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Livestock buyers purchase animals for slaughter or breeding, traveling to farms, feedlots, and processing plants, and conducting market research. They select healthy animals and consider meat quality, supervise slaughter, and advise on breeding. They may represent multiple clients and need to follow market trends. Working conditions can be hot and dirty, with potentially long hours.
A livestock buyer buys animals for slaughter or breeding on behalf of a rancher or meat processing facility. In some nations, buyers must be certified by a government agency to function. The work involves traveling to farms, feedlots and processing plants, as well as conducting research on market trends and the industry as a whole. Compensation may vary by region, employer and the nature of the work.
Some livestock buyers focus on acquiring animals for slaughter. They inspect available animals in feedlots and farms, selecting animals on behalf of their employers. Buyers look for healthy animals that pass inspection, and also consider issues such as animal size and likely meat quality. Some also supervise slaughter and inspect carcasses to assess their quality.
They may represent meat processing plants, butchers, grocers and other organizations that may purchase animals for slaughter. Buyers can work for specific companies or as consultants who can represent multiple clients at any one time. Travel is required to locate animals for purchase, and in some cases a livestock buyer may also want to visit originating farms to gather information on animal welfare and farming conditions.
Farms need new animals for breeding and breeding mature animals; some farmers may not run their own breeding programs and rely on a livestock buyer to locate appropriate animals. The buyer can travel to farms and auction lots to locate suitable animals and arrange transportation for customers. For breeding operations, a livestock buyer can provide advice on purchasing animals, looking for animals with good genetic traits and a known history of producing viable, valuable offspring.
It may be necessary to follow market trends to learn what type of meat is sold, as well as where and in what volumes it is typically sold. Livestock buyers use this information to provide business advice to farmers and other customers. Market research can include attending trade shows, reading industry publications, and following events in the news. If a trend towards lean meats emerges, for example, the livestock buyer needs to be ready to advise customers on the best ways to meet customer demands.
Working conditions can be hot and dirty, with potentially long hours. Buyers may need to remain in auctions and confinements as long as necessary to fulfill an order. Your job may involve inspecting animals in dangerous conditions, such as crowded pens and slaughterhouses. Comfort with livestock can be a valuable asset for a livestock buyer.
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