Dairy Farm Assistant

JobSpace; Northland; On-site; NZD 46,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

On-site housing

Job summary

JobSpace in Northland, New Zealand, is seeking an entry-level Feed Production Management role on a dairy farm. Training will be provided; candidates must be physically fit and hold a valid driver licence.

Responsibilities include feed planning, pasture management, fertiliser application, and ensuring proper milking operations. You will manage effluent systems, animal health programmes, and herd records while supporting farm business planning and safety policies.

Qualifications

• Applicants must be physically fit and willing to learn.
• Applicants must pass pre-employment drug test and have no criminal record.
• No experience required in dairy shed; employer will provide training.
• Must have a valid driver licence.

Responsibilities

• Assist with feed planning and farm management.
• Manage weeds and pests to maintain pasture and crops.
• Apply fertilizer and implement irrigation requirements.
• Ensure milking process operations, plant hygiene and somatic cell count meet grade-free standards.
• Operate and maintain the effluent system to regional council compliance and company standards.
• Maintain effluent records and know what to do when things go wrong.
• Implement animal health programme and assist calving, wintering, and calf rearing.
• Maintain herd records and report illness to Farm Manager.
• Work with Dairy Farm Manager to contribute to the Farm Business Plan.
• Assist to manage repairs and maintenance for plant, machinery and infrastructure.
• Adhere to company policies.
• Comply with health and safety requirements and wear PPE; follow environmental guidelines.

Skills

Physically fit

Willing to learn

Driver licence

No criminal record

Job description

• Employee housing is available on-site. Accommodation may be shared or private, depending on availability at the time of successful placement. No pets allowed.
• Drive-in applicants must be able to demonstrate they can reliably meet the requirements of the roster; candidates residing outside a reasonable commuting distance who are unwilling to relocate may be considered unsuitable for these operational reasons.

Applicants must have the following as per employer’s requirement:

• Applicants must be physically fit and willing to learn.
• Applicants must pass pre-employment drug test and have no criminal record.
• Applicants are not required to have experience in the dairy shed, or with pasture-based farming as this is an entry level role and the employer is willing to provide necessary training.
• Must have a driver licence

Job Description:

Feed Production Management

• Assist with any feed planning or the management of as appropriate
• Assist to manage weeds and pests to maintain pasture and crops.
• Applying fertilizer and implement irrigation requirements.
• Ensure the effective operation of all aspects of the milking process, including plant hygiene and somatic cell count, to maintain grade free standards.

Effluent

• Operate and maintain the effluent system on your farm to all regional council compliance requirements and the employer’s additional standards
• Maintain all appropriate effluent management records
• Know what to do when things go wrong.

Animals

• Implement animal health programme to maintain good health
• Assist with calving, wintering, and the calf rearing programme to achieve minimal losses and ensure high quality replacements are available for the herd
• Ensure all herd records are maintained
• Report any incidents of unwell animals to Farm Manager.

Business

• Work with the Dairy Farm Manager to contribute to Farm Business Plan
• Assist to manage repairs and maintenance schedule for all plant, machinery, and infrastructure
• Ensure all relevant company policies are understood and adhered to.

Health and Safety

• Comply with health and safety requirements and adhere to the policies and procedures.
• Meet the above requirement by wearing all personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Assist to work within best practice environmental guidelines.