Explore by Career/Farming, Fishing, and Forestry
Animal Breeders
Select and breed animals according to their genealogy, characteristics, and offspring. May require knowledge of artificial insemination techniques and equipment use. May involve keeping records on heats, birth intervals, or pedigree.
- Median pay
- $52,000
- per year
- 10-year outlook
- +2.4%
- Stable
- Typical entry
- High school diploma or equivalent
Key skills
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Science
- Active Learning
- Monitoring
- Complex Problem Solving
- Judgment and Decision Making
What they do
- Feed and water animals, and clean and disinfect pens, cages, yards, and hutches.
- Observe animals in heat to detect approach of estrus and exercise animals to induce or hasten estrus, if necessary.
- Treat minor injuries and ailments and contact veterinarians to obtain treatment for animals with serious illnesses or injuries.
- Purchase and stock supplies of feed and medicines.
- Select animals to be bred, and semen specimens to be used, according to knowledge of animals, genealogies, traits, and desired offspring characteristics.
- Examine animals to detect symptoms of illness or injury.
- Build hutches, pens, and fenced yards.
- Record animal characteristics such as weights, growth patterns, and diets.
- Brand, tattoo, or tag animals to allow animal identification.
- Arrange for sale of animals and eggs to hospitals, research centers, pet shops, and food processing plants.
Majors that lead here
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS, Employment Projections) and O*NET, used under CC BY 4.0.