Job description

Due to continued expansion, we seek a positive and experienced Herdsperson to work as part of a team at our 500-cow dairy herd in North Shropshire.

The Applicant

The successful applicant will be hard-working, have a positive can-do attitude, be willing to listen and open to new ways of working. You will be proactive and happy to take on extra responsibilities and have strong attention to detail. You will be willing to get on with jobs alone, while also being a team player. It is essential that you have a calm and empathetic manner with cattle, along with excellent husbandry skills and high health and welfare standards.

AI, foot trimming and telehandler qualifications would be a strong advantage. A full UK driving licence is essential.

The Role

Your primary responsibilities will include milking and cow management tasks (including herd health and fertility tasks). These duties will include foot trimming and AI (subject to holding the necessary qualifications). You will also be expected to assist with all other duties that occur on a dairy farm, including youngstock rearing, grassland management, fencing and ensuring the highest standards of animal husbandry and welfare and dairy hygiene. Reporting to the partners, you will work closely with the current team members. Ongoing training and development will be provided.

In return for your efforts, we will offer a competitive package which is commensurate with experience, including regular time off. Accommodation options to be discussed if required.

You will be required to work every other weekend and alternate bank holidays.

About Us

We are a family farm milking 500 cows mostly Montbeliarde crosses through a very new 60:60 herringbone parlour with ADF, Auto ID and segregation gate. The new dairy unit opened five years ago and includes two cubicle sheds, with cow comfort mattresses, robotic slurry pushers and cubicle brush/bedding machine. The handling facilities include a herringbone race and an electric hoof trimming crush. We use a combination of heat detection technology and Genus RMS for fertility. The herd milk records monthly and we use Unform Agri for record keeping.

Milking occurs three times a day, with two milkers at any time. Morning milking starts at 4:45am and afternoon milking is at 1.00pm. The night milkings are staffed via relief milkers.

The herd is on an All-Year-Round calving pattern with an autumn bias. We rear our own replacements.

We operate a grazing system and aim to maximise milk from forage. The farm is well equipped with cow tracks and cows are paddock grazed for as long as the weather allows. In the winter, the cows are cubicle housed and fed a TMR.

You will be joining the team at an exciting time as the herd recently transitioned from organic to conventional production. Our ongoing ambition is to significantly increase milk volumes and herd size over the short term and you will play a key part in this process.

Salary

Competitive salary offered depending on experience.

*No overseas applicants without a work visa or right to work in the UK*