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Unit Group (L4) • 6121

6121 — Livestock and Dairy Producers

6 SKILLED AGRICULTURAL, FORESTRY AND FISHERY WORKERS› 61 Market-Oriented Skilled Agricultural Workers› 612 Animal Producers› 6121 Livestock and Dairy Producers

Explore overview, tasks, skills, education, work context, earnings, and pathways for this Unit Group.

L4 CODE: 6121
Job summary
  • Livestock and Dairy Producers (KeSCO 6121) supports outcomes in the Crop & Livestock Production sector by applying job-specific knowledge
  • standards
  • and tools to deliver quality services or outputs. Duties and complexity vary by employer
  • work setting
  • and seniority level
  • but the occupation generally requires reliability
  • competence
  • and continuous learning.
Minimum entry requirement summary
On-the-job training or Technical Certificate
Future outlook
  • Future trends such as digital transformation
  • automation
  • climate resilience
  • and changing consumer needs are shaping most occupations. Workers who continuously upskill (digital literacy
  • quality standards
  • safety
  • customer service
  • and modern tools) are more resilient and competitive.
Sectors and industries
Crop & Livestock ProductionAgricultureForestryFisheriesAgri-businessRural Economy
Employment prospects (narrative)
  • Prospects depend on national and county demand
  • sector investment
  • policy priorities
  • and supply of trained workers. Job seekers improve prospects by gaining practical experience
  • building a portfolio or track record
  • earning relevant certifications
  • and being flexible on location and sub-sector.
Key tasks (structured)
  • Gather and analyse user requirements and translate into specifications
  • Design system components, data flows, and integrations
  • Develop, test, and deploy software/features or configuration changes
  • Maintain systems, troubleshoot issues, and resolve incidents
  • Implement security controls and good practices (access, backups, patching)
  • Monitor performance, reliability, and availability; optimise where needed
  • Document technical work, user guides, and operational procedures
  • Support users through training, helpdesk, and troubleshooting
  • Collaborate using version control, code reviews, and agile workflows
  • Ensure data protection, privacy, and compliance requirements
Core skills
  • Communication (verbal and written)
  • Teamwork and collaboration
  • Problem-solving and critical thinking
  • Time management and prioritisation
  • Attention to detail and accuracy
  • Customer service orientation
  • Integrity and ethical conduct
  • Adaptability and continuous learning
  • Decision-making and judgement
  • Documentation and record-keeping
  • Digital literacy (basic)
  • Safety awareness and compliance mindset
Technical / occupational skills
  • Computer applications and productivity tools
  • Systems analysis and design
  • Programming/software development fundamentals
  • Database concepts (SQL/NoSQL basics)
  • Networking fundamentals
  • Cybersecurity basics (access control, safe coding, patching)
  • Testing/QA and debugging
  • Version control and collaboration workflows
  • API/integration concepts
  • Cloud fundamentals and deployment basics
  • Data analysis fundamentals
  • Documentation and technical writing
Transferable / soft skills
  • Leadership and supervision (as one progresses)
  • Negotiation and stakeholder management
  • Conflict resolution
  • Presentation and public speaking
  • Creativity and innovation
  • Emotional intelligence
  • Planning and organisation
  • Resilience and stress management
  • Service mindset and empathy
  • Networking and relationship building
  • Analytical thinking
  • Professionalism and work discipline
Skills & competencies (general description)
  • Prospects depend on national and county demand
  • sector investment
  • policy priorities
  • and supply of trained workers. Job seekers improve prospects by gaining practical experience
  • building a portfolio or track record
  • earning relevant certifications
  • and being flexible on location and sub-sector.
Certifications, licenses & registration
  • Vendor-neutral cybersecurity/networking certifications (role dependent)
  • Cloud platform fundamentals certifications (role dependent)
  • Database certifications (role dependent)
  • Software testing/QA certifications (optional)
  • Secure coding and application security training (optional)
Education & training pathways (narrative)
  • Secondary education foundation (varies by role)
  • Short courses/certificates in the relevant service/technical area
  • On-the-job training and mentoring
  • Progression supported by additional certificates and demonstrated competence
Education pathways (structured)
  • Secondary education foundation (varies by role)
  • Short courses/certificates in the relevant service/technical area
  • On-the-job training and mentoring
  • Progression supported by additional certificates and demonstrated competence
Minimum entry requirements
  • Minimum education: On-the-job training or Technical Certificate
  • Basic literacy and numeracy (reading, writing, and basic calculations)
  • Good conduct, reliability, and professional behaviour
  • Ability to follow instructions, procedures, and workplace rules
  • Basic digital literacy where the role uses computers/phones
  • Physical/medical fitness where the role is physically demanding or safety-sensitive
  • Regulatory registration/licensing where required (profession-dependent)
  • Background checks/clearance for sensitive roles where applicable
Relevant courses to consider
  • Certificate/Diploma/Degree in Information Technology
  • Computer Science / Software Engineering
  • Information Systems
  • Data Science / Statistics fundamentals
  • Networking (CCNA-aligned content)
  • Cybersecurity fundamentals
  • Database Administration
  • Cloud Computing fundamentals
  • Systems Analysis and Design
  • Web and Mobile Development
  • DevOps fundamentals
  • AI/ML fundamentals
  • UI/UX Design fundamentals
Institutions where to learn
  • Universities (accredited public and private universities offering relevant programmes)
  • National Polytechnics and TVET institutions (diploma, certificate, artisan programmes)
  • Technical Training Institutes and Vocational Centres
  • Professional Colleges and Accredited Training Academies
  • Sector Training Authorities and Recognised Centres of Excellence
  • Employer-based Academies and Apprenticeship Programmes
  • Online Learning Platforms (supplementary; verify recognition for regulated fields)
  • Industry Associations and Professional Bodies (short courses/CPD)
Work environment & conditions (narrative)
  • Workplace policies
  • Team collaboration
  • Quality standards
  • Outdoor
  • Farms/fields
  • Seasonal production
  • Weather-dependent
Typical employers / places of work
  • ICT companies
  • public and private organisations
  • start-ups
  • innovation hubs and outsourcing firms.
Work setting
Not specified.
Work schedule
Full-time commonEarly mornings commonSeasonal peaks
Employment type
Formal employment possibleInformal employment possibleSelf-employment common in some contextsContract/casual work possible
Salary ranges
Entry
KES 15,000 – 40,000
Mid
KES 40,000 – 80,000
Senior
KES 80,000+ (commercial scale)
Earnings, wages & prospects (narrative)
  • Entry-level typical range (illustrative): KES 15,000 – 40,000
  • Mid-level typical range (illustrative): KES 40,000 – 80,000
  • Senior/experienced typical range (illustrative): KES 80,000+ (commercial scale)
  • Earnings vary by employer (public/private), location, allowances, commissions, overtime, risk factors, and scarcity of skills
How to become one
  • Gain hands-on farming experience
  • access agricultural extension or training
  • start with small-scale production and expand with improved practices and technologies.
Career progression
  • Trainee/Junior → Skilled worker → Senior skilled worker
  • Senior skilled worker → Foreman/Supervisor → Contractor/Business owner (common in trades)
Related & alternative occupations
  • Other occupations within the same KeSCO major group
  • Support roles in the same sector/industry
  • Supervisory roles related to this occupation’s work area
  • Specialist variants of the same occupation (where they exist)
Occupation titles
6121-34 — Farmer, goat: market production
6121-35 — Farmer, horse: breeding
6121-36 — Farmer, horse: raising
6121-37 — Farmer, livestock
6121-38 — Farmer, livestock: market production
6121-41 — Farmer, milk
6121-42 — Farmer, mixed-animal
6121-43 — Farmer, mixed-animal: market production
6121-44 — Farmer, pelt: domesticated animals
6121-45 — Farmer, pig
6121-46 — Farmer, pig: market production
6121-47 — Farmer, ranch
6121-48 — Farmer, sheep
6121-51 — Farmer, sheep: market production
6121-52 — Farmer, stud
6121-53 — Goatherd
6121-54 — Grazier
6121-55 — Hand, farm: milch
6121-56 — Hand, farm: milking
6121-57 — Hand, ranch
6121-58 — Milker
6121-61 — Milkmaid
6121-62 — Pastoralist
6121-63 — Producer, animals
6121-64 — Raiser, cattle
6121-65 — Raiser, pig
6121-66 — Raiser, sheep
6121-67 — Rancher
6121-68 — Shearer, sheep
6121-71 — Shepherd
6121-72 — Stockman, beef cattle
6121-73 — Stockman, livestock
6121-74 — Stockman, sheep
6121-75 — Stockwoman, beef cattle
6121-76 — Stockwoman, livestock
6121-77 — Stockwoman, sheep
6121-78 — Worker, farm: skilled (cattle)
6121-81 — Worker, farm: skilled (dairy)
6121-82 — Worker, farm: skilled (domestic fur-bearing animals)
6121-83 — Worker, farm: skilled (livestock)
6121-84 — Worker, farm: skilled (mixed-animal husbandry)
6121-85 — Worker, farm: skilled (pig)
6121-86 — Worker, farm: skilled (sheep)