Animal Husbandry Assistant at Mpesa Foundation Academy

ROLE PURPOSE:

To provide hands-on support in the daily management of the Academy’s dairy and Poultry units. The role holder will work closely with the Dairy Attendants and Poultry Attendants to ensure all livestock are properly fed, healthy, and well-cared for, while maintaining high standards of hygiene, biosecurity, and animal welfare.

Accountabilities: 

Animal Feeding and Nutrition

• Hands on in preparing and distributing feed and water to dairy cattle according to established schedules and rations.
• Monitor feeding patterns and report any changes in appetite or behavior to the Farm Manager.
• Ensure clean drinking water is always available.
• Assist in feeding and watering poultry across all stages (chicks, growers, layers).
• Monitor feed intake and report any abnormalities.
• Ensure feeders and drinkers are clean and functioning properly.

Animal Health

• Observe cattle daily for signs of illness, injury, or distress and report immediately.
• Administering prescribed medications or treatments under supervision.
• Administer artificial insemination as per the schedule. 
• Support calving processes and care for newborn calves.
• Maintaining health records for each animal.
• Monitor birds daily for signs of disease, injury, or abnormal behavior.
• Oversee vaccination programs and medication administration.
• Identify and isolate sick or injured birds promptly.
• Maintain mortality records and assist in post-mortem examinations as required.

Hygiene and Biosecurity

• Maintain cleanliness of cattle sheds, milking parlor, and surrounding areas.
• Ensure proper disposal of waste and manure.
• Assist in maintaining biosecurity protocols to prevent disease introduction.
• Clean and disinfect poultry houses regularly.
• Maintain footbaths and other biosecurity measures.
• Ensure proper litter management and ventilation.

Milking and Milk Handling

• Hands on in morning and evening milking routines as required.
• Ensure proper milking techniques to maintain udder health and milk quality.
• Assist in cleaning and sanitising milking equipment after each use.
• Support in milk cooling, storage, and record-keeping.
• Assisting in value addition initiatives e.g Yoghurt production.

Egg Collection and handling

• Oversee egg collection, cleaning, grading and packaging for sale in the  Mini Mart 
• Maintain accurate records of daily egg production.
• Report any drop in production to the Farm Manager.

General Farm Maintenance

• Support in pasture management and fodder conservation where applicable.
• Ensure tools and equipment are clean, maintained, and properly stored.
• Assist in stock-taking of feed, medicines, and other supplies.

Team Collaboration

• Work closely with the Dairy Attendant and Poultry Attendant to ensure seamless operations.
• Step in to cover duties in the absence of either attendant.
• Communicate effectively with the farm team to ensure all tasks are completed.
• Perform any other duties as may be assigned by the Farm Manager.

TECHNICAL AND PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATION

• Diploma in animal health, Animal Husbandry from a recognised institution 
• Must have Artificial insemination certification 
• At least 2–3 years of hands-on experience in dairy and/or poultry farming.
• Experience working with both cattle and poultry in large scale is preferred.

Skills & Attitudes:

• Excellent communication (oral/written) and interpersonal skills.
• Detail-oriented with strong analytical abilities (data/report interpretation).
• Team player

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Passionate about Animals: Genuine care and concern for animal welfare.
• Proactive: Able to identify and address issues before they escalate.
• Adaptable: Willing to work across both dairy and poultry units as needed.
• Integrity: Honest in handling farm inputs, products, and records.
• Dependable and consistently available for early morning and weekend duties.

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

• Low incidence of illness; early detection and reporting
• Consistent daily milk yields per animal
• 100% Proper feed utilization and minimal wastage
• 100% Clean facilities and equipment; no hygiene-related issues
• 100% Daily records completed accurately and on time