The Feedlot Associate is responsible for the daily care, and handling of feeder calves. This role requires a blend of hands-on agricultural labor, equipment operation, and teamwork.
As a member of the Beck's Family of employees, all full-time employees are eligible for a generous benefits package:
- Health benefits including two medical plan options and company HSA contributions, dental, vision, employer paid life/AD&D for you and your dependents, disability insurance, and access to an onsite Nurse Practitioner
- 401k plan match & company sponsored pension plan and access to a Financial Advisor to help you manage your retirement savings
- Paid time off, Paid Holidays, Wellness Programs, & Corporate Discounts
- Company Christmas Party, Free Lunch, Two Hundred Dollar Merchandise Allowance, & Much More
Responsibilities
- Conduct routine pen checks to ensure all animals are healthy. Identify, pull, and treat sick or injured animals.
- Follow strict protocols for handling veterinary needles, syringes, and medications to avoid accidental self-injection or cross-contamination.
- Daily tasks include, but not limited to, checking waterers, scoring feed bunks, and checking gate latches.
- Daily evaluation of bed pack moisture levels and cleanliness. Identify areas requiring fresh bedding to maintain optimal cattle comfort.
- Scrape alley, clean pens, and haul manure as needed.
- Navigate wet or slick concrete alleyways with caution.
- Move and sort cattle safely through alleys, tubs, and chutes.
- Maintain all feedlot equipment, including cattle chutes, tractors, and feed wagons.
- Repair broken gates or building materials that could pose an injury risk to the animals.
- Operate mixer wagons to precisely weigh, mix, and distribute TMR to bunk lines and correct pens.
- Receive feedstuffs and keep commodity facilities clean.
- Strictly execute lockout/tagout procedures before servicing mechanical ventilation fans, automated feed augers, or bale processing equipment.
- Safely navigate heavy loaders, tractors, and feed trucks through tight indoor alleys, around support pillars, and new livestock pens. Always utilize backup cameras and audible alarms.
- Adhere to rigorous safety rules regarding commodity bays, silage structures, and high-walled grain areas.
- Other duties as required.
Job Requirements
Education and training:
- Must be BQA (Beef Quality Assurance) certified in cattle feedlot and transportation or obtain certifications within first thirty (30) days of employment.
- Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license and insurable driving record determined by Beck's automobile insurance policy.
Technical knowledge:
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and IOS Mobile Systems.
- Proficiency with digital scale software.
- Basic mechanical troubleshooting for tractors, loaders, and automated barn curtains/fans.
- Basic mechanical skills.
- Class A CDL strongly preferred.
Travel and hours of work:
- Occasional overnight travel may be required based on project needs at Beck's regional locations and may vary in duration of time.
- Hours of work will vary based on seasonal field activity, accessibility and flexibility of work hours is critical.
Physical demands:
- Ability to work in indoor barn environments (exposure to dust, dander, and ammonia odors), lift up to 70 pounds unassisted, and stand/walk on concrete and uneven bed packs.
- Ability to pass respiratory medical clearance evaluation required.
- Ability to pass DOT physical examination and obtain Medical Examiner's Certificate may be required.
Experience:
- Experience in feedlot operations and cattle processing is required.
In an effort to provide a safer, drug-free workplace for employees, all full-time applicants to whom offers of employment are made must submit to a drug test and background check, subject to applicable local, state, or federal laws or regulations. Employment at Beck's is contingent upon passing these pre-employment screenings.