Fair pay for cowman

[Cowmadyorkie]

Hi all
Would just like peoples opinion what is a fair salary for cowman 10 years experience?

12 days out 14
Split shifts weekend
Start at 5 am finish 6pm
1/2 for breakfast
1/2 for lunch
One week Woking 60 hrs
Other 72hrs
So average 66 hr week

28 days holiday
Competent foot trimmer
Competent machinery operator

 

[lazy farmer]

??????

 

[dowcow]

Sounds like that guy is taking on the work of two fellas to me, so 50-60k?I thought it was illegal now to expect people to start a shift fewer than 12 hours after they finished their last one.

 

[lazy farmer]

Hi all
Would just like peoples opinion what is a fair salary for cowman 10 years experience?

12 days out 14
Split shifts weekend
Start at 5 am finish 6pm
1/2 for breakfast
1/2 for lunch
One week Woking 60 hrs
Other 72hrs
So average 66 hr week

28 days holiday
Competent foot trimmer
Competent machinery operator

How long is milking taking?
30 minute breaks ? Horrifying

 

[frederick]

That's just criminal. Does the herdsman want to work that hard. If he does it should be 50k plus house and all Bill's paid.

However I think everybody would be better off if hours were dropped to 45 ish and 30k a year plus house. Get somebody else to do some of the milking and use the herdsman skills where they are needed.

 

[frederick]

What is being done between milkings to mean there is only time for 30min lunch.

 

[betweenthelines]

66 hrs is 40 at basic 26 at time and a half (39 hrs) so, yes it's the the same as two workers.

I really struggle to understand how any employer thinks it's acceptable or efficient to have someone working these hours
Anyone working these sort of hours cannot be at peak efficiency towards the end of their working week (or even day)
Of course, this is assuming the hours quoted are accurate and need to be worked. Be interesting to know the hours worked by the relief.

 

[epfarms]

If the quoted hours are accurate you’re looking £45-50k package.

 

[Green Grass]

How longs a piece of a string. Some people live to be on farm, some out the door before they finished.
One person's 12 hour day is anothers 9 hour day.
There's plenty of opportunities out there, go for a couple interviews see what you get offered. Then renegotiate?

 

[jimmer]

As a former cowman , who was working similar hours , with similar skills, it is self explanatory why I am a former cowman
I used to think I was superhuman , I also wasn't too bothered about finances as long as I was comfortable
Now looking from the other side of the bulk tank , so to speak, i realise there is more to life than working your bolicks off for someone else
To answer your question , 50k plus bill free accomodation
But if your a family man you'd be better off with 50hours a week and 35k

 

[Cowmadyorkie]

They were the hours I was working for £30k anyway I left debating about whether stay in farming!

 

[Chae1]

As a former cowman , who was working similar hours , with similar skills, it is self explanatory why I am a former cowman
I used to think I was superhuman , I also wasn't too bothered about finances as long as I was comfortable
Now looking from the other side of the bulk tank , so to speak, i realise there is more to life than working your bolicks off for someone else
To answer your question , 50k plus bill free accomodation
But if your a family man you'd be better off with 50hours a week and 35k

Excuse my noseyness, but what do you do now?

 

[Cowmadyorkie]

Excuse my noseyness, but what do you do now?

Gone self employed choose the hours I work. Any idea what I should charge an hour?

 

[Chae1]

Gone self employed choose the hours I work. Any idea what I should charge an hour?

We pay £13/hr for a good guy. Does foot trimming fencing etc.

 

[frederick]

13 should be simply cups on relief milking.

If doing more you've got to be 16 hour. That's not going to do you much more than 30k and you have tax insurance house and Bill's to cover.

 

[Milkcow365]

13 should be simply cups on relief milking.

If doing more you've got to be 16 hour. That's not going to do you much more than 30k and you have tax insurance house and Bill's to cover.

Area means a lot to I suppose, cost of a nice 4 bed house here would be £450 a month .

 

[jimmer]

Excuse my noseyness, but what do you do now?

Tenant dairy farmer

 

[Scoobyscotlad]

Can I ask those that are suggesting 50k+ are you employers paying this or employees suggesting this?
You would think there is a fortune of profit being made in this game.

 

[frederick]

Can I ask those that are suggesting 50k+ are you employers paying this or employees suggesting this?
You would think there is a fortune of profit being made in this game.

Employer who wouldnt be seen dead making someone work those hours.
However my herdsman if you took his current hourly rate and multiplied by 66 would be on 50 k plus house plus Bill's.
But I hope to also offer him a life outside of cows with his family.
£10 hour basic 15 overtime on 66 hours gives you 41k.
Someone that can look after cows has got to be worth more.
Minimum wage for 25 year old flipping burgers is £8.72

 

[kiwi pom]

Gone self employed choose the hours I work. Any idea what I should charge an hour?

I'm not sure you'd be better off going self employed, especially if its labour only. If you can charge a lot for relief milking it might work but no one is going to pay a big hourly rate for between milking's work and you have a lot more traveling round that you cant charge for.
Be sceptical about some of the big numbers mentioned on here.
At the end of the day 'farm worker' isn't that flash a job long term.
If you've got out, try something else before you make a decision to jump back in.