An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Lead Youngstock Rearer to join our dairy unit near Taunton.
Our Farm
This is an opportunity for a Calf and Youngstock Rearer with specific skills to lead our team of dedicated staff in this very important part of our business.
We milk approximately 550 holstein and 150 jersey cows twice a day through a new Boumatic 40:40 rapid exit parlour. We are a high yielding housed herd with exceptionally high milk solids and we sell our milk to Saputo to make Cathedral City Cheese. Our housing, milking, feeding and calf rearing facilities are all built in the last 8 years and are designed to make life comfortable for the cows and easy for the dairy team.
Your role
Working within our Youngstock team, you'll be responsible for:
* Working closely with the farm owners and the senior team to ensure high levels of calf performance.
* Ensure successful handover of calves from post first feed through to day 3 following the agreed protocols- Ensure effective management and administration of colostrum
* Ensure calves from day 3 remain healthy and are correctly fed through to weaning
* Assisting with the calving shed and dry cow management
* Ensuring high standards of welfare, health and hygiene
* Reporting any observations to the Dairy Manager
* Administer medicines and vaccines following protocols
* Cover others within the team due absences and holiday
A Full UK Driving License is required. Experience of tractor driving and Telehandler license is preferred but not essential.
You
You'll be a positive and easy-going person, with a high attention to detail and excellent communication skills. You will be confident and able to inspire and motivate those around you. You'll ideally have some experience working with youngstock and maybe cows, but this is not essential. We will train you to have a keen eye for prevention and early detection of heifer health issues and develop a passion for the welfare and development of our youngstock.
Above all, you'll be a self-starter who is keen to continue to develop your skills and are ready to play your part in our team. There is also an opportunity for you to develop your skills both with livestock and also the wider team
The benefits
Staff welfare and safety are central to the business and we strive to promote a work and play balance. The shift pattern varies across a 3 weekend rota averaging 45 hours per week and we aim to balance the work periods with plenty of time away from the farm.
If accommodation is required we will work with the successful candidate to ensure that they are settled in the area and will reflect this in the remuneration package offered.
If you want to see more of our team and the farm, then check us out on Instagram @newleyfarm
If you think you have the necessary skills to develop a career on an industry leading and progressive dairy farm, then we would love to hear from you.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: From £35,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person