A sheep stockperson helps the farm manager meet high animal health and welfare standards.
Also known as shepherd, shepherdess, stocksperson, stock keeper, stockman, flock assistant, or livestock assistant.
This profile highlights the skills and knowledge associated with the role. However, jobs will have varying responsibilities depending on level of the role and the size or type of the business.
As a sheep stockperson, you might work with one breed of sheep or different breeds in the same flock. You’ll help the farm manager or owner with many different tasks.
You’ll meet high animal health and welfare standards by helping to care for the sheep all year round. This will include feeding, watering, giving medicines and vaccinations, and lambing. It may also include shearing. You’ll learn to observe sheep or lambs with problems, such as lameness, and report these to your manager or the farm owner.
Your role will also include checking the ewes (adult female sheep) and rams (adult male sheep used for breeding) to ensure they’re in the best condition and ready for breeding when required.
Depending on the system used on the farm, some flocks will lamb outside; others have lambing sheds to house the animals while they give birth.
Maintaining good biosecurity in livestock systems is vital to preventing health problems in the ewes and lambs. You may also have to provide extra nutrition and care to some lambs, such as bottle feeding and making sure they are warm enough.
Some manual lifting will be required as will recording of important information about the sheep, such as lameness, other health issues, or lambing records.
You might need to use machinery such as tractors, loaders, or equipment for weighing or handling sheep.
You may need to work longer hours or shift patterns during specific periods, such as lambing. Full-time and part-time opportunities are available, and contract or temporary positions are also available, particularly during lambing times.
You may need your own transport to get to work.
As a sheep stockperson your responsibilities might include:
To work as a stockperson in the sheep sector, you should:
As a sheep stockperson, you do not necessarily need a formal qualification. However, you’ll need to be interested in animals and farming and be keen to learn.
You could choose to study for a formal qualification or take an apprenticeship to give you some understanding and knowledge of the industry. Look at our training map for more information on opportunities available.
You can also gain experience by volunteering on a farm or smallholding.
If you live in a city or urban area, you could volunteer on a local city farm, community garden, or allotment. You can find some of these in your area on the Social Farms and Gardens website.
Reading farming newspapers, magazines, and websites will also develop your knowledge and understanding.
As a sheep stockperson, you’ll be competent in looking after the animals on the farm, protecting their welfare and the environment while meeting customer demands and production targets. You will:
The salary for a stockperson in the sheep sector is in the region of £25,000 to £35,000 per year.
This figure is for a full-time permanent position for workers over 21 years of age, depending on level of experience, business type and location. Workers below 21 years of age can be paid a lower hourly rate.
This role though is often advertised as casual, self-employed, part-time or hourly with a salary that is reflective of the full-time rate of pay.
As a stockperson in the sheep sector you may, in some instances, be paid for travel time and receive support in travelling to your place of work.
Within the agriculture and horticulture sectors there are often many associated benefits that are not reflected in the headline salary. These include accommodation being provided or subsidised, travel pay, profit shares, vehicle use and production bonuses.
As a sheep stockperson, you may choose to develop your career by moving on to a more experienced sheep stockperson role with more responsibility. This could involve looking after a bigger flock, becoming an independent shepherd/shepherdess, or supervising less experienced staff.
In the longer term, you could also work towards the role of a farm manager (livestock). This would mean taking on more management responsibilities and being involved in making business decisions.
You could also look at other opportunities, such as working with other types of livestock like pigs, poultry, or cattle.
Additionally, you could consider roles off the farm too. For example, you could specialise in sheep nutrition or work for a company that sells equipment to sheep farm businesses.
Courses which can help you on this career path include:
Level 1 Diploma Land-based Studies Agriculture
Level 2 Technical Certificate in Agriculture
Level 3 Advanced Technical Certificate in Agriculture
Apprenticeships
Livestock Unit Technician Level 3
Short courses and online study
There are also other opportunities to develop your skills and knowledge, such as short one day courses and online study.
Practical Sheep Handling and Management Myerscough College
Sheep Husbandry UK Rural Skills
Sheep Husbandry Writtle University College
Employers and recruiters who hire for this role include:
The employers and recruiters listed below hire for roles like this one. If you would like your business to be listed here, please click the button underneath the logos shown here.
https://www.4xtrahands.com/jobs https://nationalsheep.org.uk/next-generation/jobs-work-experience/online-application/
For more information on career inspiration and lots of varied job profiles visit The Institute for Agriculture and Horticulture’s website
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