Agriculture Technician - Dairy Cow Comfort and Welfare

We currently have a vacancy on our dairy farm for a Cow Comfort and Welfare Manager..
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We have a diversified dairy/arable farm near West Meon in Hampshire.   On the farm are 430 dairy cows, arable and forage crops as well as non-farming activities such as glamping, fly fishing, self storage and corporate events.

The position of Cow Comfort and Welfare Manager is a technical job, suitable for somebody with an affinity for animals that gives them an ability to pick up Cow Signals that indicate the status and needs of individual cows and groups of cows.  A hard working ethic and ability to work as part of a team is essential.   Extensive training is provided to develop you to the level of skill and intuitiveness required for the job.

The job does involve practical work around the cows such as moving cows from their yards to the milking parlour and keeping the sand bed cubicles clean of muck and bedded with sand. Manual and machine work are needed here.  Once out grazing in the Spring it will be getting cows to and from paddocks, moving fences, and feeding youngstock on the Downland.  

• 9.5-hour days through peak times
• Looking after 248 deep sand beds, 228 sand on mattresses
• Bringing cows to and from the milking parlour.
• Identifying and flagging unwell animals and groups.
• Identifying less than standard welfare requirements - and rectifying.
• Raking beds, scraping out.
• Cleaning water troughs.

 
This position is hard work through the Winter but with favourable times.

Every other weekend off
1 day off every other week
Milking times 4 45am to 10am (latest)
 3.30pm to 6.30pm
Statutory annual holiday

The current team consists of 6 members with the shortest working here for 5 years.

Accommodation is available in an on farm mobile home.  

Please scroll down for more details and if you are interested, drop an email to:
jamie@meonsprings.com

THE JOB

The work will involve assisting our team to with the technical aspects of monitoring cow health and welfare, whilst in their accommodation.   Ensuring that sick cows are identified and the herd is managed to a high level of cow comfort.

You will be working with tractors and farm machinery, in order to scrape out passages & bed up cubicles.  The job involves a fair amount of walking and manual labour as well as an ability to understand cow signals.

Responsibilities and accountabilities:

1. Moving cows between accommodation and parlour.
2. Identifying cows that need attention and interventions.
3. Caring for cow cubicle accommodation, following the unit’s protocols to ensure beds are clean and comfortable.
4. Safely operate farm machinery in order to scrape passages and bed up cows.
5. Develop relevant knowledge and skills to improve ability.

tHE faRM

Whitewool Farm is located in the Upper Meon Valley, between Winchester and Petersfield.

The Dairy runs 400 friesian holstein dairy cows that are autumn calved and graze in the Summer. 

​In the Winter, the cows are comfortably housed on sand bedded cubicles and it is part of your job to ensure that they remain comfortable an clean.

The farm also has an arable enterprise and non-farming activities, such as fly fishing, glamping and self storage that can be found on this website.

More can be found about the farm on the webpage www.meonsprings.com/farming

OUR REQUIREMENTS

Previous experience would be an advantage - however an affinity for cows, livestock and an outdoor life is more important.  It is also important that you have a keen commitment to learning and an enthusiasm for work.

You also need to be able to fit into a positive and hardworking team that will be keen to teach you what you need to know to do the work.

TERMS

Pay rates are competitive for the industry and will be either hourly or salary, depending on the agreed position.

Weekend work is required as are early mornings or late evenings (on different shifts).

ACCOMMODATION

If required, we do have mobile home accomodation for your exclusive use (i.e not shared).

TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT

Over and above the basics, we are keen to quickly develop or team members at Whitewool Farm to have a good understanding of stockmanship, machinery and teamwork. 

We do this by regularly reviewing your performance and helping you gain knowledge and skill, where necessary.