What is an Animal Breeder?

Career Description 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.

Daily Life Of an Animal Breeder

• Package and label semen to be used for artificial insemination, recording information such as the date, source, quality, and concentration.
• Examine semen microscopically to assess and record density and motility of gametes, and dilute semen with prescribed diluents, according to formulas.
• Exhibit animals at shows.
• Build hutches, pens, and fenced yards.
• Exercise animals to keep them in healthy condition.
• Brand, tattoo, or tag animals to allow animal identification.

What Every Animal Breeder Should Know

These are the skills Animal Breeders say are the most useful in their careers:

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Science: Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.

Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Types of Animal Breeder Jobs

• Artificial Inseminator
• Livestock Breeder
• Livestock Rancher
• Canary Breeder
• Animal Husbandry Technician

Is There Going to be Demand for Animal Breeders?

In the United States, there were 9,000 jobs for Animal Breeder in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 2.2% which is below the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 200 new jobs for Animal Breeder by 2026. The BLS estimates 1,400 yearly job openings in this field.

The states with the most job growth for Animal Breeder are Missouri, Texas, and Oregon. Watch out if you plan on working in North Carolina, Maryland, or Illinois. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Salary for an Animal Breeder

The typical yearly salary for Animal Breeders is somewhere between $25,220 and $67,180.

Animal Breeders who work in Ohio, Washington, or Missouri, make the highest salaries.

How much do Animal Breeders make in different U.S. states?

State	Annual Mean Salary
California	$39,360
Florida	$38,720
Iowa	$33,880
Kentucky	$43,880
Michigan	$33,100
Missouri	$49,500
New Jersey	$44,920
New York	$45,010
Ohio	$64,700
South Dakota	$38,230
Tennessee	$44,640
Texas	$40,000
Virginia	$48,230
Washington	$59,980
Wisconsin	$40,060

What Tools & Technology do Animal Breeders Use?

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Animal Breeders may use on a daily basis:

• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Office
• Microsoft Outlook
• Microsoft Access
• Email software
• Microsoft Windows
• Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
• Microsoft SharePoint
• Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
• Adobe Systems Adobe Illustrator
• Adobe Systems Adobe InDesign
• Microsoft Internet Explorer
• Adobe Systems Adobe Creative Suite

How to Become an Animal Breeder

Are there Animal Breeders education requirements?

What work experience do I need to become an Animal Breeder?

Where do Animal Breeders Work?

Animal Breeders work in the following industries:

References:

• Bureau of Labor Statistics
• College Factual
• O*NET Online

Image Credit: {} via CC0 Public Domain

More about our data sources and methodologies.