Title: Maintain farm machinery, equipment, and/or tools, based on manufacturer guidelines.
Course: Livestock Production Management (18301-II) > Section: Using Mechanics in Livestock Production

Maintenance may include

- consulting service manuals or manufacturing guidelines to establish service schedules
- identifying repairs needed
- determining procedures to perform repairs, which could include woodworking, hot or cold metalworking, or welding
- following safety procedures and guidelines
- performing repairs
- recording services or repairs performed (e.g., oil changes, filter changes, greasing, fluid level checks, tire pressure checks and adjustments)
- selecting lubricants and fuel, if applicable
- testing the machinery, equipment, or tool to check if the repair is complete.

Process/Skill Questions:

- Why is it important to keep records of service work performed on machinery?
- When should the repair of a piece of machinery, equipment, or tool be outsourced rather than done in-house?
- Why is it important to repair an identified problem sooner than later?
- Why would a farmer choose to repair machinery, equipment, or tools instead of buying new ones?