Herdsperson - Shropshire in Whitchurch

Every other weekend off (11 on 3 off).

£35,000 - £40,000 per annum dependent on experience.

3-Bedroom cottage in the local village with rent covered.

Essential Criteria

• Demonstrate previous experience in dairy farming, including competent telehandler operation.
• Be comfortable turning a hand to a variety of farm maintenance jobs
• Share our passion for cows and grass, being enthusiastic and committed to achieving high standards.

NOTE – You will be working directly for the farm, not through REAL Success.

Our Farm

Hands-on long-established family run dairy farm with a mixed team working within the business to achieve a happy easy paced working environment for cows and staff. Spring block calving grazing based system therefore cattle are out at grass most of the year. We do house all cattle during the worst winter months. The farm milks 500 cows at peak with 250 head of youngstock following.

We have a modern dairy setup, with a swing over parlour with well-maintained machinery housing and automated technology built into the farm such as: In parlour feeders, ACR’s, backing gate, automated seg gate, cow collars, modern feeding equipment, all bedding done via spread a bale or sawdust buggy. Large-scale silage and slurry work is contracted out; smaller jobs, like fertiliser spreading and topping, are done in-house.

Your Role

As the Herdsperson, you will:

• Support the management of the herd and ensure animal welfare is the top priority, including treating & identifying illnesses.
• Support the relief milking team, milking when necessary.
• Head up parlour & milk cooling maintenance and all monthly machinery service schedules, training will be provided.
• Oversee the cow feeding, monitoring all cows for any signs of being short that day.
• Supporting with dry cow management, calving cows and colostrum protocols.
• A small amount of office data entry work on uniform agri. Training provided.
• Keeping the overall farm tidy and safe to operate, with involvement in a wide variety of farm maintenance

• A full UK Driving license
• Proof of UK right to work
• Foot trimming qualifications preferred; however, training can be provided.
• Confidence in operating a telehandler.
• Confidence in completing general farm maintenance work, including using power tools.
• You will be a confident individual with high attention to detail and strong communication skills.
• You will be friendly, organised, and keen to have positive working relationships with your colleagues.

Our farming goals and values focus intensely on being a simple, efficient system.

• Simplistic milking regime. 2 people milk at all times, no antibiotic cows run in the herd. Very little teat preparation routine, cows are all in one group, no slow milkers, no kickers.
• A dry period each year where milking ceases from circa December 10th to late Jan meaning shorter days, later starts and lots of afternoons free over Christmas.

• Morning milking 5.15am to 8.30am. Afternoon milking 2.30pm to 5.15pm. Quite often we get finished for 5pm. Afternoon milking start time will be altered if needed so we never finish late.

• Farming to high standards, meaning we have healthy cows, hung gates, tidy sheds and well maintained kit.
• Highly organised work, whereby management forward plans all work and provides online access via OneDrive so staff can see what’s happening and when.
• High quality people, we are a team!
• £35,000 - £40,000 per annum
• 3 bedroom cottage in a desirable village location, with rent covered
• Every other weekend off as 11 on 3 off shift pattern.

For more information please checkout our Facebook page @charmlyfarms.