Animal Systems
Does the idea of working with animals excite you ? Most careers in the animal systems field revolve around the care and well-being of animals . There are also some careers in this field that work directly with products that come from animals , like milk , eggs , and meat .
Career Spotlight - Animal Nutritionist
Just like you , animals need specific foods and nutrients to be healthy ! Ranchers and farmers who raise animals rely on people called animal nutritionists to help them make decisions about their animals ’ feed rations . A feed ration is a mixture of feed an animal receives each day . Each feed ration is made from various types of feed that help the animal receive a complete diet . Think “ My Plate ” for animals ! It is very important for farm animals , called livestock , to be healthy throughout their lives . We rely on livestock to provide us products like meat , milk , and eggs . If they are not cared for and fed properly , livestock can ’ t produce these products . Animal nutritionists are knowledgeable about different types of feed , they have an understanding of how animals ’ bodies work , and which nutrients animals need at different stages in their lives . This career path requires at least a bachelor ’ s degree , and sometimes even a master ’ s degree .
Career Spotlight - Ranch Hand
If you have dreams of living like a cowboy in the Old West , riding horses and herding cattle , then a career as a ranch hand might be for you ! Ranch hands live and work on cattle ranches all over the world . While the life of a ranch hand may not be exactly like it was in the Old West , many of their responsibilities have not changed with time . Their job consists of duties like feeding cattle , looking for and treating sick animals , maintaining and building fences , moving cattle from pasture to pasture , and helping cows give birth . There ’ s never a dull moment in the life of a ranch hand . Their most important job is to make sure that every animal is treated humanely . The cattle are a rancher ’ s livelihood , so he greatly depends on his ranch hands to make sure that the cattle are healthy , wellfed , and always have access to water . While nearly every ranch will require their ranch hands to have a high school diploma , some will also expect them to have an associate degree or even a bachelor ’ s degree in animal science .
What career interests you ? In the space below write , in complete sentences , what career you might be interested and why . Share your answer with your neighbor and actively listen to his or her answer .
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4 - Colorado Agriculture in the Classroom