Dairy Herdsmen expected salary

andy1993

Member
Livestock Farmer
Hi there.

I am currently a herdsmen on a local dairy farm (no accommodation provided) but an opportunity has come about for me to move to another farm with a 2 bed house for me to live in. I need your advise on what you would expect my salary would be with the accommodation and then without so I can see if this new farm will be better financially than my current job. If relevant, I work in north yorkshire.

Thanks.
 

farmboy

Member
Location
Dorset
Hi there.

I am currently a herdsmen on a local dairy farm (no accommodation provided) but an opportunity has come about for me to move to another farm with a 2 bed house for me to live in. I need your advise on what you would expect my salary would be with the accommodation and then without so I can see if this new farm will be better financially than my current job. If relevant, I work in north yorkshire.

Thanks.
Surely you know what you’re currently being paid and if you’ve looked at another job what they are offering?
 
Location
southwest
I always think the value of the house to the employee should be disregarded as you (the employee) are living there for the employer's benefit, not your own- "I know it's your day off, but just give me a hand for half an hour with this calving"

Also you have to think of were you're going to live when you retire-if you live in a tied house, you really should be buying a place of your own at the same time.

As to wages, more than you are on atm plus bonuses for things like Calving Index, bacto, reducing AB usage etc.
 

dinderleat

Member
Location
Wells
Hi there.

I am currently a herdsmen on a local dairy farm (no accommodation provided) but an opportunity has come about for me to move to another farm with a 2 bed house for me to live in. I need your advise on what you would expect my salary would be with the accommodation and then without so I can see if this new farm will be better financially than my current job. If relevant, I work in north yorkshire.

Thanks.
I would say if you could get the same salary you are now but plus the house I would think that would be a good position for you.
 

Horn&corn

Member
I always think the value of the house to the employee should be disregarded as you (the employee) are living there for the employer's benefit, not your own- "I know it's your day off, but just give me a hand for half an hour with this calving"

Also you have to think of were you're going to live when you retire-if you live in a tied house, you really should be buying a place of your own at the same time.

As to wages, more than you are on atm plus bonuses for things like Calving Index, bacto, reducing AB usage etc.
House here worth £1500/month then bills on top so I’m wouldn’t disregard this when it comes to salary discussions.
 

andy1993

Member
Livestock Farmer
Surely you know what you’re currently being paid and if you’ve looked at another job what they are offering?
Yes I'm currently being paid £24,000 but this new job is advertised as 'accommodation may be provided.' So I just want to know how much people think I should be asking for if I was to take the 2 bed house and then if I was not. It's a 200 head herd.
 
Location
southwest
House here worth £1500/month then bills on top so I’m wouldn’t disregard this when it comes to salary discussions.

So if the employee said he didn't want the house, would you stick an extra £20k on his salary as that's what you think you could rent the place out for?

There's a hell of a gap between what an employer thinks a benefit, like accommodation is worth and what it is really worth. All these "desirable" farm cottages that farmers think are worth a 4 figure rent are usually within a few yards of the parlour and/or slurry pit, in a busy farm yard miles from the nearest shop or school. Try renting that out to a non farmer!
 
Last edited:

Bramble

Member
Yes I'm currently being paid £24,000 but this new job is advertised as 'accommodation may be provided.' So I just want to know how much people think I should be asking for if I was to take the 2 bed house and then if I was not. It's a 200 head herd.

Without knowing what your current responsibilities/hours are like I’d say you are underpaid in your current role. Same salary plus a house on top if you move
 
I always think the value of the house to the employee should be disregarded as you (the employee) are living there for the employer's benefit, not your own- "I know it's your day off, but just give me a hand for half an hour with this calving"

Also you have to think of were you're going to live when you retire-if you live in a tied house, you really should be buying a place of your own at the same time.

As to wages, more than you are on atm plus bonuses for things like Calving Index, bacto, reducing AB usage etc.

If the accomodation is there for the employers benefit rather than the employee then there must be a lot of very caring potential new staff out there just desperate to help out their new employer.
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If a job advert doesn't mention accomodation then it's the first question every time.

I've spent a lot of money on housing for staff because it's a competitive labour market and if you don't offer somewhere half decent to live then you just won't find anyone.
 

frederick

Member
Location
south west
Yes I'm currently being paid £24,000 but this new job is advertised as 'accommodation may be provided.' So I just want to know how much people think I should be asking for if I was to take the 2 bed house and then if I was not. It's a 200 head herd.
200 cows full herdsman responsibilities.
30k plus house and all bills.
45k if you don't want the house and pay your own utilities.
 

jerseycowsman

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
cornwall
Do all herdsmen expect responsibility like organising the grazing, or increasing the fertility, or reducing the cell count or choosing the breeding program. Or are some just happy to just milk the cows, treat the odd mastitis one and keep the parlour clean?
 

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