Swine - Farrow to Finish Technician (Level 1) Skill Set

• Demonstrate knowledge of sow & boar physiology & anatomy, also common health diseases & disorders
• Demonstrate knowledge of the farms bio-security protocol & herd health program
• Interpret drug labels and administer treatments
• Recognize, treat & monitor basic health problems
• Demonstrate appropriate personal hygiene practices
• Maintain facility & equipment cleanliness and sanitation

• Monitor farrowing sows and carry out farm’s farrowing protocol
• Induce sows to farrow (Optional)
• Recognize farrowing problems and provide basic assistance
• Perform routine procedures with new birthed piglets
• Carry out fostering practices with piglets
• Castrate baby pigs

• Demonstrate a basic knowledge of mature, feeder, & weaner pig behaviors
• Weigh mature, feeder & weaner pigs
• Perform weaning procedures
• Carry out mating of breeding stock
• Perform artificial insemination on sows (Optional)

• Demonstrate knowledge of pig production workplace hazards
• Monitor and maintain facility environmental control systems
• Operate a standby generator to restore power (Optional)
• Safely use basic hand/shop tools (Optional)
• Follow safe farm vehicle driving regulations (Optional)
• Haul pigs with farm trucks (Optional)
• Perform basic arc welding for maintenance and repair (Optional)
• Safely operate, maintain & service:
  • farm tractors (Optional)
  • trucks & tractors with equipment in tow (Optional)
  • two axle farm trucks (Optional)
  • three axle farm trucks (Optional)

• Demonstrate a basic knowledge of the units production indicators, goals and targets
• Record production information/data in barn records system
• Demonstrate basic knowledge of hog marketing practices and markets
• Demonstrate knowledge of current quality assurance programs and food safety issues
• Operate farms computerized management system of permanent records (Optional)

• Supervise supply of water to pigs
• Carry out feeding plan for all ages of stock
• Operate & service feed handling equipment
• Operate on-farm feed mixing & processing systems (Optional)
• Demonstrate basic knowledge of nutrition/feeding principles for all stock

• Demonstrate basic knowledge of waste handling principles
• Perform clean out routine and operate the manure handling system
• Operate high pressure washer and perform periodic service
• Demonstrate knowledge of potential confined space hazards
• Demonstrate safe working procedures in confined spaces (Optional)
• Operate pumped manure transfer equipment/system & slurry tanker wagon on fields & roads (Optional)

• Manage your training & continuing education
• Effectively communicate and interact on the job
• Manage time effectively
• Demonstrate knowledge of personal financial principles (Optional)
• Manage your health and safety on the job
• Use a fire extinguisher and combat a small fire
• Perform basic first aid procedures
• Safely handle hazardous farm materials