An Assistant Herdsperson in the dairy industry works with dairy cows. An Assistant Herdsperson will work closely with the Farm Worker, Herdsperson and the Farm Manager to learn how to work safely with livestock and machinery and to gain the knowledge and experience to progress to other roles on farm.
A dairy farm will have a herd of dairy cows that the Assistant Herdsperson will help take care of on a day to day basis. Cows bred for milking will enter the milking herd after they give birth to their first calf, from 2 years of age, which initiates their milk production. The cows are managed to produce a calf each year, this allows milk production to continue.
An Assistant Herdsperson will know each cow, her history and temperament, and be aware of any problems that may arise during milking and closely monitor how well each cow milks. Specific cow identification tags can be detected by the milking machine and it automatically records how much milk has been produced by the cow during each milking.
For management purposes, some Assistant Herdspersons split the cows into groups of high yielders, low yielders and dry (non milking) cows. Dry cows are those that are heavily pregnant and close to giving birth.
The milk yield will relate to how recently the cow gave birth, the stage of her next pregnancy and will determine feed rates and rations. An Assistant Herdsperson will also work with the Herdsperson to monitor grass growth and quality and move the cows between fields depending on the supply of grass and feed.
Dairy cows can be very expensive costing over £1000 each and it is a difficult role to balance optimum milk production with the correct nutrition and health and welfare of the herd. A small change in routine or diet can decrease milk production affecting the profitability of the dairy enterprise.
An Assistant Herdsperson's tasks may include:
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Helping to prepare livestock feed
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cleaning livestock accommodation and equipment for feeding and watering
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helping others to load and unload livestock for transport
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learning about animal welfare and how to identify signs of illness
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assisting in keeping accurate records of animal numbers
An Assistant Herdsperson may also:
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learn how to drive a tractor
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help to maintain hedges and areas of woodland
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clear ditches
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assist in vehicle and machinery maintenance
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mend walls and fences
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clean, and help to maintain buildings.
They work under the supervision of the Herdsperson.
Assistant Herdspersons generally work as least 39 hours per week but they are expected to work paid overtime when necessary. Early mornings and evenings as well as weekend work can be necessary, for example, during the dairy herd calving season to ensure help is at hand with any difficulties during birth.
The working conditions will depend on the farm. Some dairy cows are kept indoors all year round and fed on cut grass, silage, maize with special dairy feed, whereas other farms leave the cattle to graze grass outside for most of the year, keeping them inside just for the winter months. Many Farmers do a mixture of both production systems depending on their grass growth, soil conditions and dairy breeds. An Assistant Herdsperson would expect to work both outside and in livestock buildings and certainly within the milking parlour during milking.
Farm work can involve standing, bending, lifting and carrying. It is also can be dirty and dusty and may not suit people who suffer from allergies such as hay fever.
These figures are only a guide, as actual rates of pay may vary depending on the employer and where people live.
Minimum rates of pay for trainee farm workers are set by the Agricultural Wages Board. The Agricultural Wages Board (AWB) is an independent body with a statutory obligation to fix minimum wages for workers employed in agriculture in England and Wales. The Board also has discretionary powers to decide other terms and conditions of employment, e.g. holidays and sick pay. It produces a legally binding Order which is enforced by Defra. Individual employers may pay more according to the employees skill and experience.
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A Trainee Assistant Herdsperson would earn at least £139.24 / week plus any overtime
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Assistant Herdsperson (not trainees) aged 19 years and over usually earn at least £14,986 a year
Many Assistant Herdspersons may be given free or low-rent accommodation, or a lodging allowance. Overtime is also often available, at an extra rate as set by the AWB.
- Energy - Personal
- Timekeeping
- Attendance
- Initiative
- Safety awareness
- Work in a team / with others
- Work on your own
There are a variety of qualifications and training courses that can help you:
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find employment
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improve your current skills
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gain promotion
Relevant training courses for an Assistant Herdsperson include:
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Apprenticeships in agriculture
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BTEC First Certificate and Diploma in Agriculture
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BTEC National Award, Certificate and Diploma in Agriculture
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National Proficiency Tests Council (NPTC) National Certificate and Advanced National Certificate in Agriculture
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Lantra Awards Level 2 Certificate in Land-based Activities
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Diploma(s) in Work-based Agriculture Levels 2 and 3, and Animal Care Level 1 (previous NVQ title).
Further information on Apprenticeships in Agriculture can be found on the Apprenticeship website.
Many in the role of Herdsperson will have trained on the job and become experienced in dairy cattle, alongside completing short courses or seminars in particular topics, such as learning about how to carry out foot trimming dairy cows and feeding according to the cows stage of lactation.
Read more about all types of qualifications available in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Know what course you want? Search for a training course with Lantra's CourseFinder.
It is important to enjoy physical work outdoors and working with cows. There is also now a greater demand for reliable, responsible and motivated people who can combine technical knowledge with practical skills.
The majority of jobs are in rural areas. Dairy farms are widespread through the UK and particularly concentrated along the western half where the climate and farms are particularly good at growing grass - the main feed for dairy cows. Most businesses are small, employing fewer than 10 people.
Assistant Herdspersons do not need any particular qualifications to enter the job but it helps to have an interest in farming and working with dairy cows. Experience of working on a farm, either through work experience or a weekend or holiday job, may also be useful.
It may be possible to enter this career through an appropriate Apprenticeship scheme.
With the right qualifications and experience, Assistant Herdspersons can gain promotion to Herdsperson on a dairy farm where there is a team managing the dairy enterprise. There is competition for these vacancies and movement from farm to farm to gain experience and promotion is usual. Working on a larger farm offers more opportunities to specialise.
For further information on careers in the sector you can contact the Lantra Connect Service:
Tel: 02476 69 69 96 or e-mail Agricultural@lantra.co.uk
You can also find additional information from the following organisations and publications:
Industry Information
Publications (some may be priced):