Herd Manager job - North Wales

4Xtrahands Limited; England; Presencial; GBP 35.000 - 55.000; Jornada completa

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Accommodation

Descripción de la vacante

4Xtrahands Limited in North Wales is seeking an experienced Herd Manager to join our New Zealand‑style spring‑calving dairy farm on the Llyn Peninsula. Start date January 2027; accommodation available; you will lead day-to-day herd management, welfare, and farm performance in a grass-based system.

The role emphasises stockmanship, grazing management, and strong leadership of the farm team, with opportunities to advance within a progressive, sustainable dairy operation.

Formación

• Experience working with dairy cattle and effective herd management.
• Strong stockmanship and understanding of herd health, fertility and calving management.
• Ability to lead, motivate and work well with a team.

Responsabilidades

• Herd health and fertility: monitor health, manage breeding, coordinate with veterinary team.
• Calving management: plan and oversee spring-calving season and calf care.
• Grazing and grassland management: optimise grass-based system and forward planning.
• Staff supervision: coordinate farm team and maintain high standards of work.
• Herd performance: monitor cow condition, milk production and KPIs; identify efficiency gains.
• Animal welfare and records: maintain stockmanship, biosecurity, hygiene, and accurate herd records.

Conocimientos

Dairy cattle

Herd management

Team leadership

Stockmanship

Grazing management

Descripción del empleo

HERD MANAGER WANTED

Start date: January 2027 | Herd size: 300 cows | Accommodation available

Are you an ambitious dairy farmer looking to take the next step in your career? We are seeking a highly motivated and enthusiastic Herd Manager to join our well-established, New Zealand-style, spring-calving dairy farm on the beautiful Llyn Peninsula in North Wales. We are looking for an experienced Herd Manager or an ambitious second-in-command who is keen to develop their management skills, take on greater responsibility and progress their career within a progressive, grass-based dairy farming system. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who is passionate about dairy farming and wants to make a real contribution to the performance and future success of the business.

About the farm

We operate a seasonal, spring-calving dairy system with a herd of approximately 300 cows, milked through a 24/48 milking parlour. Our system focuses on making the most of grass, maintaining excellent herd health and fertility, and achieving efficient, sustainable milk production. We are looking for someone who understands the importance of good stockmanship, effective grazing management and strong team leadership within a seasonal dairy system.

The role

The successful candidate will play a key role in the day-to-day management of the dairy herd, working closely with the wider farm team to maintain high standards of animal welfare, herd performance and operational efficiency.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Herd health and fertility: Monitoring herd health, managing breeding performance, identifying problems early and working with the veterinary team to maintain a healthy, productive herd.
• Calving management: Helping plan and manage the spring-calving season, ensuring cows and calves receive excellent care.
• Grazing and grassland management: Making the most of the farm's grass-based system through effective grazing management, grass utilisation and forward planning.
• Staff supervision: Supporting and coordinating the farm team, maintaining high standards of work and helping create a positive, productive working environment.
• Herd performance: Monitoring cow condition, milk production and key performance indicators, identifying opportunities to improve efficiency and profitability.
• Animal welfare and records: Maintaining high standards of stockmanship, biosecurity, hygiene and accurate herd records.

About you

We are looking for someone who is practical, motivated and committed to developing their career in dairy farming.

The ideal candidate will have:

• Experience working with dairy cattle and a good understanding of herd management.
• A strong interest in seasonal, spring-calving, grass-based dairy systems.
• Good stockmanship and an understanding of herd health, fertility and calving management.
• An interest in grazing management and making the most of grass.
• The ability to lead, motivate and work effectively with a team.
• A proactive approach, good attention to detail and the confidence to take responsibility.
• A positive attitude and a genuine desire to improve herd performance and farm efficiency.

Previous experience as a Herd Manager would be advantageous, but we would also welcome an ambitious second-in-command who is ready to step up and take on a greater management role.

What we offer

• A responsible role within an established dairy farming business.
• The opportunity to manage and develop a 300-cow spring-calving dairy herd.
• Valuable experience within a New Zealand-style, grass-based dairy system.
• Accommodation available.
• Salary negotiable, depending on experience and suitability for the role.
• An opportunity to develop your skills and progress your career in dairy farming.

Position details

• Position: Herd Manager
• Location: Llyn Peninsula, North Wales
• Start date: January 2027
• Herd size: 300 cows
• Milking parlour: 24/48
• Farming system: Seasonal, spring-calving, grass-based
• Salary: Negotiable
• Accommodation: Available