South Africa: HERDSMAN posted by Farm Manager SA

• Secondary school certificate: a diploma in animal husbandry or related field is an
• added advantage.
• Strong understanding of dairy cow behaviour, health, and welfare.
• Knowledge of structured feeding systems such as Total Mixed Ration (TMR).
• Strong understanding and implementation of biosecurity, calf management, and herd
• grouping to support healthy and productive livestock.
• Exposure to well-established dairy systems, whether local or international, is a strong asset.
• Ability to read ear tags and maintain accurate herd records.
• Physically fit and capable of performing demanding farm duties.
• 10+ years of proven hands-on experience working with dairy or livestock herds on a
• commercial farm.
• Prior leadership experience in supervising or coordinating herdsmen or livestock workers.
• Demonstrated ability to work alongside paravets, feeding teams, and milking supervisors.
• Experience in monitoring feed intake, identifying animal health issues, and supporting
• calving or treatment processes.

 
KEY SKILLS REQUIRED

• Strong leadership and team coordination skills in a farm setting.
• Excellent animal observation and decision-making skills.
• Ability to implement and follow Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Dependable, proactive, and attentive to farm routines and animal health indicators.
• Effective communicator with the ability to relay issues to supervisors or paravets promptly.
• Calm, patient, and confident in handling large dairy herds.
• Safety-conscious and trained in livestock handling best practices.

 
KEY ROLES & RESPONISBILITIES
Feeding Management

• Must accurately distribute Total Mixed Ration (TMR) or designated feed to each group.
• Required to monitor feed intake daily and report any refusals, reduced appetite, or feed
• issues immediately.

Herd Movement

• Must move cows efficiently and safely to and from the milking parlor without causing stress
• or injury.
• Responsible for isolating sick, injured, or treated animals as directed by the paravet or
•  

Cleanliness and Hygiene

• Must keep all cow pens, feeding areas, and walkways clean and well-maintained at all times.
• Ensure water troughs are consistently clean and fully filled throughout the day.

Health Observation and Reporting

• Required to observe and identify signs of heat, illness, lameness, swelling, or abnormal
•  
• Must report any health concerns to the supervisor or paravet immediately and accurately.

Identification and Grouping

• Must ensure all cows are properly tagged and tags are visible.
• Required to maintain accurate herd grouping based on production stage (e.g., fresh cows,
• dry cows, high yielders).

Calf and Heifer Support

• Must assist in daily feeding and care of calves, including cleaning of calf hutches.
• Expected to support routine tasks such as dehorning, tagging, or vaccinations under