What Does An Animal Breeder Do (including Their Typical Day at Work)

Stan T.Career, Overview

Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

Animal Breeders

Animal Breeders select and breed animals according to their genealogy, characteristics, and offspring. May require knowledge of artificial insemination techniques and equipment use. May involve keeping records on heats, birth intervals, or pedigree.

Salary
$43930
Becoming One
Easy
Education
No degree required
Job Satisfaction
Low
Job Growth

Personality
Interest Match


What they do

Animal Breeders select and breed animals according to their genealogy, characteristics, and offspring. May require knowledge of artificial insemination techniques and equipment use. May involve keeping records on heats, birth intervals, or pedigree.

  • Feed and water animals, and clean and disinfect pens, cages, yards, and hutches.
  • Observe animals in heat to detect the approach of estrus and exercise animals to induce or hasten estrus, if necessary.
  • Treat minor injuries and ailments and contact veterinarians to obtain treatment for animals with serious illnesses or injuries.
  • Arrange for sale of animals and eggs to hospitals, research centers, pet shops, and food processing plants.

Typical day

On a daily basis, Animal Breeders examine animals to detect symptoms of illness or injury. They feed and water animals, and clean and disinfect pens, cages, yards, and hutches.

A typical day for an Animal Breeder will also include:

  • Exercise animals to keep them in healthy condition.
  • Adjust controls to maintain specific building temperatures required for animals’ health and safety.
  • Bathe and groom animals.
  • Observe animals in heat to detect the approach of estrus and exercise animals to induce or hasten estrus, if necessary.
  • Arrange for sale of animals and eggs to hospitals, research centers, pet shops, and food processing plants.

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Animal Breeders also purchase and stock supplies of feed and medicines. They may also prepare containers of semen for freezing and storage or shipment, placing them in dry ice or liquid nitrogen.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Animal Breeders bathe and groom animals. They might also exhibit animals at shows.

In addition, they record animal characteristics such as weights, growth patterns, and diets.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them brand, tattoo, or tag animals to allow animal identification.

To some Animal Breeders, it is also their responsibility to clip or shear hair on animals.

What is the job like

Job satisfaction

Low

Is this job meaningful

High

62% said they were satisfied with their job and 57% said they found their job meaningful.


Chris Adams
ModestFish

I have been breeding and crossbreeding fish, and have kept both freshwater and saltwater aquariums for over 20 years. I am someone who has never been able to have my own children, and being a marine life breeder has been extremely fulfilling in that void of my life. I’ve been called as an advisor for larger specimen breedings at labs across the country, such as hybrid sharks. It’s amazing some of the things I get to see and help do. During the cooler months, I am unable to breed my own fish successfully due to the acclimate weather, as many of my aquariums are heated by natural sunlight and in a greenhouse – but 9 months out of the year I am busy working sometimes 16 hour days every day. I do several things every day, and one of these things is spending sufficient time working on the ambience of my tanks, in order to ensure the environment is perfect for my fish to breed, and most importantly ensuring the PH of my tanks is absolutely perfect.

The most difficult parts of my day though are dealing with the many species of egg laying fish I breed. When a group of eggs hatch, the fish are called a fry. The biggest problem is ensuring that the fry have food small enough to eat in order for them to grow and maintain good health. That is the sole purpose of my job, directing my efforts to see absolute minimal casualties. I spend a couple of hours each day culturing something called infusoria. Infusoria is microscopic, making it that much harder to monitor. In a nutshell, infusoria is grown by introducing nutrients into the water where your organisms are living. In most cases, I place a piece of lettuce or a banana peel into a tank where I keep my organisms, and this allows the delicious infusoria to grow – thus creating a food supply for the first phase of egg hatched fish.

From that point on though, if you can get through the hours and dedication – it’s relatively simple. I have been doing this for nearly 20 years, and look forward to another 20 years, hopefully bringing a few million more fish into the world.

Pros

  • I get to experience bringing new life into the ecosystem on a weekly basis.
  • I always have more work than I can handle. While this may seem like a con, it’s actually great considering the job market right now.
  • I get to be as creative as I like when I am scouting and determining what aquatic life to pair up. Seeing the end result is greater satisfaction than I could ask for. It’s like fish are my paintbrush, and my masterpiece is born from them.
  • I am always prepared for birthday parties! Not anything too fancy, but nothing puts a smile on a kid’s face greater than getting their own guppy or barb. My supplies are seemingly endless!

Cons

  • I have gotten my fair share of criticism from animal activists and rights groups claiming what I do is not morally right. I know what I do is actually helpful for the environment, but it doesn’t stop people coming from the woodwork to harass me over my profession.
  • The pay varies. Much of my work comes from universities and research labs, and they do not pay as much as you would expect. Because of this, I run a second business, teaching others everything they need to know about underwater life and growing their own aquariums.

Pros

Suitable for people who like practical and hands-on work.

Suitable for people who want independence and like to work on their own and make decisions.

This career is perfect for people who love to work both indoors and outdoors.

It is not too difficult to get into this career. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.

Cons

Not suitable for people who like to help and teach others.

Salary is below average.

Demand for this career is declining.

How much do they make

Average salary

$43930 per year

Average hourly wage

$21 per hour

Entry-level Animal Breeders with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $24,060 to $30,500 per year or $12 to $15 per hour.

Salary by experience Annual Hourly
Highest (Top 10%) $64,680 $31
Senior (Top 25%) $54,530 $26
Median $40,770 $20
Junior (Bottom 25%) $30,500 $15
No experience (Bottom 10%) $24,060 $12

This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Animal Breeders based on their average annual salary.

Salary by industry Annual Hourly
Animal Slaughtering and Processing $48230 $23.19
Support Activities for Animal Production $45490 $21.87
Other Personal Services $45060 $21.66

View more salary by industries here.

Where can they work

Where can Animal Breeders work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Animal Breeders including the average salary in that industry.

Employers Total Employed Annual Salary Hourly Wages
Support Activities for Animal Production 540 $45490 $21.87
Animal Slaughtering and Processing 70 $48230 $23.19
Other Personal Services 30 $45060 $21.66

What is the work day like

Working hours

Less than 40 hours
52%

40 hours
1%

More than 40 hours
47%

Working schedule

72%

14%

14%

Email

How often do you use email in this job?

Once a week
19%

Every day
24%

Telephone

How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?

Once a week
20%

Every day
29%

Group discussions

How often do you have group discussions in this job?

Once a week
14%

Every day
27%

Public speaking

How often does this job require you to do public speaking?

Never
67%

Once a year
33%

Once a month
0%

Once a week
0%

Every day
0%

Level of competition

How much competitive pressure is in this job?

Not competitive at all
22%

Slightly competitive
18%

Moderately competitive
25%

Highly competitive
2%

Extremely competitive
33%

What is the work environment like

Office-style environment

Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition

Never
83%

Once a year or more
0%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
0%

Every day
17%

Warehouse-style environment

Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse

Never
43%

Once a year or more
0%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
22%

Every day
36%

Outdoors

Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions

Never
13%

Once a year or more
2%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
14%

Every day
70%

Outdoors – Under Cover

Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)

Never
27%

Once a year or more
2%

Once a month or more
5%

Once a week or more
15%

Every day
52%

How to become one

Difficulty to become one

Easy
You may need some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience. Most careers in this difficulty category usually don’t require a degree. However, you will need a few months of on-the-job training with experienced employees. Similar careers include Customer Service Representatives, Security Guards, and Bank Tellers.

Required level of education

What level of education do you need to perform the job?

Less than a High School Diploma
0%

High School Diploma or equivalent
86%

Post-Secondary Certificate
6%

Some College Courses
4%

Associate’s Degree or similar
0%

Bachelor’s Degree
3%

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
1%

Master’s Degree
0%

Post-Master’s Certificate
0%

First Professional Degree
0%

Doctoral Degree
0%

Post-Doctoral Training
0%

Relevant majors

Apiculture

A program that focuses on improving the beekeeping industry, promoting pollination of fruits and vegetables, and bee colony expansion and maintenance. Includes instruction in apiary behavior, apiary equipment and supplies, beekeeping, bee pests and parasites, handling bees, hive set up and care, queen rearing, and seasonal management practices.

Animal/Livestock Husbandry and Production

A program that prepares individuals to select, breed, care for, process, and market livestock and small farm animals. Includes instruction in basic animal science, animal nutrition, and animal health as applied to various species and breeds; design and operation of housing, feeding, and processing facilities; and related issues of safety, applicable regulations, logistics, and supply.

Horse Husbandry/Equine Science and Management

A program that prepares individuals to manage the selection, breeding, care, and maintenance of work, athletic, and show horses; and to manage horse farms, stables, tracks and related equipment and operations. Includes instruction in applicable principles of animal science, care, and health; stable and track management; design and operation of facilities and equipment; and related issues such as regulations, business management; and logistics.


Relevant work experience

How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?

None
12%

1 month
0%

1 to 3 months
0%

3 to 6 months
24%

6 months to 1 year
12%

1 to 2 years
47%

2 to 4 years
4%

4 to 6 years
1%

6 to 8 years
0%

8 to 10 years
0%

Over 10 years
0%

On The Job Training

How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?

None or short demonstration
0%

1 month
21%

1 to 3 months
6%

3 to 6 months
52%

6 months to 1 year
1%

1 to 2 years
19%

2 to 4 years
1%

4 to 10 years
0%

Over 10 years
0%

Should you become one

Best personality type for this career

The Builder

People with this personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

The Builder
95%

People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.


The Thinker
52%

People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.


The Artist
19%

People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.


The Helper
14%

People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.


The Leader
38%

People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.


The Organizer
38%

People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.


You can read more about these career personality types here.

People who are suitable for this job tend to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

They also like working with ideas and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.

Work Values

Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?

Achievement
52%

You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.

Working Conditions
57%

You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.

Recognition
33%

You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.

Relationships
29%

You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.

Support
52%

You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.

Independence
62%

You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.

FAQ


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