Will “Animal Husbandry Technician” be Automated?

Core Skills & Abilities

• Clip or shear hair on animals.

• Examine animals to detect symptoms of illness or injury.

• Measure specified amounts of semen into calibrated syringes, and insert syringes into inseminating guns.

• Record animal characteristics such as weights, growth patterns, and diets.

• Arrange for sale of animals and eggs to hospitals, research centers, pet shops, and food processing plants.

• Inject prepared animal semen into female animals for breeding purposes, by inserting nozzle of syringe into vagina and depressing syringe plunger.

• Examine semen microscopically to assess and record density and motility of gametes, and dilute semen with prescribed diluents, according to formulas.

• Maintain logs of semen specimens used and animals bred.

• Select animals to be bred, and semen specimens to be used, according to knowledge of animals, genealogies, traits, and desired offspring characteristics.

• Build hutches, pens, and fenced yards.

• Place vaccines in drinking water, inject vaccines, or dust air with vaccine powder to protect animals from diseases.

• Adjust controls to maintain specific building temperatures required for animals' health and safety.

• Purchase and stock supplies of feed and medicines.

• Brand, tattoo, or tag animals to allow animal identification.

• Package and label semen to be used for artificial insemination, recording information such as the date, source, quality, and concentration.

• Exercise animals to keep them in healthy condition.

• Treat minor injuries and ailments and contact veterinarians to obtain treatment for animals with serious illnesses or injuries.

• Bathe and groom animals.

• Feed and water animals, and clean and disinfect pens, cages, yards, and hutches.

• Exhibit animals at shows.

• Observe animals in heat to detect approach of estrus and exercise animals to induce or hasten estrus, if necessary.