Sheep Dairy Shepherd - Whakatane

• Applicants must be physically fit & willing to learn.
• Applicants must be able to pass a pre-employment drug test and have no criminal record.
• Applicants are not required to have prior experience, as this is an entry level role and the employer is willing to provide necessary training.

The Sheep Dairy Shepherd role assists the farm manager and team in all aspects of running a Sheep Dairy farm. In particular there is responsibility for helping ensure a smooth running of the milking parlour and milking process. In this role there will be work across all areas of the farm including, lambing, feeding, machinery upkeep and operation, general stock work, and overall farm maintenance duties.

Responsibilites are (but not limited to):

• Implement animal health programme to maintain good herd health
• Assist with lambing and the lamb rearing programme to achieve minimal losses and ensure high quality replacements are available for the herd
• Ensure all herd records are maintained

• Play an active part in ensuring the farm consistently meets quality standards
• Assist in the Farm Log Book records

• Assist with any feed planning or the management of feed as required
• Assist with weed and pest control to maintain pasture and crops
• Assist with feeding of diets and pasture to ewes
• Assist in maintaining feed inventory and feed quality

• Ensure the effective operation of all aspects of the milking process, including plant hygiene and somatic cell count, to maintain grade free standards
• Assist the farm in maintaining all RMP recording and audit activities

• Operate the effluent system on the farm to meet or exceed regional council compliance
• Maintain all appropriate effluent management records
• Know what to do when things go wrong with the effluent system

• Maintain good relationships with key rural professionals, e.g. vet, stock agents and contractors to ensure smooth operation of the farm
• Assist in repair and maintenance schedules for all plant, machinery and infrastructure
• Ensure all relevant company policies are understood and adhered to

• Play an active role in day-to-day farm activities and scheduled tasks to be undertaken
• Provide coaching, as required, to more junior and/ or newer staff to enable them to competently carry out day to day tasks required of them on farm

• Identify and communicate to manager any issues requiring management or relevant to the successful running of the farm.
• Elevate concerns to the next level if unresolved or still concerned
• Ensure expected standards are understood and met, actively seek clarification where unsure.