A study was conducted to identify the skills which are performed and essential for success in seven animal production and management (small animal care) occupations: animal health assistant, laboratory animal assistant, kennel worker, dog groomer, pet shop worker, stable worker, and zoo keeper. Specific objectives were (1) to develop and validate an initial task inventory, (2) to identify the specific tasks performed by workers, and (3) to determine the relative importance of the specific tasks to successful employment. An initial task inventory was constructed and validated. A sample of workers in the seven occupations was selected and data was collected from them and analyzed. The product is a list of 637 tasks, (grouped under 48 duty areas), each with a level of importance rating for each of the seven occupations. The report contains description of the methodology, data tables describing characteristics of the sample of 54 workers, the 37-page task list with importance ratings for each of the seven occupations, and a list of conclusions and recommendations for further research. (HD)