Herdsman pay

jackrussell101 · Jan 1, 2022

I have to agree, got to be a package that works out at £18-20 an hour.

Out of interest, what would you expect an hourly wage to be for a good stockman, not a manager, on a beef, sheep and arable farm?

jimmer · Jan 1, 2022

On a job like the op or similar I find hourly rate only is a barrier to effective productivity
Paying a salary means the rough is taken with the smooth, it also means every time the boss walks round the corner the employee doesn't need to grab a brush or shovel
The salaried chap who gets everything done 30 mins early doesn't need to feel bad about knocking off and boss is happy that he's efficient

TheRanger · Jan 1, 2022

Get a hoof trimmer in 6 times a year to do 50 cows a time = £3,000, and pay the "herdsman" £12 an hour to just do the milking, feed the calves, bit of tractor work and a bit of basic record keeping. If you're already not doing any AI in house, might be worth considering using less skilled labour and more contractors

Dairymoo · Jan 1, 2022

Dead Rabbits said:
What is your opinion about that working situation? Not the pay, but the actual lifestyle that you have

I enjoy what I do. I like being kept busy.

jimmer · Jan 1, 2022

Dairymoo said:
I enjoy what I do. I like being kept busy.

Which part of the country are you?

Dairymoo · Jan 1, 2022

jimmer said:
Which part of the country are you?

Scotland

jimmer · Jan 1, 2022

Dairymoo said:
Scotland

Oh
£9/hour is plenty

Princess Pooper · Jan 1, 2022

55 hours regular is too long. Let alone with a commute on top. Even 25 years ago the herdsman I was assistant to worked a standard 48 hour week for his salary (also working 11 days in 14). He did longer at peak times but our boss insisted he took time in lieu when things were not so busy.

Why do the Scots have this thing about starting milking so early in the morning?

Basically there needs to be someone else doing some if not all of the calf feeding.

DRC · Jan 1, 2022

It’s many years since I milked cows, but why do they now seem to need to be milked in the middle of the night( 4.30am).

Skintagain · Jan 1, 2022

silverfox said:
It’s many years since I milked cows, but why do they now seem to need to be milked in the middle of the night( 4.30am).

Cause the neigbours do it at that Time

TheRanger · Jan 1, 2022

Princess Pooper said:
55 hours regular is too long. Let alone with a commute on top. Even 25 years ago the herdsman I was assistant to worked a standard 48 hour week for his salary (also working 11 days in 14). He did longer at peak times but our boss insisted he took time in lieu when things were not so busy.

Why do the Scots have this thing about starting milking so early in the morning?

Basically there needs to be someone else doing some if not all of the calf feeding.

The herdsman is only doing 1 milking a day, so should manage to find the time to feed the calves at say 8AM and 3PM?

frederick · Jan 1, 2022

silverfox said:
It’s many years since I milked cows, but why do they now seem to need to be milked in the middle of the night( 4.30am).

We go for a 5 start so everybody is clear of the farm and back in house with kids by 5 in the evening.

ollie989898 · Jan 1, 2022

I always find threads like these interesting. Being involved in dairying at virtually any level is becoming a skilled and detailed task these days, even the simplest tasks need a bit more knowledge and training than stacking a shelf. Throw in the hours and nature of the job and it is clear to see it has to be a job you really love and are quite committed to.

It is always interesting to compare the hours worked over an average week. In this example we are talking about 55 hours average with 11 days on and 3 off.

I've done 4 NHS shifts in a row (call it 7am until 9pm, including x2 30 minute breaks) and by day 4 I know I've done it. I'm not sure I would be able to do 11 of them straight and I'm yet to meet anyone who does.

BELOWAVERAGE · Jan 1, 2022

jimmer said:
On a job like the op or similar I find hourly rate only is a barrier to effective productivity
Paying a salary means the rough is taken with the smooth, it also means every time the boss walks round the corner the employee doesn't need to grab a brush or shovel
The salaried chap who gets everything done 30 mins early doesn't need to feel bad about knocking off and boss is happy that he's efficient

I've been there with a salaried herdsmen's job, knock off 30mins early your having a laugh, they think they've bought you and as long as you're drawing breath they'll keep you working, I wouldn't trust one of them.

Beef farmer · Jan 1, 2022

BELOWAVERAGE said:
I've been there with a salaried herdsmen's job, knock off 30mins early your having a laugh, they think they've bought you and as long as you're drawing breath they'll keep you working, I wouldn't trust one of them.

Bollox

Beef farmer · Jan 1, 2022

Beef farmer said:
Bollox

Well, not all of them

BELOWAVERAGE · Jan 1, 2022

Beef farmer said:
Bollox

Please yourself, 25 years working for others.

Pennine Ploughing · Jan 1, 2022

BELOWAVERAGE said:
I've been there with a salaried herdsmen's job, knock off 30mins early your having a laugh, they think they've bought you and as long as you're drawing breath they'll keep you working, I wouldn't trust one of them.

Aye there is more of them about than the ones that yet you go early

Beef farmer · Jan 1, 2022

BELOWAVERAGE said:
Please yourself, 25 years working for others.

Then it's understandable that the ones flogging their team to death need to pay 55k for a herdsman.

Pennine Ploughing · Jan 1, 2022

Beef farmer said:
Then it's understandable that the ones flogging their team to death need to pay 55k for a herdsman.

Strangely there the ones paying the least in my experience

Herdsman pay

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0 %

Up to 25%

25-50%

50-75%

75-100%

100% I’ve had enough of farming!

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