Swine Technician

In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.

The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used. Here is how this occupation has been classified over time:

• 2006 NOC: Specialized Livestock Workers (8253.2) 
• 2006 NOC-S: Farm Supervisors and Specialized Livestock Workers (I013) 
• 2011 NOC: Agricultural service contractors, farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers (8252) 
• 2016 NOC: Agricultural service contractors, farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers (8252) 

Duties vary from one position to another. In general, swine technicians monitor the health and well-being of pigs. To do this, they:

• Recognize and treat health problems in pigs
• Ensure that water is available and pigs are fed the correct amount and type of feed
• Monitor barn environments, including temperature and air movement
• Ensure humane handling, such as moving animals to other barn locations in a low-stress manner
• Carry out breeding and artificial insemination
• Help with births
• Euthanize animals when necessary
• Dock tails and clip teeth
• Wean, weigh, and sort pigs
• Administer vaccinations and other preventive treatments
• Load hogs for transport
• Use high-pressure washer systems to clean barns
• Maintain equipment and buildings
• Keep paper and electronic records of data such as births, weight gains, health treatments, and breeding dates
• Perform general farm duties

Swine technicians may supervise farm labourers.

Swine technicians work primarily in barns. They also may work outdoors in all weather conditions. They must follow safety precautions to avoid injury when working with machinery and tools. They must wear protective clothing. They also must follow good animal hygiene practices to prevent or control the spread of diseases and parasites. Modern barns are well ventilated and manure is flushed out regularly.

Lifting heavy items routinely is required.

Swine technicians need:

• Physical fitness
• No dust or ammonia allergies
• The ability to work independently and with others

They should enjoy taking a methodical approach to farm duties, keeping records, and supervising feeding, health, and breeding programs.

Swine technicians work on farms. Most hog farms are family-owned operations; about half have 1 or 2 employees. However, swine production operations are getting bigger and more specialized. For example, farms may specialize in breeding and producing piglets, raising piglets to market weight, or raising purebred hogs to sell as breeding stock.

Those who successfully complete Level 1 of the Alberta Green Certificate Farm Training program may progress to Level 2 (production supervisor) and Level 3 (farm business manager).

Swine technicians are part of the larger 2011 National Occupational Classification 8252: Agricultural Service Contractors, Farm Supervisors and Specialized Livestock Workers. In Alberta, 79% of people employed in this classification work in the following industries:

• Agricultural [pdf]
• Forestry [pdf]
• Information, Culture and Recreation [pdf]

The employment outlook [pdf] in this occupation will be influenced by a wide variety of factors including:

• Trends and events affecting overall employment, especially in the industries listed above
• Location in Alberta
• Employment turnover (when people leave existing positions)
• Occupational growth (when new positions are created)
• Size of the occupation

Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.

Alberta Pork website, Producer and Industry Information Centre: www.albertapork.com

For more information on career planning, education and jobs call the Alberta Supports Contact Centre toll-free at 1-877-644-9992 or 780-644-9992 in Edmonton, or visit an Alberta Supports Centre near you.