Herdsperson

We are looking for an established, enthusiastic Herdperson to work in our professionally run family farming business near Carlisle, Cumbria. This is a cracking role for someone who is passionate about cows and is keen to take responsibility for looking after a herd.

The Business: Our 350 pedigree Holsteins are a significant part of our 800 acre mixed farming business where we also rear all our replacement heifers, lamb 500 ewes and grow wheat and barley for combining and whole-cropping. We operate over three main sites with the dairy herd and young calves housed at the home farm, a nearby second holding for youngstock contract wintered young-stock on a 3rd unit close by. Our all-year-round calving dairy cows are milked twice per day through a 26x26 Herringbone parlour. They are predominantly fully housed, producing an average of 10,000 litres at 4.4BF, 3.6 Protein and an average 150 SCC and 20 Bactoscan. Our parlour, cubicle buildings and farm infrastructure, although installed a number of years ago, has continued to be extensively renovated and immaculately maintained as we put significant emphasis not only on the production potential, health and welfare of our stock but also pride ourselves on the appearance and tidiness of the farm. All calves
are reared in double pens before moving into small group pens with heifers entering the dairy herd as replacements. In addition to our livestock enterprises with support of contractors, we produce all our own silage and grow 300 acres of wheat and barley, of which a percentage is whole cropped for inclusion in the dairy cow diet.

The Role: This is a hands-on role to join the farm team and support our Owner Operators and Farm Manager. The role is intended to provide further strength to our excellent team ensuring everyone gets regular high-quality time off without compromising herd and young-stock care. You would be supervised by the Farm Manager.

You will milk, spending the remainder of the day focussing on cow health and management, including heat cow management, calving, colostrum management, drying-off, record keeping and data entry, fresh checks and treatments cows, vet visits, fertility, maintaining herd and calf housing and mobility management. You will be responsible for supervising the milking process to ensure a consistent high standard of milk quality, hygiene and cow care. Also identifying and treating mastitis and other illness and escalating any issues with lameness to the Farm Manager. From time to time, you will also be required to assist with estate maintenance and seasonal work (which includes our flock, arable and silage time). You are required to check the stock, including dairy and calving cows at least five nights per fortnight and push the silage in.

The Person: The ideal candidate will enjoy being hands-on with both cows and young-stock on a daily basis, have an eye for detail and a passion for livestock along with being keen to grow their own and others skills and experience. Our business is designed and operated with a strong team culture so you must be a natural team player, able to work collaboratively and cooperatively with the wider management team. You will deputise for senior members of the business in their absence and as such should be organised and a natural communicator who is able to influence and enthuse others. The working environment is fast-paced and challenging whilst being hugely rewarding and would suit someone with a strong work ethic. A driving licence is preferable for this position.

Rewards Include: A competitive salary depending on the existing skills and experience of the candidate and based on working an average of 63 hours per week, including every other weekend and at least five night checks per fortnight as part of a rota. Our usual working day is 5am and 5.30pm and although we are ideally looking for a full-time person to the fill the role, we have various part time and flexible working arrangements with individuals across the business and would be happy to discuss the exact working working hours/pattern to fit the needs of the individual and their family, so this can be discussed at interview. A good quality cottage is also available on the Farm. All employees are entitled to 28 days paid annual leave including bank holidays, pension contributions and support can be given for training needs.,

• Company pension


• Free parking


• On-site parking


Schedule:

• 10 hour shift


Application question(s):

• Do you have the legal right to work in the UK without UK visa sponsorship?


• How many years of dairy farming experience do you have?


• Please confirm the best email address and phone number, should we need to contact you about your application?