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Countryside Jobs Service; Brighton; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

Ceredigion County Council Direct Payment Support Service is seeking a livestock handler to manage grazing and stock across reserves. The role involves routine checks, winter feeding, and husbandry from tagging to MOT before bulling/tupping, with 35 hours per week on a rota including weekends.

Experience with tractors and towing trailers is desirable; there is a remuneration package for out-of-hours work. The position supports Sussex Wildlife Trust's conservation objectives.

Qualifications

• Experience in livestock handling is desirable.
• Experience with tractors and trailer towing is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Carry out daily livestock checks.
• Bedding up and feeding in the winter.
• Carry out basic animal husbandry including tagging and castration.
• Move stock onto reserves and gather again at the end of the season for sale or return to the home farm.
• Lambing and calving duties as required.
• Respond to out-of-hours calls and emergencies as part of rota.
• Work on a 35-hour week with a 7-day-a-week cover and one weekend in four.

Job description

You will be part of a team that manages Sussex Wildlife Trust's livestock and delivers grazing on reserves across East and West Sussex.

SWT currently runs nearly 300 head of cattle, 1000 head of sheep and a small group of goats and ponies, all of which help deliver conservation objectives across our nature reserves. We are continuing to increase the quality and number of stock available to deliver our conservation objectives, as well as developing a sustainable grazing operation that is capable of being financially self-sufficient.

We block calve outdoors in the spring and this year will be putting 120 cows to the bull, we run this consecutively with lambing which we operate both an indoor and outdoor system, this year we have just lambed nearly 1000 ewes. A major part of the role therefore will be to carry out lambing and calving and all the husbandry that goes along with it, from tagging and castrating right up to giving the ewes and cows an MOT before bulling/tupping.

The role will include daily livestock checks, bedding up and feeding in the winter, carrying out basic animal husbandry, moving stock out onto reserves and gathering again at the end of the season ready for sale or to come back to the “home” farm. We currently use tractors on a daily basis for carting animals, feeding, bedding up and mucking out. A knowledge of and experience using tractors and tractor mounted equipment would be desirable. As well as experience towing trailers on and off road, both with the tractor and 4x4. Please note this role is 35 hours a week and is on a rota with the rest of the team to provide 7 day a week cover. You will be required to work one weekend in four, having the Friday before and the Friday after your weekend off, as well as responding to out of hours calls and emergencies where necessary.

Access to a working dog able to confidently work sheep and or cattle is desirable but not essential. There is a financial remuneration package available for this and out of hours work.

Ceredigion County Council Direct Payment Support Service