Working in Dairy Farming
Behind the dairy products we enjoy every day, thousands of people are doing jobs many of us rarely see, and not all of them are farmers. There are a variety of jobs available in dairy - from engineering and technological vocations through to animal science, care and nutrition. Those working with dairy may spend their days milking and caring for the cows and calves on the farm; advising on feed or technology; or working as a vet or specialist in breeding.
With cow health and welfare a priority for dairy farmers, vets are an important part of the extended team on farm and some farm animal vets even specialise in dairy. They may visit the farm for a routine check-up, help deliver a calf, or work with the farmer to develop their herd health plans.
Agricultural consultants work with farmers to provide advice and help develop the farm. Consultants may advise dairy farmers in a number of areas - nutrition, the environment, breeding and waste management being just a few. They may also consult on business matters including planning or financial management.
Engineering is another important job in dairy. Farm engineers design, produce and service the sophisticated equipment dairy farmers use. With technology including robotic milking parlours and high tech computer systems, this can be vital expertise.
Because of the breadth of job roles, team work on dairy farms is incredibly important. The farm team wants to see happy and healthy cows; provide top quality dairy products; ensure surroundings are well-maintained; and run an efficient and sustainable operation using technology that suits their business. It's a challenging task - but one that is vital for bringing those much-loved dairy products from field to fork.
Whatever job you are doing on a dairy farm you can be sure dairy farmers recognise the importance of continuously improving themselves and their businesses so much so that they have their own CPD accredited scheme – Dairy Pro; the UK dairy industry’s first ever register for professional development.
More and more of Britain’s dairy farmers are registering and participating in training and development events across the country each month, to ensure dairy farming continues to be at the forefront of agriculture in terms of animal health and welfare, technology and business.
Are you interested in working in dairy farming?
Please visit our Dairy Farming Careers page for more information.