Job summary

Our client is seeking a dedicated and experienced Assistant Farm Manager to oversee the operations of a breeding livestock farm specializing in sheep and goats. The ideal candidate will have strong expertise in livestock management, breeding programs, and farm operations, as well as excellent leadership and organizational skills.

Job descriptions & requirements

Job Summary—Breeding Farm Manager

Our client is seeking a dedicated and experienced Farm Manager to oversee the operations of a breeding livestock farm specializing in sheep and goats and cattle. The ideal candidate will have strong expertise in livestock management, breeding programs, and farm operations, as well as excellent leadership and organizational skills.

Key Responsibilities

Breeding & Herd Expansion (Core Focus)

• Design, implement, and manage structured sheep and goat breeding programs focused on rapid, sustainable herd expansion.
• Plan and execute controlled mating systems, selection of breeding stock, and genetic improvement strategies.
• Monitor key breeding performance indicators including conception rates, kidding/lambing intervals, survival rates, and growth performance.
• Maintain detailed breeding records (mating, pregnancy, births, weaning, culling) to support data-driven decision making.
• Identify and manage replacement stock, culling strategies, and herd composition to support long-term productivity.

Livestock Management

• Oversee daily care, feeding, health, and welfare of sheep and goats across all production stages.
• Implement preventive animal health programs including vaccinations, parasite control, and disease surveillance.
• Work closely with veterinarians to manage reproductive health, fertility challenges, and disease outbreaks.

Farm Operations & Team Supervision

• Manage daily farm operations including feeding schedules, grazing plans, and water management.
• Supervise, train, and mentor farm staff on breeding protocols, animal handling, and biosecurity standards.
• Ensure compliance with animal welfare standards and livestock regulations.

Pasture & Feed Management

• Plan and manage pasture rotation systems to support breeding, gestation, and lactation stages.
• Oversee procurement, storage, and efficient utilization of feeds and supplements aligned to reproductive cycles.

Financial, Reporting & Administration

• Prepare and manage farm budgets with a focus on breeding costs, herd growth efficiency, and productivity.
• Generate regular reports on herd size growth, breeding performance, animal health, and mortality rates.
• Coordinate with suppliers, veterinarians, and breeding service providers.

Infrastructure, Sustainability & Improvement

• Ensure maintenance of farm infrastructure including housing, fencing, breeding facilities, and water systems.
• Implement farm improvements to support herd expansion and breeding efficiency.
• Apply sustainable livestock and breeding practices to enhance productivity while minimizing environmental impact.
• Stay updated on modern breeding technologies, genetic improvement methods, and livestock management innovations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Animal Production (mandatory).
• Additional training in livestock breeding or reproductive management is an added advantage.

Experience

• Minimum 3–5 years’ hands-on experience in sheep and goat breeding, with demonstrated involvement in herd expansion programs.
• Proven track record of managing breeding cycles, improving reproductive performance, and scaling livestock numbers.
• Practical experience in animal health management, record-keeping, and farm operations.
• Experience supervising farm staff and coordinating daily farm activities.

Technical Skills

• Strong expertise in sheep and goat reproductive management and breeding systems.
• Proficiency in livestock health programs, fertility monitoring, and disease prevention.
• Solid understanding of pasture management, feed formulation, and nutrition for breeding herds.
• Ability to manage budgets, analyze productivity data, and prepare operational reports.
• Knowledge of genetic improvement strategies and sustainable livestock production practices.

Leadership & Competencies

• Strong leadership and people management skills.
• Excellent planning, organization, and record-keeping abilities.
• Data-driven, results-oriented approach to breeding and herd growth.
• High commitment to animal welfare, compliance, and farm sustainability.
• Proactive problem-solver with the ability to adapt and innovate.

• Design, implement, and manage structured sheep and goat breeding programs focused on rapid, sustainable herd expansion.
• Plan and execute controlled mating systems, selection of breeding stock, and genetic improvement strategies.
• Monitor key breeding performance indicators including conception rates, kidding/lambing intervals, survival rates, and growth performance.
• Maintain detailed breeding records (mating, pregnancy, births, weaning, culling) to support data-driven decision making.
• Identify and manage replacement stock, culling strategies, and herd composition to support long-term productivity.
• Oversee daily care, feeding, health, and welfare of sheep and goats across all production stages.
• Implement preventive animal health programs including vaccinations, parasite control, and disease surveillance.
• Work closely with veterinarians to manage reproductive health, fertility challenges, and disease outbreaks.
• Manage daily farm operations including feeding schedules, grazing plans, and water management.
• Supervise, train, and mentor farm staff on breeding protocols, animal handling, and biosecurity standards.
• Ensure compliance with animal welfare standards and livestock regulations.
• Plan and manage pasture rotation systems to support breeding, gestation, and lactation stages.
• Oversee procurement, storage, and efficient utilization of feeds and supplements aligned to reproductive cycles.
• Prepare and manage farm budgets with a focus on breeding costs, herd growth efficiency, and productivity.
• Generate regular reports on herd size growth, breeding performance, animal health, and mortality rates.
• Coordinate with suppliers, veterinarians, and breeding service providers.
• Ensure maintenance of farm infrastructure including housing, fencing, breeding facilities, and water systems.
• Implement farm improvements to support herd expansion and breeding efficiency.
• Apply sustainable livestock and breeding practices to enhance productivity while minimizing environmental impact.
• Stay updated on modern breeding technologies, genetic improvement methods, and livestock management innovations.

• Strong expertise in sheep and goat reproductive management and breeding systems.
• Proficiency in livestock health programs, fertility monitoring, and disease prevention.
• Solid understanding of pasture management, feed formulation, and nutrition for breeding herds.
• Ability to manage budgets, analyze productivity data, and prepare operational reports.
• Knowledge of genetic improvement strategies and sustainable livestock production practices.
• Strong leadership and people management skills.
• Excellent planning, organization, and record-keeping abilities.
• Data-driven, results-oriented approach to breeding and herd growth.
• High commitment to animal welfare, compliance, and farm sustainability.
• Proactive problem-solver with the ability to adapt and innovate.

• Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Animal Production (mandatory).
• Additional training in livestock breeding or reproductive management is an added advantage.