Herdsman

Farm

August 2020 to Present

South Staffordshire

Im currently working as a Herdsman on a 140 head AYR calving small family-run farm. Grazing based system, with Friesian/Holstein cows. I moved to this position hoping that it would be a good opportunity to use my varied and extensive experience to help them make the most of their current setup and improve cow welfare and productivity. Unfortunately, after 8 months here I feel thats not going to happen and theres no room for me here. Im passionate about high standards and giving 100%. I want to use all my skills and experience to improve productivity and welfare. I would love to work somewhere where I can have some involvement in decision making and use my skills and work with a great team. Unfortunately, this has meant that I am reluctantly looking for a new position that will allow me to use my knowledge and experience to achieve high standards of cow welfare and hopefully learn something new.

Herdsman

Farm

October 2019 to August 2020

Working as a Herdsman on a 200 head All-year-round calving herd close to home. This position involved me working closely with the Farm Owner and a small team. My main responsibilities here were milking and maintaining the parlour, foot trimming, some AI (but also use RMS), computerised record keeping, diagnosing and treating illness and ensuring good mastitis control. While in this role I introduced a colostrum testing and vaccination program using a refractometer and saw good improvements in calf health. I enjoyed working on this farm but decided to move due to a desire to have a greater input on the management of the herd and develop my career and skills.

Maintenance Engineer

Fencing Company

February 2017 to October 2019

After deciding to relocate to be closer to my wife's family after starting a family I took a position working as a maintenance engineer. I completed a BTEC in electrical engineering and this has proved useful in general farm maintenance and troubleshooting parlour problems. Also running the CNC machine and robotic welder. After a break from farming I quickly realised that I really missed it and took the opportunity to return to it when a post came up close to home.

Herd Manager

Hampshire, UK

2015 to 2017

Hampshire

I worked as a Herd Manager with a 200 autumn block calving herd, summer grazing. I mainly worked by myself apart from a relief milker and feeder. Main roles included milking, foot trimming, buying semen and serving and keeping a tight calving pattern. In this post I was independently responsible for herd management. I implemented a colostrum management system, renovated dated cubicles to improve lying times. Implemented computerised record keeping on Interherd. I left this post due to having a poor work/home balance due to work hours and needing to relocate near my wife's family for childcare help.

Herdsman

2014 to 2015

200 AYR, All herdsman duties including milking, serving, foot trimming and calving. Also trained cows for show at Newbury.

Assistant Herdsman

2011 to 2014

Oxfordshire

180 all-year-round calving. Worked alongside owner and Herdsman in a small team milking, serving and foot trimming. I completed a foot trimming and AI course while in this post.

PRIOR TO 2011

Assistant herdsman and relief,Gloucestershire