How to become a livestock labourer
Official title: Livestock labourers
Also called: Livestock weigher, Fur ranch labourer, Livestock labourer, Dairy farm labourer, Cattle ranch labourer, Farm hand - livestock, Poultry farm labourer, Farm worker - livestock, Milk production labourer, Farm labourer - livestock, Egg grading station labourer, Incubator tender - livestock
Livestock labourers assist other farm workers to raise cattle, poultry and other animals, to help carry out feeding, health and breeding programs, to process animal products and to assist in the maintenance and repair of farm equipment and buildings. They are employed on livestock farms.
Main tasks
- Feed and tend livestock, poultry and other animals
- Milk animals such as cows and goats, manually or with a machine
- Sort, brand and handle animals
- Maintain or assist in the maintenance of facilities and farm infrastructure including cleaning stables, barns, barnyards and pens
- Assist with breeding activities
- May monitor health of animals and provide care
- May prepare animals for transportation
- May operate and maintain farm machinery and equipment
How to become one
There are no specific education or training requirements.
Pay · Outlook
- Median pay: $39,000 a year The middle half earn $31,200 to $46,800.
- About 30,600 people worked in this job in 2023, and about 30,000 are projected by 2033. (-2%)
- Projected labour market to 2033: strong risk of shortage.
Related jobs
- Harvesting labourers
- Aquaculture and marine harvest labourers
- Nursery and greenhouse labourers
- Trappers and hunters
Not sure this is for you? Take the 2-minute career quiz
Questions people ask
How do I become a livestock labourer?
There are no specific education or training requirements.
How much does a livestock labourer earn in Canada?
Median full-time pay is $39,000 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)). The middle half earn $31,200 to $46,800.
Is a livestock labourer a growing career in Canada?
Employment is projected to stay about the same by 2033: about 30,600 people now and 30,000 later (Employment and Social Development Canada).
Do you need a degree to become a livestock labourer?
Usually not. Only 6% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Census 2021: employment by occupation, gender and education (98-10-0449) (2021 Census), Statistics Canada Open Licence, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Statistics Canada: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 (Version 1.0), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada: Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) (2024 to 2033), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank): Wages by occupation (2025 (revised 2025-11-19)), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03