An animal breeder is someone
who mates animals in order to produce offspring with desired
characteristics.Animal breeding works with a
variety of animals, including dogs, cats, birds, fish, and reptiles.
It is a combination of science and art. Breeders must understand animal
genetics as well as have a keen eye for which physical traits are desirable.
Animal breeders work to
improve the characteristics of animal populations. They achieve this by
breeding individuals with desired traits.
The top careers of animal breeders include:
Cattle Breeder
Pig Breeder
Poultry Breeder
ANZSCO ID:
1213 Alternative names: Breeder,
Specialisations:
This can involve working with a variety of animal
species, including cows, pigs, chickens, horses,
and dogs. Knowledge, skills and attributes
Animal breeders are
responsible for the care and breeding of animals.
This can include anything from dogs and cats to more exotic animals like
reptiles or birds. Animal breeders must have a genuine
passion for the animal kingdom and a strong desire to help preserve animal
populations.
Moreover, animal breeders must have a strong knowledge of animal care and
husbandry.This includes an understanding of
animal behaviour. Animal breeding is a complex and
meticulous science. Animal breeders must have a thorough understanding of
animal genetics. This includes reproductive physiology and animal husbandry.
They must be able to provide the animals in their care with the proper
nutrition, housing, and exercise.Animal breeders
must also be able to identify and select animals for breeding purposes.This requires an understanding of animal genetics and pedigrees.They
also need to be able to make quick decisions and be comfortable with change.
Animal breeders must be able to maintain accurate records of the animals in
their care.
They must also be able to work with other professionals, such as
veterinarians and animal behaviorists.
Did You Know?
CSIRO: The challenge Dehorning cattle is costly
Most cattle, especially in Northern Australia, have horns. Hornless
cattle are safer to manage due to reduced risk of injury from horns,
between animals and the people handling them. Also, in Australia,
beef cattle are often transported for long distances, which adds to
the risk of injury from horns.
Improving methods to breed cattle without horns will improve animal
welfare and benefit industry.
To reduce these risks, dehorning became a common husbandry practice
in modern farm management. However, dehorning is a labour-intensive
procedure, costly and has implications for animal welfare. An
alternative management practice was sought to overcome the need or
reduce the practice of dehorning. Breeding hornless cattle is one
alternative solutions.
Selective breeding of naturally hornless (polled) cattle also comes
with its challenges. The way horns (or the lack of) are inherited
from parents to offspring cannot be determined visually because two
hornless cattle can have horned calves. A DNA-based test was
required to reduce horns in any herd.
The current Australian Poll Gene Marker test is used to determine if
an animal is 'true polled', that is, it carries two copies of the
polled gene, and naturally lacks horns. Initially developed for use
in Brahmans, the test can now be used with a high degree of
confidence across a range of tropical and temperate cattle breeds
enabling breeders to reduce the presence of horns in subsequent
generations. (Source: CSIRO)
Duties and Tasks
Animal breeders usually do
the following:
Select animals to be
bred based on desired characteristics
Breed animals using
artificial insemination or other methods
Inspect animals for signs of illness or injury -
monitor the health of
animals
Administer vaccinations and other medical care
Oversee animal births
Wean animal offspring
Socialize young animals
Transport animals to and from shows or sales
Clean animal pens and cages
Order supplies
Supervise staff
Attend conferences and workshops
Keep records of animal
pedigrees and breeding histories
Supervise animal care
staff
Train animals for shows
or other performances
Working conditions
Animal breeders must be able to
handle stress and work long hours. A typical day
for an animal breeder may start early in the morning and end late at night
(they may start as early as 5:00 a.m. and work until 10:00 p.m).
This schedule may vary depending on the animal’s needs and the breeder’s
personal preferences.
Animal breeders typically work long hours, including weekends and holidays.
Animal breeders typically dress in
casual clothing. However, they may need to wear protective gear when working
with certain animals, such as gloves.
Education and training/entrance requirements
Work as an assistant animal
breeder or in a related position.
Attend animal breeding seminars and workshops.
Join an animal breeding association.
Obtain a license if required in your state.
Employment Opportunities
Animal breeders may work on farms, in animal shelters, animal sanctuaries,
zoos, or in laboratories. Some animal breeders
work as self-employed contractors.
A Dog Breeder
is an animal expert who cares for dogs while
they produce new litters of puppies. A dog breeder is a
professional who mates dogs to produce puppies and matches those
puppies to new owners. This typically involves taking care of
grown dogs and puppies and helping them find new homes by
connecting with potential owners.
Dog Breeders utilize their
knowledge of genetics, health, and breed standards to produce litters of
puppies that meet specific criteria. They carefully select parent dogs, plan
matings, monitor pregnancies, and provide proper care for both the dam and
puppies.
Dog breeders produce and train dogs for shows, companionship or
pets, with duties ranging from feeding, grooming and bathing
dogs to providing medication, assisting in births, studying up
on pedigrees, and maintaining breeding records.