Herd Manager (Ruatangata West) 3474EN

We are looking for an experienced farm worker (12+ months) to work as Herd Manager on a 900-cow farm in Ruatangata West, just 21 minutes from Whangarei. The farm has autumn (550 cows) and spring (350 cows) calving, milking through a 50 Bail Rotary and 22 Aside Herringbone shed.

You'll have a range of duties to keep you busy, interested and developing including:

- Milking and monitoring milk quality,

- stock handling and feeding (feed mgt),

- fencing, weed control,

- calving, calf rearing,

- shed maintenance & preparation,

- tractor operation for feeding out, baling, mowing and silage

- monitoring, recording and maintaining animal health

- and other general farm duties.

Weekly hours are a minimum of 30, with an average of 40 and a maximum of 50. Since farm work is dependent on a number of unknown factors like weather and animals, any hours worked beyond the agreed maximum in a fortnightly pay period will be paid at the agreed overtime rate. 

The schedule may vary but generally work hours are between 5am and go through 5pm with meal and rest breaks; Roster will follow a double-rotation of 5 days on, 2 days off, followed by 6 days on, 1 day off throughout the year. 

Wage is $35.00 per hour.

Candidates must have previous dairy farming experience and are required to provide good related references.   

To be considered you must:

- provide a CV which is current, correct and complete or alternative evidence of work (this is proof of work and professionalism and the employer will not consider you without this)

- be a solid worker and with good character (where possible, we will do a criminal check)

- be physically fit

- be able to pass a pre-employment drug test  

Summary - if you're committed to getting up early, working hard, treating the animals with care and respect and communicating well with others, you will want this job (or last in it).