Swine Veterinarian Assistant

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BASIC FUNCTIONS:

The Swine Veterinarian Assistant is responsible for providing technical support to our team of swine veterinarians as well as direct support of swine producer clients of Carthage Veterinary Service (CVS), supporting both health and production needs of progressive swine farms. This role will provide practical and scientifically sound technical skills and expertise in health management including biosecurity; disease control and treatment; regulatory, animal well-being and food safety requirements. The Swine Veterinarian Assistant is primarily responsible for supporting and supplementing CVS swine veterinarians as they interact with CVS clients, caretakers and associated farm support staff, providing verification of swine herd health while ensuring adherence to standard operating procedures and production practices. Success in this role will require active collaboration with their CVS swine veterinarian teammates, providing clients with fiscally and socially responsible strategies for managing the health of their swine farms.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Accompany CVS swine veterinarians to herd visits
Assist lead veterinarians to perform tasks, such as: necropsies, diagnostic sample collection and boar epididymectomies
Where feasible, assisting with Spanish translation needs
Hygiene and sanitation inspections completed per CVS swine veterinarian direction
Ad hoc sample collection
Independent visits to swine client farms to collect subjective and objective observations, supporting veterinary recommendations and decision making
Conduct 3^rd party audits, such as: Common Swine Industry Audit (CSIA)
PQA Site Assessments – outside herds
Routine reporting of client diagnostic results
Routine participation in client production staff meetings with associated follow-up with CVS swine vet teammates
Assist Carthage Innovative Swine Solutions at the Veterinary Research Farm as needed
Debrief Herd Visit Reports with the farm team per CVS swine veterinarian direction
Works closely with farm personnel to assess health issues and coordinates with CVS swine veterinarians to develop and implement effective health management strategies
Identifies animals in need of medical attention and communicates effectively with the CVS swine veterinarians, producer and/or caretakers
Collaboratively works with the Carthage team as well as our clients to communicate and implement improved processes around production management, health management, genetic improvement, and bio security
Assists in training personnel on proper animal husbandry practices for client farms
Performs appropriate diagnostic tests to determine the cause of illness as appropriate
Complies with company Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
Complies with the practices and principals of client biosecurity expectations to safeguard health of their swine herd

EDUCATION & WORK EXPERIENCE:

Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science or equivalent is required AND
Minimum of 1 year working with swine farms

Knowledge and Skills:

Possess advanced interpersonal communication skills
Bilingual in English/Spanish, preferred
Willingness to deflect questions to lead veterinarians
Swine sample collection including venipuncture, nasal swabs and oral fluids
Swine necropsies and associated tissue sample collection
Epididymectomies
Pig and piglet restraint methods for diagnostic sample collection
Possess knowledge of analytical and diagnostic techniques
In depth understanding of the pork industry
Demonstrate knowledge of overall business strategy and operations
Proficiency in Microsoft Office software

Mental and Physical Requirements:

Demonstrate ability to excel within an accelerated work environment
Willingness to flex schedule as needed to support urgent client health needs
Possess the motivation to be a self-starter and ability to work without in person supervision
Ability to sit, stand, bend, kneel, walk for extended periods of time
Ability to lift 50 lbs.
Ability and willingness to travel with occasional overnight stays