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Animal Breeder

Overview and Key Facts

woman in a barn holding a baby goat
Education
Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Median Pay
Median Pay
$52,000
Job Growth
Job Growth
2.40%
(Below US Average)
Jobs in 2034
Jobs in 2034
8,100

What Do They Do?

An animal breeder could...

 
horse race
Breed a Kentucky Derby winning thoroughbred horse.
spotted dog
Keep animal pedigrees to determine how traits, like coat color, are inherited.
monkey
Work with wildlife conservationists to breed endangered animals in captivity.
family with dog in the snow
Help a family settle on an ideal breed of dog for their lifestyle.
 
horse race spotted dog monkey family with dog in the snow

Overview Listen to this section

Why is it that certain breeds of cattle produce more flesh or milk? Why is one horse faster than another? The answer is that these breeds were engineered to have these special characteristics. Animal breeders need to understand genetics in order to produce animals that are bigger, faster, or more beautiful. If you are interested in working with animals and are fascinated by the science of genetics, then you should investigate this career.
This video details the roles and responsibilities of animal breeding. Animal breeding encompasses breeding both large farm animals and pet animals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBCbUasKr7M

Do You Have the Skills and Characteristics of an Animal Breeder?


  1. Critical Thinking: ?
  2. Judgment and Decision Making: ?
  3. Active Listening: ?
  4. Complex Problem Solving: ?
  5. Monitoring: ?
More skills...

Core Tasks

Think about if you'd like the typical tasks an Animal Breeder might do:
  • Feed and water animals, and clean and disinfect pens, cages, yards, and hutches.
  • Observe animals in heat to detect 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.
  • Purchase and stock supplies of feed and medicines.
  • Select animals to be bred, and semen specimens to be used, according to knowledge of animals, genealogies, traits, and desired offspring characteristics.
  • Examine animals to detect symptoms of illness or injury.
  • Build hutches, pens, and fenced yards.
  • Record animal characteristics such as weights, growth patterns, and diets.
  • Brand, tattoo, or tag animals to allow animal identification.

Salary & Job Openings

Median Salary (Yearly Pay)

Tap or scroll over map to see median salaries for each state
No data available for some states (white on the map)

Future Jobs

Blast-Off:

How Will Animal Breeder Jobs Grow by 2034?
Projected % Growth
Rapid growth
(10% or higher)
Much faster than average
(7% - 10%)
Faster than average
(5% - 7%)
About as fast as average
(3% - 5%)
Slower than average
(0% - 3%)
Decreasing
Average of all U.S. jobs (5.3%)
Animal Breeder jobs (2.40%)
Source: https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/occupational-projections-and-characteristics.htm

Steps to Get There: Becoming an Animal Breeder

High School Subjects to Study

Aim to study the yellow-shaded subjects.
Math
Algebra 1
Geometry
Algebra 2
Pre-Calculus
Calculus
Statistics
Science
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Environmental Science
Physiology
Bio-Medical / Biotech
IT &
Engineering
Computer Science
Applied Technology
Drafting & CAD Training
Core
English
Foreign Language
Business
Psychology / Sociology

Career Pathway Listen to this section

The majority of agricultural workers learn their skills on the job in less than a month. Some occupations, such as animal breeding, require more work experience or formal education.

Education- Typical Degree Needed After High School Listen to this section

Degree
Post
high school credential
AA
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctoral or Professional Degree

Typical degree for an entry-level position: High school diploma or equivalent ? Types of Degrees and Credentials

The education and training requirements for animal breeders vary with the type of breeding they do. For those who breed livestock and other large or expensive animals, a bachelor's or graduate degree in animal science is recommended. Courses include genetics, animal breeding, and animal physiology. For those with experience raising animals or who are breeding their own animals, a bachelor's degree often is not needed, but an associate's degree or other training in animal breeding is recommended.

Companies That Hire Animal Breeders

Try it Out with an Activity or Project

STEM Activities

STEM activities are fun hands-on explorations that usually take from 10 minutes to one hour and use readily available household or classroom materials while introducing you to STEM concepts common in this career.

Science Project Ideas

Project Ideas are in-depth STEM explorations that have a strong focus on controlling variables, taking accurate measurements, and analyzing data suitable for investigating the scientific method or the engineering design process.

On the Job

Role Models

Read about the The Art of Being a Successful Breeder from the American Kennel Club.
Breeding dogs takes time, patience, a great willingness to learn, the ability to be humble, and sometimes a little luck. Having a good eye for a dog does not hurt any, either. 
Debbie Mitchell

Nature of the Work

Animal breeders select and breed animals using their knowledge of genetics and animal science to produce offspring with desired traits and characteristics, such as chickens that lay more eggs, pigs that produce leaner meat, and sheep with more desirable wool. Some animal breeders also breed and raise cats, dogs, and other household pets. Larger and more-expensive animals, such as horses and cattle, are usually bred through artificial insemination, which requires the taking of semen from the male and then insemination of the female. This process ensures better results than conventional mating and also enables one prized male to sire many more offspring. To know which animals to breed and when, animal breeders keep detailed records, including the health of the animals, their size and weight, and the amount and quality of the product produced by them. They also keep track of the traits of the offspring. Some animal breeders work as consultants for a number of farmers, but others breed and raise their own animals for sale or future breeding. For those who raise animals, tasks might include fixing and cleaning animal shelters, feeding and watering the animals, and overseeing animals' health. Some breeders supervise others who perform these tasks. Animal breeders also read journals and newsletters to learn the latest information on breeding and veterinary practices.

Work Environment

Animal breeders spend most of their time outdoors around animals, but can also work in offices or laboratories. Breeders who consult might travel from farm to farm. If they need to sell offspring, breeders might travel to attend shows and meet potential buyers. While tending to the animals, breeders might be bitten or kicked.

More Information

Ask Questions

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Sources

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