultural managers may choose to complete certification programs. The American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers (ASFMRA) offers the Accredited Farm Manager (AFM) credential. AFM requirements include ASFMRA coursework, a bachelor’s degree, experience in farmland management, and passing an exam. A complete list of requirements is available from ASFMRA.

Certain basic skills are necessary for any livestock owner to properly care for his herd, understand animal vital signs and prevent disease. By learning these basic skills, you will not only save animals, but reduce veterinary costs. The following skills will make you a better livestock husbandman: 5

Observation

Animal restraint

Taking and evaluating vital signs

Basic wound care

Ruminant hoof care

Administration of oral medicines

Administration of injectable vaccines, antibiotics, etc.

How to Learn Animal Husbandry:

Programs for animal husbandry, also referred to as ‘animal science,’ prepare students for the field by having them study livestock care and breeding techniques. Husbandry training programs prepare individuals for careers working with farm, zoo and lab animals, including pig, cattle, poultry and horse populations.

Educational requirements can often vary from an associate’s degree to a master’s degree, depending on the type of animal husbandry career someone seeks. 2

Vocational benefits:

The median annual wage for farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers was $68,090 in May 2020. 4  

Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Where to Begin Learning Animal Husbandry Skills

Young men at Triangle Cross Ranch, LLC will be responsible for the general care of the ranch including care of livestock, and horses. Through this western cowboy way of life, young boys learn to work hard, stick to things even when it gets tough, and to finish what they start.  This is terrific preparation for his preparation for vocational skills.

Triangle Cross Ranch, LLC Vocational Training Program in rural WY, helps young boys take control of their lives and develop independence. Young boys develop a wide variety of job skills in various industries, as well as build a foundation in general life skills. We believe that our long-term residential ranch environment and western “Cowboy Culture” promotes honesty, integrity, responsibility and determination.

That’s why we offer young boys hands-on exposure to a variety of  vocational skills training such as: agriculture management, crop irrigation, carpentry, welding, heavy equipment operations, mechanics, horsemanship/horse training, and animal husbandry.

Call to learn more about our program for boys, ages 10-17, in Powell, Wyoming. We accept young men year-round. Call Triangle Cross Ranch, LLC at (307) 645-3322 or send us an e-mail at: admissionstcr@gmail.com

We look forward to speaking with you.

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Sources:

1https://study.com/articles/Animal_Husbandry_Professional_Job_Info_for_Students_Considering_a_Career_in_Animal_Husbandry.html

2 https://study.com/animal_husbandry_training.html

3 https://learn.org/articles/Animal_Husbandry_Career_and_Salary_Questions_Answered.html

4 https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/farmers-ranchers-and-other-agricultural-managers.htm#tab-4

5 https://www.hobbyfarms.com/basic-farm-animal-husbandry-skills/