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- Tasks: Lead and manage an organic dairy operation, focusing on herd health and staff leadership.
- Company: Established mixed farming business with a commitment to sustainable practices.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, accommodation available, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in dairy farming while working with a passionate team.
- Qualifications: Experience in dairy management and proficiency in Uniform Agri software required.
- Other info: Join a dynamic environment with excellent career advancement opportunities.
Are you an experienced Dairy Herd Manager? Do you have people management experience? Have you got training in herd management software particularly in Uniform Agri?
The Company: An established mixed farming business.
The Job Role: We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Dairy Herd Manager to lead and manage an organic, regenerative dairy operation. The Dairy Herd Manager will support in overseeing the day-to-day management of the herd, with a strong focus on staff leadership, herd health and fertility, milking operations and grazing management.
The successful Dairy Herd Manager will bring expertise in calf health, nutrition, artificial insemination, foot trimming and data-driven decision-making. Proficiency in Uniform Agri software is essential, alongside being trained in Cow Signals and ROMS locomotion, to ensure optimal herd performance and welfare.
As Dairy Herd Manager, you will work closely with vets, foot trimmers, nutritionists and specialist suppliers, building a strong support team network. Leading by example, driving team engagement with strong communication, and using data to meet estate-wide targets and objectives will be central to this role.
Location: There are x2 positions available in different locations - one based in North West England and one based in the East Anglia Region.
Salary Package: £40,000 - £45,000 basic salary depending on skills and experience + accommodation available + benefits.
Key Responsibilities:
- Cleanliness and Pride: Maintain a 'show farm' standard across the dairy unit, reflecting frequent public visits and events. Ensure the farm is consistently tidy, well-presented and professionally managed.
- Staff Management: To manage and organise staff rotas to ensure efficient daily and seasonal dairy operations, covering all aspects of herd management, including milking, feeding, routine etc. Train, mentor and motivate staff, ensuring the maintenance of high standards of animal welfare and farm operations, following protocols set out by the wider team. Lead by example and with high attention to detail, communicating clearly through the farm messaging platforms regularly, and collecting and using data to drive team performance. Develop, update and implement clear protocols and procedures to structure workloads and accountability.
- Milking Operations: Lead and oversee all milking operations, ensuring procedures are following to maintain the quality of milk and herd health. Setting and achieving targets for milk quality, and improvements on milk yields are essential. Review, reset and implement robust milking protocols, addressing issues promptly. CMT, record, treat cows using data sheets to meet compliance requirements. Coordinate projects, engineers and contractors to resolve parlour, tank or refrigeration issues.
- Grazing Management: Support in the planning and management of grazing scheduled, to ensure optimisation of pasture use and animal nutrition with the grassland team. Monitor grass growth, and quality, adjusting plans as required. Provide weekly sheets to outline paddock management, and communication with tractor operators on paddocks to mow and add slurry. Record plate meter recordings regularly on Agrinet.ie
- Calf Health and Nutrition: Be responsible for the management of calf rearing practices, ensuring the health, growth and welfare of youngstock through effective protocols. Implement, and monitor feeding programs. Management of cow colostrum with experience of store and Thaw and calf colostrum quality testing being an advantage. Monthly weighing and recording of weights are desired to meet soil association and milk supplier contracts. Drive low calf mortality along with weights.
- Artificial Insemination: Lead AI programmes and procedures, ensuring optimal breeding success and genetic improvement. Work with external providers to ensure staff cover is supplied during staff shortages. Achieve a strong submission rate over 75%, walking cows twice a day, and driving heat detection. Hitting a pregnancy rate of close to 30% is preferred, or an empty rate of less than 10%. Ensuring cows have collars added on when entering the herd.
- Foot Trimming and Herd Health: Oversee regular foot trimming, lameness prevention, and foot baths, to ensure hoof health is managed effectively. Work closely with vets to maintain a comprehensive herd health plan. Record and make lists for foot trimmer on bi-weekly visits. Identify and lift lame cows promptly. Dairyland trained trimming is preferred but not essential.
- Winter Housing: Ensure the team are scraping the yard regularly alongside bed and lime the cubicles regularly. Delegate tasks to the team for clean water troughs and feed passageways regularly.
- Dairyland Initiative: Implement and promote sustainable farming practices in line with the Dairyland Initiative. Engage with the wider agricultural community to ensure the farm remains at the forefront of industry best practices.
- Grassland Societies, Networking and Pride of Work: Represent the farms in local farm walks, sharing knowledge and having a focus on driving staff focus. Have 'show farm pride' mentality where the farm is kept tidy for visitors.
- Veterinary Collaboration: Work closely with veterinary professionals to monitor and maintain the overall health and welfare of the herd. Ensure timely intervention and treatment of health issues, maintaining detailed health records. Ensure cows are vaccinated at the right time yearly and organise staff to assist with this.
- Systems, Data and Compliance: Use Uniform Agri software daily for herd management records, analysis and reporting. Ensure accurate completion of all farm diaries (Vet & Med, AI, NMR). Apply Cow Signals principles and ROMS locomotion scoring to improve welfare and performance.
- Busy Times of Year: Take responsibility for being present during the busiest times of the year which include April - June and August - December.
Candidate Requirements:
- Proven experience in dairy herd management with a strong background in all aspects of dairy farming.
- Expertise in artificial insemination, calf health, nutrition, and foot trimming.
- Familiarity with grazing management, fertility, milking operations, and sustainable farming practices.
- Proficient in the use of Uniform Agri software.
- Training in Cow Signals and ROMS locomotion is essential.
- Excellent leadership and staff management skills.
- Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks effectively.
How to apply: Please click on the APPLY NOW button. Please send your CV to; Angel Bains - Recruitment Delivery Consultant. As we are a specialist recruitment business within the Agricultural and Farming industry, we do require that ALL applicants must hold an NVQ Level 2, Scottish NVQ Level 2 or an equivalent qualification which is relevant and necessary for the job that you are applying for. We thank all applicants who apply for this role. However, please be advised that only those short listed for an interview will be contacted. Please be assured that your job application will be managed in complete confidence and your personal details will not be passed to any third party without your prior permission.
Dairy Herd Manager employer: Agricultural and Farming Jobs
Contact Detail:
Agricultural and Farming Jobs Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Dairy Herd Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your contacts in the dairy farming community, attend local events, and engage with industry groups. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! When you get the chance to meet potential employers, be ready to discuss your experience with herd management software like Uniform Agri. Bring examples of how you've used data to improve herd health and productivity.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on key topics like calf health, nutrition, and milking operations. Be ready to share specific examples from your past roles that demonstrate your expertise and leadership abilities.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we’re always looking for passionate individuals who are ready to make a difference in the dairy industry.
We think you need these skills to ace Dairy Herd Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Dairy Herd Manager role. Highlight your experience in herd management, staff leadership, and any relevant software skills, especially with Uniform Agri. We want to see how your background fits perfectly with what we're looking for!
Show Off Your Skills: Don’t just list your qualifications; show us how you’ve used them in real-life situations. Whether it’s improving milk yields or managing calf health, give us examples that demonstrate your expertise and problem-solving abilities.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. Use bullet points where necessary to make it easy for us to read. We appreciate a well-structured application that gets straight to the heart of your experience and skills.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of applications better and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates. Plus, it’s super easy to do!
How to prepare for a job interview at Agricultural and Farming Jobs
✨Know Your Herd Management Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on all aspects of dairy herd management, especially the specifics mentioned in the job description. Familiarise yourself with Uniform Agri software and be ready to discuss how you've used it in past roles. This will show your potential employer that you're not just a good fit, but that you can hit the ground running.
✨Show Off Your Leadership Skills
As a Dairy Herd Manager, you'll need to lead a team effectively. Prepare examples of how you've successfully managed staff in the past, focusing on training, mentoring, and motivating them. Think about specific situations where your leadership made a difference, and be ready to share these stories during the interview.
✨Be Data-Driven
Since the role involves using data for decision-making, come prepared with examples of how you've used data to improve herd health, milk quality, or operational efficiency. Discuss any experience you have with data analysis and how it has positively impacted your previous work.
✨Engage with the Community
The job requires collaboration with vets and other specialists, so be ready to talk about your experience working with external partners. Highlight any community engagement or networking you've done in the agricultural sector, as this shows you're proactive and committed to best practices in farming.
