Herd Manager - Ayshire

Herd Manager – Ayrshire

Shift pattern – 11 in 14

£45,000 - £55,000 per year, DOE

5-bedroom large family home on the farm

Access to an established discussion group network

Progression and flexibility

Essential Criteria:

• Have extensive previous experience in agriculture and dairy cow management
• Demonstrate strong people management skills and positive values and behaviours

Our Farm & Business

We are a successful dairy business, currently merging our two dairy units. This role will work with 350 Holstein cows, who are milked twice a day through a 50-point rotary parlour. The milk is supplied on an M&S contract, and calving is completed AYR. All our data and records are kept using Uniform. The herd is part grazing, with excellent cow facilities, including mattresses, well-developed infrastructure tracks, and modern equipment.

The herd size will increase once the dairy units are merged and we are looking to upgrade the milking parlour.

Your Role

As a Herd Manager, you will lead the dairy with the support of the Farm Manager. This is a cow-focussed position with key roles and responsibilities including:

• Overall management and responsibility of the herd and ensuring animal welfare is the top priority.
• Leading and managing the team effectively.
• Milking to a high standard as part of a team and ensuring the parlour is kept clean and safe to operate.
• Taking full control of dry cow management, calving cows, and colostrum protocols.
• Working closely with the farm manager to achieve agreed KPI’s, financial budgets and breeding targets.
• Liaising with Vets, nutritionists and consultants for the farm.
• Grass Management and measuring.
• AI & Foot trimming
• Keeping basic records and compliance up to date.
• Ensuring the overall farm is kept tidy and safe to operate.
• Farm machinery and general farm maintenance

There is progression and development to the Farm Manager position in the future for the right person.

• AI & Foot trimming qualifications
• Be a confident and organised individual with a high attention to detail
• Demonstrate excellent communication skills, being able to motivate a team
• Have the capabilities to be decisive and adapt quickly to different situations
• Share our passion and care for cows and our staff
• Full UK Driving License
• Proof of UK Right to Work

• Our current shift pattern is 11 in 14
• £45,000 - £55,000 per year, depending on experience
• 5-bedroom large family home on the farm, with rent paid.
• Access to an established discussion group network through M&S
• Progression and flexibility