Herd Manager – Mayfield, Canterbury

We are seeking an experienced Herd Manager to join our team on a progressive 1,300-cow dairy farm near Mayfield, Canterbury.

This is a permanent full-time position suited to someone who is passionate about animal health, pasture management, team leadership, and high-performance dairy farming.

About the Role

The successful applicant will work closely with the team and will be responsible for:

• Dairy shed operations and milking management
• Animal health monitoring and treatments
• Heat detection and mating management
• Calving management
• Pasture allocation and feed management
• Tractor operation and feeding out
• Farm maintenance and presentation
• Accurate farm records and reporting
• Assisting with the training and supervision of staff
• Maintaining high standards of animal welfare, health and safety, and environmental compliance

Essential Requirements

To be considered for this role, applicants must:

• Have a minimum of two years' commercial dairy farming experience on a 1000+ cow farm
• Have experience performing Herd Manager-level duties, including animal health, pasture management and dairy shed leadership
• Have previous experience with herds over 1000 cows
• Have training with diagnosing, treating and trimming lame cows
• Experience with transitioning cows to eating fodder beet
• Be capable of working independently and making sound day-to-day decisions
• Have strong communication and organisational skills
• Hold a current driver's licence
• Be physically fit and capable of carrying out all aspects of dairy farm work
• Have no criminal convictions
• Have a clear drug history
  

Employment Details

• Permanent full-time position
• Guaranteed minimum 40 hours per week
• Typical roster 5 days on, 2 days off
• Hourly rate: NZ$35.00 per hour
• Accommodation available

What We Offer

• Modern 1,300-cow dairy operation
• Supportive and professional team environment
• Ongoing training and development opportunities
• Career progression opportunities within the business
• Accredited Employer

Applications must include a CV outlining relevant details dairy farming experience and references or they will not be considered.