Agricultural Assistant - Precision Feed Facility

Department: OMAFRA Research Facilities
This position is covered by the Collective Agreement with the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation District 35 - Technician/Administrative/Research/Agricultural

If you are a current employee of the University of Guelph you must apply on the internal Career Page in order to be considered as an internal applicant. 
Career Opportunities (sapsf.com) 

General Purpose

Reporting to the Technical Foreperson of the Ontario Beef Research Centre, the Agricultural Assistants are part of a team that supplies fresh feed daily to over 1000 beef and dairy animals at peak times. The Agricultural Assistants must have current working knowledge and advanced skills regarding all aspects of preparing specialized research and production rations for the Ontario Dairy and Ontario Beef Research Centres.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Data collection and other activities in support of research projects
• Cleaning, upkeep and maintenance of facilities and equipment
• Ensuring accurate production standards are consistently achieved
• Assisting in training of seasonal and temporary staff
• Assisting in conducting tours on occasion
• Remaining knowledgeable of current best practices and industry standards for the livestock species and associated feed preparation routines and ingredients.
• The incumbents will also responsible for all aspects of bunk management and some aspects of feed storage included but not limited to
  • Sweeping and cleaning bunks before filling
  • Assisting RSO with covering, sealing and maintaining the 27 covered bunkers storing 1st, 2nd, 3rd cut haylage, corn silage and high moisture corn amounting to over 10,500 tonnes of feed
  • Inventory tracking of bunks, storage and inventory tracking of specialized ration ingredients
  • Maintaining minimum volume requirements through order tracking and re-ordering.

General duties include:

• Operation and maintenance of all feed preparation equipment and software
• Proper bunk management and ration mixing procedures
• CFIA requirements for inventory management, tracking and traceability
• Maintaining a high standard of cleanliness in barns, bunks, labs, offices, and shared facilities and working in accordance with all Health and Safety precautions and procedures
• Following research procedures and animal utilization protocols
• Collecting and processing samples for dry matter; electronic tracking of dry matter and ration updates
• Providing quality research data collection, sample collection and recordkeeping
• Understanding the principles of feeding ruminants at all life stages

• While the incumbent will primarily report to the Precision Feed Facility, occasionally, they will also be assigned to the Ontario Beef Research Centre subject to operational efficiencies and requirements.  The Ontario Beef Research Centre is a full-scale beef production operation that must meet all food producing requirements while animals are used for a wide variety of research projects. There are a total of about 600 mature cows and calves, replacement heifers and feedlot animals. As a production unit all cows go through the yearly reproductive cycle of pasture management, breeding, births (averaging 250 births/yr), calf care, and replacement animal management. 

Requirements 

• Two-year college diploma in Agriculture and a minimum of one to two years of current working experience encompassing the full range of responsibilities encountered in feed preparation at a modern, commercial dairy or beef operation, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative to learn, be adaptable and dependable, and work well independently and with other staff in a team setting
• Highly organized, safety conscious and attentive to detail
• Strong computer skills and proficiency with Microsoft Applications including Outlook, Teams, Word and Excel; experience with feed management software is an asset
• First Aid and CPR certification preferred
• A valid Class G driver’s license or ability to obtain is required

Employee Type: Regular  
Position Number: 10447110   
Classification: OSSTF/TARA, District 35 Salary: Band 5      
OSSTF/TARA Wage Grid

*Tentative evaluation; subject to final review.

At the University of Guelph, fostering a culture of inclusion is an institutional imperative. The University invites and encourages applications from all qualified individuals, including from groups that are traditionally underrepresented in employment, who may contribute to further diversification of our Institution.

Posting Date: 08/18/2025 
Close Date: 09/01/2025