Herd Manager Jobs in Otago

We are seeking an experienced farm worker (2+ years) to work as a Herd Manager on a 1000-cow operation in the Ranfurly area, milking through a 50 Rotary Bale shed. You'll have a range of duties to keep you busy, interested and developing including: - Milking and monitoring milk quality, - Training junior staff, - Stock handling and feeding (feed management), - Fencing, weed control, - Calving, calf rearing, - Shed maintenance & preparation, - Tractor operation for feeding out, baling, mowing and silage monitoring, - Recording and maintaining animal health, - Other general farm duties. Weekly hours are a minimum of 30 and a maximum of 50. Since farm work is dependent on a number of unknown factors like weather and animals, any hours worked beyond the agreed maximum in a fortnightly pay period will be paid at the agreed overtime rate. The schedule may vary; Roster will be 11 days on, 3 days off. Salary is between $80,000 - $88,000 per annum, subject to experience. Candidates must have previous dairy farming experience and are required to provide good related references. To be considered you must: - Provide a CV which is current, correct and complete or alternative evidence of work (this is proof of work and professionalism and the employer will not consider you without this) - Be a solid worker and with good character (where possible, we will do a criminal check) - Be physically fit - Be able to pass a pre-employment drug test - Have a full driver licence as you'll need to go between farm and runoff Summary - if you're committed to getting up early, working hard, treating the animals with care and respect and communicating well with others, you will want this job (or last in it).

To take responsibility for the day to day management of a 440 cow dairy heart in Heriot West Otago. Working in partnership with the Farm manager. Modern 30 aside herringbone shed with cup removers, drafting and feeding. Two Hurd homes and a runoff 2km away. Desired skills include: Pasture Management, AI experience / technician, Calf rearing, Overall cattle health management skills, Managing & maintaining dairy plant to meet compliance standards, Milk Harvesting, Farm Machinery operation. 5+ years of experience. A formal qualification is not necessary but is of advantage. Farm Size (ha) 157 Peak Herd Size (cows) 440 Typical On-farm Staff 2 to 3 Position Start Date 09/02/2026 Accommodation available Yes a warm 3 bedroom house on farm Hour Type week Average Hours Per week 40 to 60. Flexible depending on commitments. Min of 55 available, roster is flexible. Roster Single rotation - 11 Days on / 3 days Off Remuneration paid by Hourly / Daily / Weekly / Monthly / Yearly Remuneration if Total Package Value (e.g. Salary and/or benefits) Plus, holiday pay, Kiwi saver

**Job Description** **Feed Production Management** • Assist with any feed planning or the management of as appropriate. • Assist to manage weeds and pests to maintain pasture and crops. **Milking** • Ensure the effective operation of all aspects of the milking process, including plant hygiene and somatic cell count, to maintain grade free standards. **Effluent** • Operate and maintain the effluent system on your farm to all regional council compliance requirements and the employer’s additional standards. • Maintain all appropriate effluent management records. • Know what to do when things go wrong. **Animals** • Implement animal health program to maintain good health. • Assist with calving and the calf rearing program to achieve minimal losses and ensure high quality replacements are available for the herd. • Ensure all herd records are maintained. **Business** • Work with the Dairy Farm Manager to contribute to Farm Business Plan. • Assist to manage repairs and maintenance schedule for all plant, machinery and infrastructure. • Ensure all relevant company policies are understood and adhered to. • A minimum of at least 24 months New Zealand Dairy Farming Experience required. • Dedication, commitment and willing to learn are the traits we are looking for. **Farm Size (ha)**: 230 **Peak Herd Size (cows)**: 800 **Typical On-farm Staff**: 4 FULL TIME, 4 RELIEF MILKER **Accommodation available**: SHARED ACCOMMODATION **Average Hours Per week**: 47.5 **Roster**: Single rotation - 14 Days on / 2 days Off **Remuneration paid by**: By Negotiation

Job Description Carries out milk harvesting tasks safely, efficiently, and correctly, and assists in training new employees on correct techniques. Assists with solving milk quality problems, as per instructions in farm policy manual. Helps farm assistants to understand factors that affect milk quality, hygienic milking and mastitis control procedures. Cleans and maintains the milking plant and farm dairy equipment, and carries out hygiene inspections as per instructed in on farm policy manual. Moves and handles animals safely, identifies and diagnoses animal health issues, and assists with treatments and prevention in line with farm policy. Records and maintains all herd health treatments and events according to on-farm policy or dairy company policy, as per advised by manager. Observes, records and reports on cows preparing to calve, and calves’ cows in line with farm policy. Moves, handles and rears calves, identifies and diagnoses calving-related health issues. Understands the mating management policy for the farm. Recognizes cows on heat, and records as per policy. Diagnoses and assists with treatment of breeding related health issues. Diagnoses and assists with treatment of breeding related health issues. Observes, identifies and manages pasture/crop weeds, or reports these to appropriate team member as advised. Knows the crops on farm, sets appropriate feeding allocations, and is aware of associated animal health issues with crop feeding. Understands the on-farm feed policy, can calculate pasture and supplement requirements and set correct feeding levels. Recognizes and understands pasture quality, pasture covers and appropriate residuals, and implements best practice to maintain quality and avoid pasture damage. Feeds out supplements as advised ensuring there is minimal wastage, and is aware of associated feed health issues. Understands how the farms dairy effluent systems operate and how effluent affects the on-farm environment. Is aware of regional council requirements and their responsibilities to comply with these. Understands the farm environment plan and associated responsibilities. Follows farm policy to achieve best nutrient management practice. Understands regulations around land management and ensures their practice complies with these. Is learning how to use agrichemicals and fertilizers, safely and correctly. Understands regional council requirements around water use, and implements steps to achieve efficient water use in the farm dairy as advised in farm policy manual. Understands what their potential career path looks like and the skills required to get there. Actively looks for and considers opportunities to grow skills and take the next step. Understands own rights around employment agreements, minimum wage requirements, leave and accommodation, and how to communicate any issues to managers. Models the values and behaviors of a good workplace culture, through leading by example. Understands obligations around their own time management, and can prioritize work tasks. Safely erects and maintains both permanent and non-permanent electric and non-electric fences, as directed. Sets up, operates, and maintains the irrigation system according to workplace procedures and consents. Is beginning to problem-solve technological issues, and demonstrate initiative in using new technologies and data for insights and decision making. Operates farm vehicles and machinery in accordance with safety and regulatory obligations, and knows strategies to avoid hazards and biosecurity risks. Knows how to maintain good health on-farm, understands health and safety compliance requirements. Identifies hazards, understands safety procedures, and demonstrates safe on-farm work practices. Reports near misses and accidents in the relevant registers provided at induction. Identifies hazards, understands safety procedures, and demonstrates safe on-farm work practices. Reports near misses and accidents in the relevant registers provided at induction. Knows how to safely operate and maintain equipment. Manages their general wellbeing using self-awareness, seeking support from farm team as required. Is aware of nutritional, physical, emotional and social needs. Models good health, safety and wellbeing behaviors to juniors, and communicates any issues. Must be able to drive a tractor and be able to legally drive in NZ Must be able to detect mastitis and treat lame cows Accommodation is available Double Rotation: 5 days on 2 days off & 6 days on 1 day off roster Must have at least 2 years dairy farm experience Shed Type: 46 Bail Rotary $33.56/hourly rate Farm Size (ha) 117 Peak Herd Size (cows) 360 Position Start Date 26/01/2026 Accommodation available Accommodation is available Hour Type week Average Hours Per week 40 Roster Double rotation - 5 Days on / 2 days Off - 6 Days on / 1 day Off Remuneration paid by Hourly / Daily / Weekly / Monthly / Yearly

We are looking for Herd manager with 3 year experience to help us on farm. Performs skilled tasks on dairy farm in managing and supervising and breeding, raising, droving, feeding and milking of dairy cattle. Tasks included: - Managing livestock breeding programs and the rearing of young livestock. - Identifying livestock health and welfare programs. - Establishing and managing pastures and fodder crop for livestock production, and identifying plant health and nutrition problems. - Developing and implementing livestock feeding plan. - Implementing biosecurity management measures. - Managing water supply and effluent system. - Supervising general farming activities such as maintenance and cleaning of livestock housing and other farm infrastructure. - Supervising work routines and training farm workers. - Supervising, maintaining and operating data collection and analysis and farm technology system. Farm Size (ha): 185 Peak Herd Size (cows): 600 Typical On-farm Staff: 3 Accommodation available: shared accommodation Hour Type: negotiable Average Hours Per week: 40 Roster: Single rotation - 6 Days on / 2 days Off Remuneration if Total Package Value (e.g. Salary and/or benefits): NZ65000

Due to unforeseen circumstances we are searching for a herd manager. We are seeking an experienced herd manager on our 550 cow farm 5 minutes from Balclutha. The successful applicant must have a minimum of 2 full seasons NZ dairy farming experience and have a proven employment track record in the dairy industry with a minimum of 2 references. We are young progressive employers who can offer a safe and supportive environment with competitive remuneration, bonuses and perks, a place where our team can thrive and grow their skills to go forward in their careers. You will be working alongside our neighboring identical farm that we also run, which has an experienced 2IC, Herd manager and relief milker. On this farm you will be working alongside our 2IC, relief milker and us (contract milkers). Our farm is completely flat we have a cross bred herd milked through a 40as/hb shed with CowManager, Auto drafting, Auto cup removers and in shed feeding. We have only 4 wheeler bikes and warm, modern 2 bedroom, newly carpeted accommodation available. Daily tasks/job description would include, setting up and running the traveling effluent irrigator, milking, spraying and getting cows in, identifying and treating lame and sick cows, picking up calves, shifting fodder beet breaks in the winter, maintaining a clean milking shed and gear. Please only apply if you have the required experience and can prove as such, your CV is genuine and not written by AI and you are eligible to work in NZ. A cover letter specific to this job ad is a bonus! If this sounds like you please apply below, we look forward to hearing from you.

We have a Herd Manager position available to assist us (Sharemilkers) starting 5th January 2026. We are seeking a person that is honest, reliable and motivated to progress in the dairy industry. Experience at least 2 years of New Zealand dairy farming. This role requires standard farm duties: - milk harvesting and shed hygiene - animal welfare - feeding out with tractor - weed control - fencing - effluent management The farm is located in West Otago, 15 mins from Tapanui and 45 mins to Gore. The farm is milking 650 cows through a 50 bail rotary shed. In shed feeding, ACR's and protrack. Roster will be 5/2, on and off farm training encouraged and supported. The successful applicant must: - comply with and pass drug and alcohol testing at any time - physically fit and healthy - able to ride four wheeler and tractor - have a criminal free record - understand and speak English well - have a high standard for cleanliness and hygiene at work and at home - full driver licence If you are interested Please send your CV with references. Applicants must be available for an interview. Farm Size (ha): 235 Peak Herd Size (cows): 650 Typical On-farm Staff: 3 Position Start Date: 05/01/2026 Accommodation available: Accommodation provided on farm Hour Type: week Average Hours Per week: 45 Roster: Single rotation - 5 Days on / 2 days Off Remuneration paid by: Total Package Value (e.g. Salary and/or benefits) Remuneration if Total Package Value (e.g. Salary and/or benefits): $ 75,000-84,000

Are you up for a challenge? We have an exciting opportunity for a Herd Manager or a working couple on our OAD Owaka Valley farms. You will need to be self motivated, hard working and not afraid of mud! In return you will get the following benefits: - Great working roster – 5 days on 2 days off, in spring 6 days on 1 day off - Only milking 400 cows at a milking through an automated 26-aside herringbone shed - Only about 6 milkings a week after calving - All milkings are during daylight hours - A warm 4 bedroom home - Support to extend your learning Applicants with at least 2 full seasons New Zealand dairy experience will be considered. Applicants need to be NZ citizens or residents. We are not NZ Immigration accredited. Please do not apply if you have an alcohol or substance problem. A pre-employment drug test and a police check are required. If this sounds like you please call Michael (027) 671- 4746 Email your CV with two referees to owakamilk@gmail.com Farm Size (ha): 1118 Peak Herd Size (cows): 800 each dairy unit Typical On-farm Staff: 10 Position Start Date: 05/01/2026 Accommodation available: 4 bedroom house with double garage is available. Hour Type: negotiable Average Hours Per week: 45 Roster: Double rotation - 5 Days on / 2 days Off - 6 Days on / 1 day Off Remuneration paid by: By Negotiation

Job Opportunity: 2 Herd Manager Positions Pure Dairy Farming Ltd – Tapanui, Otago Pure Dairy Farming Ltd is seeking two experienced and motivated Herd Managers to join our dairy farming team in Tapanui, Otago. These are full-time positions, each offering a minimum of 35 hours per week. Successful candidates will contribute to efficient, high-quality milk production and excellent herd management. Key Responsibilities: - Oversee daily milking operations and herd health - Monitor animal condition, reproduction, and calving - Record and report herd performance and treatments accurately - Manage feed allocation, pasture rotation, and stock movements - Supervise and assist in training farm assistants when required - Maintain compliance with animal welfare, environmental, and health & safety standards You Must Have: - A respectful, confident, and positive attitude - Strong teamwork and communication skills - Ability to pass a clean drug and alcohol test - Competence operating farm machinery and equipment - Reliability, good organisation, and a proactive approach - Previous dairy farming experience (minimum 2 years) What We Offer: - Competitive pay based on experience - Full-time employment (minimum 35 hours per week) - Supportive and professional team environment - On-farm accommodation may be available - Ongoing training and development opportunities How to Apply: Please email your CV and relevant references when applying. Applicants must have NZ residency or a valid NZ work visa. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. A drug test and police check may be required.