Te Kōpuru, Northland | 300 Cows | Autumn-Calving Herd
Looking for your next step in dairy farming? We're looking for a capable, motivated person to join our 300-cow dairy farm near Te Kōpuru as our 2IC.
You'll work directly alongside the owner, helping with the day-to-day running of the farm and taking responsibility when required. We're open to an experienced 2IC or a strong dairy assistant who's ready to step up, take on more responsibility and develop their skills.
A roster you can plan around – 10 days on, 4 days off throughout the year, including calving.
Flexible milking routines – twice-a-day milking for around seven months of the year, with a more flexible approach for the remainder of the season.
A four-bedroom house – on-farm accommodation with plenty of space for you and your family.
Modern technology – Halter collars and virtual fencing to help with grazing and herd management.
Work directly with the owner – a hands-on role where you can contribute ideas, learn and take ownership of your work.
Room to grow – an opportunity to develop your skills and build confidence in a 2IC role.
Competitive remuneration – a $80,000 annual package including accommodation, depending on experience and ability.
We run a 300-cow autumn-calving dairy herd near Te Kōpuru in Northland. The farm is equipped with Halter technology and operates a 21-aside, one-man milking shed.
We're focused on finding practical ways to run an efficient operation while maintaining good animal health, production and work-life balance.
All young stock are grazed on a nearby runoff, allowing the milking platform to remain focused on the dairy herd.
This is a solo-milking position, so you'll need to be comfortable working independently in the shed, managing your milking routine and maintaining high standards of milk quality and animal care.
We value practical, efficient farming, good stockmanship and attention to detail.
Working alongside the owner, you'll be involved in all aspects of the dairy operation, including:
Carrying out milking in our 21-aside, one-man shed.
Maintaining high standards of milk quality and shed hygiene.
Monitoring herd health, identifying issues early and assisting with animal treatments.
Assisting with calving, mating and reproductive management.
Assist with pasture management, grazing and feed allocation.
Using Halter to assist with grazing and herd management.
Operating and maintaining farm machinery and equipment.
General farm maintenance, including fencing, races and water systems.
Helping manage daily farm operations and taking the lead when the owner is away.
We're looking for someone who:
Has solid dairy farming experience and understands the day-to-day requirements of a dairy operation.
Is confident milking independently and managing a one-man shed, or is capable of learning quickly with the right experience.
Takes pride in animal health, milk quality and doing the small things well.
Has a good understanding of pasture, feeding and stock management.
Is practical, reliable and happy to get stuck in.
Can work independently, use initiative and communicate well.
Is keen to learn, take on responsibility and develop their career.
Previous 2IC experience would be an advantage, but it's not essential. If you're a capable dairy assistant who's ready for the next step, we'd like to hear from you.
Halter experience is beneficial, but we're happy to support the right person to learn.
The annual salary package is $80,000 including accommodation, depending on experience and ability.
A four-bedroom house is available on farm. Rent is deducted from wages.
Applicants must already be living in New Zealand to be considered for this position. We are not recruiting applicants from overseas for this role.
If you're looking for a hands-on role with a consistent roster, modern technology and the opportunity to grow your skills, we'd love to hear from you.
Send through your CV and a brief introduction outlining your dairy farming experience and why this role interests you.