Bakersfield College professor of Animal Science Bill Barnes is  the first to admit he may have an odd job.

Barnes uses artificial insemination in livestock production, which is a very common job in the beef and swine industry. After all, it is an important aspect in producing milk and food for most of the country.

Swine production is mostly what Barnes focuses on, and while it may sound like an easy job, there are a lot of aspects to be aware of. First, you have to make sure that the female pig is in heat.

“Female pigs go through a cycle when she is in heat. It is called the estrous cycle. It happens every 21 days,” said Barnes.

When the female pig is ready, a rod is inserted at a 45-degree angle, then it is turned to the left, and once it is in the cervix, it locks in.

Then a bottle of semen, which can cost upward of $150, is taken and put at the end of the rod.

Some pressure is applied slowly, and once it is empty, she’s done. Then the rod is turned to the right and it is removed. The same procedure is done again in 24 hours.

The way to tell if the procedure is successful is to wait another 21 days, and if she does not come into estrous cycle again, then the process does not need to be done again.

If she does come into the cycle, then the same procedure is followed again until it is successful.

“Once she is pregnant, it will last 114 days. That’s three months, three weeks, and three days. About 6 weeks into it, she’ll develop a tummy,” said Barnes about knowing when the pig is pregnant.

Some aspects of the process can be dangerous.

“When I was collecting from a boar one time, I was bitten by one. They get really aggressive,” said Barnes.

The boars are a little more aggressive than the female pigs; the female pigs are a little more stable.

“The females are normally not aggressive,” said Barnes.

Even though the job may sound a little bit different than most, it is a job that pays for itself. The average person may make up to $70,000-$75,000 a year for beef production, while in swine production the average is about $50,000 a year. The beef industry is more popular in the West Coast while swine production is more in  the Mid-West.

Barnes’ advice to someone who may want to get into the field is that he or she may want to major in animal science.

The courses can be taken at Bakersfield College, and then the student can transfer to a school like Fresno State, Chico State or Cal Poly.

While in a four-year university, a person interested in the major may want to do an internship with the large producers of pork or beef in the country.

Some people may want to be a part of the scientific aspect. They can also major in anatomy and work on new developments.