This Dairy Milker job description sets out the main duties, qualifications, skills and measures of success for the role, which is also known as Relief Milker, Milking Assistant, Parlour Operative or Milking Technician. Download it free as a Word or PDF template and adapt it for your own vacancy.
| Job title | Dairy Milker |
| Also known as | Relief Milker, Milking Assistant, Parlour Operative, Milking Technician |
| Department | Dairy farming |
| Reports to | Milking Supervisor |
| Direct reports | None |
What does a Dairy Milker do?
Milks the herd to a clean, consistent routine that protects udder health, cow welfare and milk quality. Works in the parlour as a regular or relief milker, keeping equipment clean and records accurate.
Dairy Milker duties and responsibilities
Milking routine
- Bring cows in calmly and keep cow flow steady through the parlour
- Follow the farm's milking routine of pre-dip, fore-strip, wipe, attach and post-dip
- Attach and adjust clusters carefully and avoid over-milking
- Start and finish each milking on time
- Hand over clearly to the next milker or the supervisor
Udder health and mastitis
- Check fore-milk for clots or changes and watch for swollen or hot quarters
- Carry out cow-side mastitis tests when asked
- Identify treated cows and keep their milk out of the bulk tank
- Report mastitis cases, teat damage and other health concerns promptly
Parlour hygiene and equipment
- Wear clean gloves and keep hands and clothing clean throughout milking
- Clean the parlour, collecting yard and equipment after every milking
- Check that the plant wash runs correctly and the bulk tank cools milk properly
- Check liners, hoses and clusters and report faults
- Keep teat dips, gloves, filters and cleaning products in stock
Cow welfare and records
- Handle cows quietly and patiently, with no shouting or rough treatment
- Watch for lameness, heat, illness or injury and report what you see
- Mark treated cows clearly using the farm's system
- Record treatments, mastitis cases, yields and any problems accurately
Health, safety and biosecurity
- Use cleaning chemicals and teat dips safely and as instructed
- Wear the correct PPE and keep parlour floors and steps safe
- Follow biosecurity rules and report accidents and near misses straight away
Dairy Milker qualifications and experience
Essential
- Experience milking cows on a commercial dairy, or completion of milking training
- Understanding of mastitis, milk hygiene and withdrawal periods for treated cows
- Basic reading, writing and number skills for milking records
- Willingness to follow hygiene, safety and biosecurity rules
- Willingness to work early mornings, evenings, weekends and public holidays on a rota
Desirable
- Experience with herringbone, rotary, parallel or robotic milking systems
- Formal training in milking technique or mastitis control
- Relief milking experience on several farms
- Driving licence valid in the country of work, for relief work across farms
Skills and attributes
- Calm, patient cow handling
- High standards of hygiene
- Attention to detail
- Good observation of udder and cow health
- Accurate record keeping
- Reliability and punctuality
- Teamwork and clear handovers
How success is measured
- Bulk milk cell count and bacteria within buyer limits
- No antibiotic residue failures
- Mastitis cases spotted and reported early
- Milkings started and finished on time
- Parlour and equipment cleaned to standard after every milking
- Accurate and complete milking records
Working conditions and safety
Split shifts with early mornings and evenings, including weekends and public holidays on a rota; relief milkers may travel between farms. Parlour work involves long periods of standing and repeated arm movements in wet conditions, and waterproof clothing, gloves and boots are worn.
- Follow health and safety rules and safe systems of work, and wear the correct PPE
- Follow animal welfare, biosecurity and medicine-use procedures at all times
- Report hazards, accidents, near misses and concerns promptly
Dairy Milker interview questions
Use these questions to assess candidates for a Dairy Milker role. Each one includes what a good answer shows.
- Talk us through your milking routine from the cow entering the parlour to leaving it.
What a good answer shows: A clear, consistent routine: pre-dip, contact time, fore-strip, wipe dry, prompt attachment, checking, correct removal and post-dip. - How do you spot mastitis during milking?
What a good answer shows: Clots or watery milk at fore-stripping, swollen, hot or hard quarters, signs of discomfort; tests, records and reports promptly. - How do you make sure milk from a treated cow never reaches the bulk tank?
What a good answer shows: Checks marks and records, uses a separate bucket or divert line, cleans equipment afterwards, and double-checks before changing back. - Which milking systems have you used, and what do you check before milking starts?
What a good answer shows: Is honest about experience; checks vacuum, pulsation, liners, hoses, filters, that the wash completed, and the bulk tank is ready. - How do you keep hygiene high throughout milking?
What a good answer shows: Clean gloves washed regularly, clean dry teats before attaching, clean clusters, correct teat dips, and a tidy parlour. - What does good cow welfare look like in the parlour?
What a good answer shows: Quiet, patient handling, no hitting or shouting, steady cow flow, gentle cluster handling, and reporting injuries or lameness. - Milking happens at fixed times every day. How do you make sure you never let the team down?
What a good answer shows: Plans rest and travel, has a strong attendance record, and gives early notice if a problem ever arises. - What makes a good handover between milkers or shifts?
What a good answer shows: Passes on treated cows, mastitis cases, equipment faults and anything unusual, clearly and in writing where the farm uses records. - Midway through milking, the vacuum drops and clusters keep falling off. What do you do?
What a good answer shows: Stops attaching, checks for simple causes such as a loose hose, tells the supervisor at once, and keeps cows calm. - A cow has clots in her milk but no treatment mark or record. What do you do?
What a good answer shows: Keeps her milk out of the tank, tests her, marks her, records it, and reports to the supervisor.
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Frequently asked questions
Milks the herd to a clean, consistent routine that protects udder health, cow welfare and milk quality. Works in the parlour as a regular or relief milker, keeping equipment clean and records accurate.
Employers usually look for: experience milking cows on a commercial dairy, or completion of milking training; understanding of mastitis, milk hygiene and withdrawal periods for treated cows; basic reading, writing and number skills for milking records.
A Dairy Milker usually reports to the Milking Supervisor.
Yes. Download the free Word template, add your location, contract and salary details, and adapt the duties to your site. You can then advertise the role on Dairy Jobs.
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