Herdsman

To manage the health, nutrition, growth, and welfare of calves and heifers from birth to breeding age. The role ensures implementation of best practices in young stock management to meet targeted growth rates, reduce mortality, and prepare heifers for optimal performance as future milk producers.

Key Roles & Responsibilities

1. Feeding Management
   • Must accurately distribute Total Mixed Ration (TMR) or designated feed to each group.
   • Required to monitor feed intake daily and report any refusals, reduced appetite, or feed issues immediately.
2. Herd Movement
   • Must move cows efficiently and safely to and from the milking parlor without causing stress or injury.
   • Responsible for isolating sick, injured, or treated animals as directed by the paravet or supervisor.
3. Cleanliness and Hygiene
   • Must keep all cow pens, feeding areas, and walkways clean and well-maintained at all times.
   • Ensure water troughs are consistently clean and fully filled throughout the day.
4. Health Observation and Reporting
   • Required to observe and identify signs of heat, illness, lameness, swelling, or abnormal behavior.
   • Must report any health concerns to the supervisor or paravet immediately and accurately.
5. Identification and Grouping
   • Must ensure all cows are properly tagged and tags are visible.
   • Required to maintain accurate herd grouping based on production stage (e.g., fresh cows, dry cows, high yielders).
6. Calf and Heifer Support
   • Must assist in daily feeding and care of calves, including cleaning of calf hutches.
   • Expected to support routine tasks such as dehorning, tagging, or vaccinations under supervision.
7. Performance Indicators: KPIs will be discussed and finalized upon official commencement of employment with the company.

Key Skills

• Strong leadership and team coordination skills in a farm setting.
• Excellent animal observation and decision-making skills.
• Ability to implement and follow Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Dependable, proactive, and attentive to farm routines and animal health indicators.
• Effective communicator with the ability to relay issues to supervisors or paravets promptly.
• Calm, patient, and confident in handling large dairy herds.
• Safety-conscious and trained in livestock handling best practices.

Qualifications

• Minimum: Secondary school certificate; a diploma in animal husbandry or related field is an added advantage.
• Strong understanding of dairy cow behavior, health, and welfare.
• Knowledge of structured feeding systems such as Total Mixed Ration (TMR).
• Strong understanding and implementation of biosecurity, calf management, and herd grouping to support healthy and productive livestock.
• Exposure to well-established dairy systems, whether local or international, is a strong asset.
• Ability to read ear tags and maintain accurate herd records.
• Physically fit and capable of performing demanding farm duties.

Experience

• 10+ years of proven hands-on experience working with dairy or livestock herds on a commercial farm.
• Prior leadership experience in supervising or coordinating herdsmen or livestock workers.
• Demonstrated ability to work alongside paravets, feeding teams, and milking supervisors.
• Experience in monitoring feed intake, identifying animal health issues, and supporting calving or treatment processes.