Ranch Hand
Northwest of McCook, Nebraska

Overview

This established cow/calf and stocker operation is seeking a dependable, hands-on Ranch Hand to help manage a 600 head cow/calf herd, replacement heifers, and 1,000 head of yearlings and background calves through the year. The operation also runs an embryo transfer and recipient cow program. Daily work includes calving, feeding, doctoring, fencing, branding, and light farming, with cattle worked using horses, side by sides, and trucks. This is a physically demanding, year round position with newly remodeled housing available.

What Sets This Opportunity Apart

Newer, well maintained equipment
Hands on experience with an embryo transfer and recip cow program
Quality horses used for regular cattle work
Newly remodeled housing provided, overlooking a lake

Responsibilities

Help calve out 600 head of cows and heifers starting mid January, including tagging, pulling calves, and handling calving problems
Check cows and calves daily during calving season, with morning and overnight checks on a rotating schedule
Identify sick cattle, rope and doctor cattle from horseback
Gather and move cattle from horseback
Background 1,000 head of calves through fall, winter, and early spring
Feed cattle using a feed truck and wagon, feed mineral, move cows onto corn stalks, and unroll alfalfa bales in bad weather
Assist with branding, rope and drag style
Assist with AI'ing and synchronizing heifers, and with recip and ET cow sorting and setup during breeding season
Fence repair and building across the operation's pastures
Help put up alfalfa, cane, and oats, including haying and silage chopping
Move cattle to grass in the spring and check cows and steers on grass through summer
Assist with preg checking and ultrasounding heifers
Basic mechanical work including oil changes and running a skid steer, general equipment care, and occasional cattle hauling if licensed

Qualifications

Required:

Hands on experience working cattle
Ability to identify sick cattle and handle calving problems
Comfortable riding and working around horses
Ability to operate ranch equipment
Physically able to work outdoors in all weather conditions
Self motivated, honest, and able to work independently

Preferred:

Welding experience
CDL

Compensation and Benefits

Pay ranging from 42,000 to 60,000 dollars depending on experience
Housing provided, newly remodeled
Vehicle provided once on site
Beef provided
Feed for using horses
Flexible schedule during slower months, with time off offered when weather allows during calving and winter
Weekends mostly off in summer

Ranch Hand - McCook, Nebraska