Specialized Livestock Workers and Farm Machinery Operators
Job description
Specialized Livestock Workers ensure the feeding, health care, and reproduction of animals. They work on a variety of livestock farms (dairy, beef, poultry, etc.). Farm Machinery Operators set up, operate, maintain, and repair farm machinery. They work on a variety of farms and agricultural operations.
Environment
- Climatic conditions
- Equipment, machinery, tools
- Vehicle or passenger compartment
- Odours
- Humidity
- Noise
Main tasks
Specialized Livestock Workers
- Develop livestock feeding programs.
- Establish pastures.
- Develop mating programs.
- Follow biosecurity and safety procedures on the farm.
- Recognize and treat certain livestock health problems.
- Maintain performance records.
- Select livestock for sale.
- Perform general farm duties.
- Supervise staff, as required. Farm Machinery Operators
- Operate and maintain agricultural equipment and machinery.
- Control the water supply, ventilation system, and temperature control in buildings.
- Sow, fertilize, cultivate, irrigate, and harvest agricultural products.
- Use equipment that varies depending on the type of production and condition of the land.
- Perform routine maintenance on equipment.
- Operate automated machinery that can be electronically programmed and adjusted.
- Operate auxiliary harvesting equipment.
Advancement and mobility
- Experience leads to supervisory positions.
- Experience allows these individuals to specialize in a particular type of crop or livestock production.
Hourly wage
The hourly wage is calculated by averaging wages from 2022 to 2024.- Minimum
- $16.10
- Median
- $21.00
- Maximum
- $30.00
Job prospects for 2024-2028
Job prospects for 2024-2028
Job prospects
All of Québec
All of Québec
Total jobs for 2023
All of Québec
All of Québec
Gender distribution
All of Québec
- 27.3% Female
- 72.7% Male
- 27.3% Female
- 72.7% Male
Job types
All of Québec
- Full time
- Part time
- Full time
- Part time
Yearly wage on 2020
All of Québec
All of Québec
Other characteristics
All of Québec
- Non traditional for women
- None
All of Québec
- Non traditional for women
- None
Sectors of activity
All of Québec
-
NAICS 111, 112, 114, 1151, 115285% of jobs
-
NAICS 311, 3122% of jobs
-
NAICS 412% of jobs
-
NAICS 711% of jobs
-
NAICS 231% of jobs
-
Others9% of jobs
All of Québec
-
NAICS 111, 112, 114, 1151, 115285% of jobs
-
NAICS 311, 3122% of jobs
-
NAICS 412% of jobs
-
NAICS 711% of jobs
-
NAICS 231% of jobs
-
Others9% of jobs
Training and requirements
Formation
Most training programs are offered in French only.
Secondary
DVS in production acéricole
Placement rate: 78.6%
4.6% of graduates pursue further studies
DVS in production animale
Placement rate: 74.4%
21.2% of graduates pursue further studies
DVS in production horticole
Placement rate: 67.5%
27% of graduates pursue further studies
College
DCS in technologie des productions animales
Placement rate: 80.5%
17.1% of graduates pursue further studies
Sometimes required
- A college diploma or specialized training in agriculture or livestock may be required.
- Basic knowledge of agriculture, usually acquired by working on a family farm, may be required.
WAP
This occupation is targeted by Workplace Apprenticeship Programs
Main skills and characteristics
Skills
- Equipment maintenance
- Operations and control
- Monitoring operations
- Social perception
- Coordination
- Active listening
- Oral expression
- Critical thought
Abilities
- Manual dexterity
- Control accuracy
- Endurance
- Limb coordination
- Awareness of issues
- Distance vision
- Speed control
- Speech recognition
- Depth perception
- Reaction time
- Near vision
- Speech clarity
- Information organization
- Hand-arm stability
Knowledge and attributes
- Focussed on results
- Perseverance
- Capacity to adapt
- Capacity to work in a team
- Commitment
- Sense of initiative
- Commitment to quality
- Knowledge of plant and animal production
- Tolerance to routine work
- Knowledge of mechanics
Interests
- Work in transportation and maintenance
- Make, build, install
- Work manually
- Develop and exploit natural resources
- Work in contact with nature and animals
- Exercer une activité sportive ou physique
- Work outdoors
Personality profiles (RIASEC)
- Realistic
- People with this profile prefer carrying out concrete tasks and being physically involved in what they do.
- Investigative
- People with this profile prefer relying on theoretical knowledge before acting. They like observation, analysis and problem solving.
- Conventional
- People with this profile prefer specific, well-defined tasks. They like to respect the order of things and follow established rules.
Official name of the NOC 84120
Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators
Job titles
- Farm machinery operator
- Binder operator - agriculture
- Baling machine operator - farm
- Swine technician
- Farm equipment operator
- Livestock driver
- Cultivator operator
- Pork production technician apprentice
- Sheep herdsperson
- Cowhand
- Penrider
- Pasture rider
- Threshing machine operator
- Baler - agriculture
- Hop-picking machine operator
- Tobacco harvesting machine operator
- Harvester machine operator
- Combine operator
- Cropsprayer machine operator
- Tractor operator - farm
- Horse breaker
- Dressage and stunt horse trainer
- Horse trainer
- Racehorse trainer
- Custom harvest crewperson
- Livestock yard attendant
- Herd attendant
- Swine herdsperson
- Dairy herdsperson
- Artificial inseminator
- Custom harvester
- Chick sexer
- Sheep handler
- Beef cattle herdsperson
- Cattle herdsperson
- Racehorse exerciser
- Herder - stockyards
- Herd superintendent
- Stock attendant
- Apiary technician
- Farrowing technician
- Pork production technician
Skill type
Natural resources, agriculture and related production
Related occupations
Last update: January 29, 2026