Cattle Ranch Hand – U.S. Meat Animal Research Center

The U.S. Meat Animal Research Center is a 34,000-acre federal research facility near Clay Center, Nebraska, staffed through the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, and it has several cattle ranch hand openings posted at once. The job provides general care and husbandry for roughly 800 to 1,200 head of cattle in the beef production area, supporting research aimed at problems facing the US beef, sheep and swine industries. Hands also maintain machinery and fences, help with pasture management and assist with collecting research data. Irregular hours, work in bad weather and travel between pastures and facilities are all part of it. A commercial driver’s licence is required, with DOT pre-employment and random testing. The posting notes that in the livestock industry this role would be called a herdsman or cowboy, and lists $18.55 an hour as the minimum.