Address
Form of workAn exciting new vacancy has become available for a Herdsperson at Mapledurham Estate, near Reading. The Estate has been in the same ownership for over of 500 years. In recent times the herd has grown to a herd size of 485 cows plus followers.
The herd is milked 2 x per day through a 50-point Westphalia parlour with auto-ID, auto-segregation, and computerised feeding. The farm runs both Uniform Agri and DP management programs which are used extensively to monitor performance of the 11,000+ litre herd. We use a TMR feeding system with Digi-Star software. The herd is cubicle housed on rubber matting and run our own umbilical slurry system. Calving is all year round to supply a premium Marks and Spencer contract. DIY AI is done on the main herd and sexed semen on the young stock, which are reared in house. Performance levels are set at an industry high and are audited by both milk processors and retailers on a frequent basis.
We are looking to recruit an enthusiastic and dedicated Herdsperson who is a cow enthusiast to join our 7 full-time and two part-time team members who will have preferably worked with high yielding cows within a team environment and who is willing to take on responsibility and help manage the continued success of the herd. There is a full-time feeder operator within the team.
An excellent package is available to the successful candidate to include performance related bonuses, a choice of excellent accommodation is available on the Estate, rent, rates and council tax free. There is also a generous amount of time off.
The ideal candidate will have a track record of clean hygienic milk production together with a good mix of technical expertise and practical knowledge with the ability to help make decisions and a can-do attitude. They must be a good team player/leader to help motivate the dairy team.
What we are looking for is:
Proven dairy skills
Excellent people skills within a team environment
Timely and accurate record keeping
Milking herd and dry/young stock health and welfare
DIY AI trained, and foot trimming experience preferred
For an informal discussion please contact Simon Collier on or email your CV to
No overseas applicants without a work visa
