Career Details
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Career Details

45-2021.00 - Animal Breeders


Select and breed animals according to their genealogy, characteristics, and offspring. May require knowledge of artificial insemination techniques and equipment use. May involve keeping records on heats, birth intervals, or pedigree.


Key Facts
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Bright Outlook
Career Details
Green Job
Career Details
Current Employment
7,000
Estimate
Forecasted Employment
6,900
Estimate
Change in Employment
-100.0
Estimate
Change in Employment %
-1.6%
Estimate
Tasks
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Tasks
The tasks listed below can be performed to prepare you for a career in this field.
Core
  • Feed and water animals, and clean and disinfect pens, cages, yards, and hutches.
  • Examine animals to detect symptoms of illness or injury.
  • Select animals to be bred, and semen specimens to be used, according to knowledge of animals, genealogies, traits, and desired offspring characteristics.
  • Treat minor injuries and ailments and contact veterinarians to obtain treatment for animals with serious illnesses or injuries.
  • Observe animals in heat to detect approach of estrus and exercise animals to induce or hasten estrus, if necessary.
  • Record animal characteristics such as weights, growth patterns, and diets.
  • Build hutches, pens, and fenced yards.
  • Brand, tattoo, or tag animals to allow animal identification.
  • Purchase and stock supplies of feed and medicines.
Supplemental
  • Place vaccines in drinking water, inject vaccines, or dust air with vaccine powder to protect animals from diseases.
  • Exhibit animals at shows.
  • Clip or shear hair on animals.
  • Attach rubber collecting sheaths to genitals of tethered bull and stimulate animal's organ to induce ejaculation.
  • Package and label semen to be used for artificial insemination, recording information such as the date, source, quality, and concentration.
  • Prepare containers of semen for freezing and storage or shipment, placing them in dry ice or liquid nitrogen.
  • Maintain logs of semen specimens used and animals bred.
  • Arrange for sale of animals and eggs to hospitals, research centers, pet shops, and food processing plants.
  • Measure specified amounts of semen into calibrated syringes, and insert syringes into inseminating guns.
  • Inject prepared animal semen into female animals for breeding purposes, by inserting nozzle of syringe into vagina and depressing syringe plunger.
  • Adjust controls to maintain specific building temperatures required for animals' health and safety.
  • Examine semen microscopically to assess and record density and motility of gametes, and dilute semen with prescribed diluents, according to formulas.
  • Perform procedures such as animal dehorning or castration.
  • Bathe and groom animals.
  • Exercise animals to keep them in healthy condition.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Knowledge
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Knowledge

The items listed below are organized into sections that contain knowledge useful for pursuing a career in this field. Each section also contains a "Percentage of Importance" statistic that shows how relevant an item is to the occupation.
 Customer and Personal Service
  • 83%
    Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
 Sales and Marketing
  • 79%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
 Administration and Management
  • 71%
    Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
 Biology
  • 66%
    Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
 Mathematics
  • 63%
    Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
 Clerical
  • 62%
    Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
 Production and Processing
  • 58%
    Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
 English Language
  • 56%
    Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
 Mechanical
  • 54%
    Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
 Economics and Accounting
  • 54%
    Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
 Computers and Electronics
  • 53%
    Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
 Education and Training
  • 51%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
 Transportation
  • 51%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Tools
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Tools
The tools listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Veterinary equipment
  • Animal blood collection syringes
  • Animal vaccination syringes
  • Artificial insemination syringes
  • Lethal injection equipment
 Poultry and livestock equipment
  • Animal pregnancy testing kits
  • Automated feed batch mixers
  • Automatic watering devices
  • Branding equipment
  • Dehorners
  • Dummy mares
  • Ear tagging equipment
  • Hormone testing kits
  • Livestock restraint treatment stalls
  • Microchip scanners
  • Ovulation prediction monitors
  • Semen collection kits
  • Tattoo equipment
 Veterinary artificial insemination equipment and supplies
  • Artificial vaginas
  • Horse breeding chutes
  • Semen collection containers
 Cameras
  • Compact digital cameras
 Computer printers
  • Computer laser printers
 Computers
  • Desktop computers
  • Laptop computers
  • Personal computers
 Laboratory centrifuges and accessories
  • Laboratory benchtop centrifuges
 Viewing and observing instruments and accessories
  • Laboratory binocular microscopes
  • Stage warmers
 Laboratory baths
  • Laboratory water baths
 Duplicating machines
  • Laser facsimile machines
 Laboratory incubating equipment
  • Mechanical laboratory incubators
 Heating equipment and parts and accessories
  • Submersible stock tank heaters
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Technology
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Technology
The technologies listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Content management software
  • Adobe Systems Adobe AcrobatHOT
 Development software
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Creative Suite
 Content authoring and editing software
  • Adobe Systems Adobe IllustratorHOT
  • Adobe Systems Adobe InDesignHOT
  • Adobe Systems Adobe PhotoshopHOT
  • Microsoft ExcelHOT
  • Microsoft WordHOT
 Data management and query software
  • Breedtrak
  • KinTraks
  • Microsoft AccessHOT
  • Reudink Software ZooEasy
  • Winners Programs BirdStud
  • Winners Programs Uni-Stud
 Information exchange software
  • Email software
  • Microsoft OutlookHOT
 Network applications software
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer
 Business function specific software
  • Microsoft OfficeHOT
  • Microsoft SharePointHOT
 Industry specific software
  • Questionmark Perception
  • VSN International GenStat
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Certifications
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Certifications
FastForward at Virginia's Community Colleges is a short-term training program for high-demand industries, like healthcare, information technology, and skilled trades and infrastructure, helping Virginians get the jobs and salaries they need. Our goal is to get you trained, help you earn your certification, and get you into a career that can support you and your family. Explore the latest training program offerings by visiting FastForward
The certifications listed below are useful to pursue if you are interested in a career in this field.
 Advanced
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Licensing
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Licensing
The licensing information below is organized into sections and is useful for pursuing if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific licensing information is listed for this occupation in the area you have selected.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Related Programs
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Programs related to this career, offered by participating institution(s), are listed below.

Clicking on the Degree programs in the list below will take you away from the Careers page.
INSTITUTION
PROGRAMS
Averett University