Dairy Farm Manager Job Description Example
The Dairy Farm Manager Profile Supervises and coordinates herd, technicians, and the day-to-day operation of the dairy and upkeep of the facilities at the dairy and farm.
Dairy Farm Manager Profile Duties and Responsibilities:
Management of the Dairy Herd (est 50% of time):
Supervising employees in the dairy, including
- Ration preparation and feeding
- Raising of replacements
- Milking
- Upkeep of facilities, grounds and equipment
- Pasture management
- Herd management
Herd Health and Reproduction (est 30% of time):
- Treat and care for sick animals
- Help with difficult births
- Heat detection
- Breeding
- Fill in for sick and vacationing employees
General Office Work and Procurement (est 20% of time):
Record keeping (herd health, production, reproduction inventories)
- Monthly inventories
- Payroll
- Order supplies, repair parts, and feed
- Discuss needs and problems with sales and service representatives
- Personnel evaluations
- Personnel recruitment and training, in consultation with herd owner
Operational Duties
Make decisions pertaining to day-to-day operation, such as when an animal needs to be treated, or bred, call veterinarians or service personnel.
Decide whether a tank of milk must be dumped, when hay should be harvested, when and what feed to order, what repairs and upkeep should be performed.
Solve problems concerned with herd health, failure of milking equipment or outside equipment, nutrition and pasture management.
Prepare an annual budget; decide when to sell cull cows and bull calves; can sign for items costing up to $1000.
Education/Experience:
- Dairy management or training in the dairy industry (5 years +)
- Supervising / management experience (1 year)
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:
- Trained in artificial insemination
- Knowledgeable of disease and injury treatment and calf pulling
- Knowledgeable in dairy nutrition
- Ability to motivate employees
- Ability to work with all types of people
- Ability to communicate with a broad spectrum of individuals
- Knowledge of milking procedures
- Knowledge of and use for Dairy Herd Improvement Records