Situation Vacant Herdsman

Due to our current herdsman progressing to a share farming opportunity we now have a vacancy for a head Herdsman.

The position includes a 3 double bed barn conversion located on the farm which is located in the centre of the village.
We currently operate a 11 day fortnight with 28 days holiday(including bank holidays) per year.



Location

The farm is located in the village of Flagg between Bakewell and Buxton in the Peak District National Park in Derbyshire. This picturesque location has excellent local schools and amenities close by.

The Farm

The farm comprises of approximately 500 acres carrying 340 milking cows plus replacements. Most field work apart from silaging is currently carried out in house.


The farm has excellent facilities, which include:

20:40 Fullwood parlour

    • ACRs+ADF

    • Milk meters

    • Individual feeding

    • Auto ID

    • Auto shedding gate

    • Backing gate
  • Autumn block calving

  • Full track network and paddocks

  • Agrinet grass management

  • Excellent cow housing

  • Cubicles fitted with mattresses - bedded with saw-dust

  • Excellent handling facilities

  • Electric foot trimming crush

  • Rubber matting in parlour and collecting yard
Staffing

As well as the owner there is currently a full time assistant herdsman as well as a full-time tractor driver/ GFW working on the farm. The owner’s wife is responsible for calves to the point of weaning.


The Herd


The herd currently consists of 330 predominantly Holstein cows with a some cross bred cows yielding 7,500 litres on average. Cows are now served with more suitable grazing type genetics. The herd is block calved beginning in August and grazed from early March until November.


All replacements are reared in-house with beef calves sold locally.

Current milk quality is as follows:
  • 130 Cell count

  • 20 Bactoscan

  • Mastitis 10 per 100
Feet & Fertility


All feet and fertility is addressed in-house with regular foot trimming (using new electric crush) and foot bathing taking place on all the cows. Fertility is good on the farm with a calving index of approximately 385 days. All AI is carried out by existing staff.


Nutrition


Cows are fed a partial TMR diet when housed. The diet consists of the following:
  • Grass silage

  • Whole crop wheat

  • Blend
The Role


An experienced and enthusiastic herdsperson is required to work alongside the owner to improve the herd and take the farm forward.


Main tasks are as follows:

  • Milking

  • AI

  • Foot trimming

  • Record keeping

  • Calving’s

  • Young stock work

  • Help manage herd health and fertility

  • Grassland management
The Person

You need to be experienced and skilled in all elements of running a large dairy herd and be willing to carry out a number of different tasks around the farm. Someone who is enthusiastic and a good communicator are essential qualities for this role.

A proven track record of stockmanship and team working are essential for this position.

Stable cottage front.jpg
cows walking home 2015.jpg
milking parlour empty.jpg
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SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

  • 0 %

    Votes: 77 43.5%
  • Up to 25%

    Votes: 62 35.0%
  • 25-50%

    Votes: 28 15.8%
  • 50-75%

    Votes: 3 1.7%
  • 75-100%

    Votes: 3 1.7%
  • 100% I’ve had enough of farming!

    Votes: 4 2.3%

Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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