Sheep Farmers plan, organise, control, coordinate and perform farming operations to breed and raise sheep for wool, meat, and breeding stock.

Skill Level

1

Alternative Titles

• Sheep Farm Manager

Specialisations

• Stud Sheep Farmer
• Wool Grower

Unless you are exempt in very limited circumstances, you are required to have a positive Skills Assessment to apply for the visas listed above.

Skills Assessment authority for Sheep Farmer is Vocational Education and Training Assessment (VETASSESS). To have a positive skills assessment, you must meet the following criteria:

• Qualification assessed at AQF Bachelor degree or higher in a highly relevant field of study AND at least one year of post-qualification highly relevant employment at an appropriate skill level in the last five years

OR

• Qualification assessed at AQF Bachelor degree or higher WITH an additional qualification at AQF Diploma level in a highly relevant field of study AND at least two years of post-qualification highly relevant employment at an appropriate skill level in the last five years

OR

• Qualification assessed at AQF Bachelor degree or higher WITHOUT a highly relevant field of study AND at least three years of post-qualification highly relevant employment at an appropriate skill level in the last five years
• Applicants must meet both the qualification and employment requirements to obtain a positive skills assessment

Did you know?

According to VETASSESS, your pre-qualification experience may be considered in the skills assessment if it meets the following requirements:

• 5 years of relevant pre-qualification employment; and
• 1 year of highly relevant employment within the past five years

Plan, organise, control, coordinate and perform farming operations to breed and raise livestock.

Tasks

• Breeding and raising livestock for the production of honey, meat, milk, skins, eggs and wool
• Monitoring and maintaining the health and condition of livestock
• Providing pastures and fodder to maintain appropriate nutritional levels
• Moving livestock to optimise feeding opportunities
• Organising and conducting farming operations such as catching, drenching and milking livestock, sterilising machines, and collecting, grading and packaging produce
• Directing and overseeing general farming activities such as maintaining pens, sheds and cages, fertilising, controlling pests and weeds, and growing fodder
• Maintaining fences, equipment and water supply systems
• Organising the sale, purchase and transportation of livestock and produce
• Maintaining and evaluating records of farming activities, monitoring market activity and planning production accordingly
• Managing business capital including budgeting, taxation, debt and loan management
• May select, train and supervise staff and contractors

Skill Level

Most occupations in this unit group have a level of skill commensurate with a bachelor degree or higher qualification. At least five years of relevant experience may substitute for the formal qualification. In some instances relevant experience and/or on-the-job training may be required in addition to the formal qualification (ANZSCO Skill Level 1).

Occupations in this Group

• 121311 Apiarist
• 121312 Beef Cattle Farmer
• 121313 Dairy Cattle Farmer
• 121314 Deer Farmer
• 121315 Goat Farmer
• 121316 Horse Breeder
• 121318 Pig Farmer
• 121321 Poultry Farmer
• 121322 Sheep Farmer
• 121323 Mixed Cattle and Sheep Farmer
• 121399 Livestock Farmers nec