The Ranch Veterinary Assistant at Kapiti Plains Estate Limited will support the Ranch Livestock Manager and veterinarians in maintaining livestock health and productivity. This position is full-time and open only to Kenyan nationals.

Key Responsibilities

Animal Health Management:

Administer medications, vaccines, and treatments to sick or injured livestock as prescribed by the resident veterinarian.
Assist with post-mortem examinations and collect biological samples (blood, tissue, faecal samples) for laboratory analysis.
Identify and report common regional diseases (e.g., tick-borne diseases, foot-and-mouth, anthrax) to the veterinarian promptly.
Monitor animal health status daily and escalate any disease outbreaks or unusual mortalities.

Herd & Breeding Management:

Assist with artificial insemination (AI), pregnancy diagnoses, calving support, and branding or identification procedures.
Ensure proper animal tagging and tracking (notching, tattoos, RFID tags, ear tagging) for accurate herd records.
Support the Ranch/Livestock Manager in selection of breeding stock, culling candidates, and sale animals.
Maintain calving records and assist with neonatal care.

Husbandry & Nutrition:

Monitor feed and water consumption for all livestock herds and report any deviations from normal intake.
Oversee grazing management programmes in coordination with the Ranch/Livestock Manager, including rotational grazing and supplementary feeding.
Ensure animal handling facilities (crush pens, dipping tanks, loading ramps) remain sanitary, safe, and well-maintained.
Assist with deworming, dehorning, docking, and hoof trimming as required.

Routine Procedures & Emergency Response:

Perform routine treatments including dipping, spraying, and pour-on acaricides for tick and parasite control.
Respond to livestock emergencies (e.g., dystocia, injuries, poisoning, predator attacks) outside normal working hours when necessary.
Assist in quarantine procedures for incoming or sick animals to prevent disease spread.

Record Keeping & Data Management:

Maintain detailed logs of all treatments, medications administered, vaccination schedules, and herd health statistics.
Update breeding records, pregnancy diagnosis results, and calving outcomes in the electronic database.
Prepare daily and weekly animal health reports for the Ranch/Livestock Manager and resident veterinarian.
Track mortality and morbidity rates and assist in identifying trends for preventive action.

Research Support:

Support ILRI scientists and visiting researchers conducting trials on animal health, vaccine development, disease ecology, and livestock-wildlife interfaces.
Assist in collecting and processing biological samples for research purposes following ethical and safety protocols.
Ensure research protocols involving animals are followed without compromising animal welfare.

Administrative & Cross-Cutting:

Manage veterinary supplies and medications inventory, ensuring timely reordering and proper storage (cold chain where applicable).
Participate in ILRI Kapiti staff meetings and contribute to overall station management.
Carry out any other duties as assigned by the Ranch/Livestock Manager or Senior Manager/Head – Kapiti.

Requirements

Essential:

Diploma in Animal Health and Production from a recognised institution
Registration with the Kenya Veterinary Board (KVB) is mandatory

Experience:

3 years of hands-on experience in livestock, dairy, or conservancy herd management
Demonstrated experience in administering treatments, vaccinations, and basic diagnostics in large-scale livestock operations
Experience working with cattle in a ranch or conservancy setting
Basic computer literacy for record keeping

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Ranch Veterinary Assistant - Kapiti Plains Estate Limited

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