Seasonal Work in New Zealand’s Dairy Industry

© NZPocketGuide.com

When is the Best Time to Look for a Farm Job in New Zealand?

The calving season is the busiest time on any dairy farm. This is when you will have the best chance to land a job in the dairy industry.

Some farms practice winter locking and calve twice a year in autumn and spring. However, most farms in New Zealand only calve once a year. Usually planning to have calves out and healthy by summer, just before the grass growth rockets into life providing more than enough feed to fuel these cash cows and keep this pasture-based dairy industry running at a level which it can compete with global markets.

Calving Season in New Zealand

• North Island July to September
• South Island August to October

© Luke Wing

What Kind of Job Can You Do in the Dairy Industry?

Each year, New Zealand needs good solid dairy farm assistants and calf-rearers to get itself through the most demanding time of the dairy farming calendar. Dairy farming consists of early mornings and late finishes. But don’t be put off just because this job is going to take over your life! It’s a labour of love and there is much to gain from being part of the farming community.

A Good Dairy Farm Assistant Needs to:

• Be able to get up daily at 4am
• Love working with animals
• Not mind getting down and dirty in the muck
• Have good attention to detail
• Know how to milk cows or be a fast learner
• Drive a tractor (a license is not always necessary)
• Be able to listen, learn and do
• Communicate properly with their team
• Be patient
• Have a sense of “moo”mour. (Get it?)

These are most of the requirements expected of you when starting out in the industry. Don’t worry if you have no experience in handling cows or have never even set foot on a farm. Believe it or not, this can be a good thing. If you can learn to be patient and work with (and not against) a farmer you will thrive in this industry.

Dairy farming is an increasingly popular job to have for women, so don’t think just because you are a female prevents you from gaining in this industry.

© Luke Wing

The Average Day of a Dairy Farm Assistant

The size of the farm you work on will determine how little and often these jobs are required of you. I worked in a 1250-cow farm, which is pretty big. The calves were reared on a tight schedule by calf-rearers and everyone else worked around a rolling roster where every day was different.

A Dairy Farm Assistants Main Duties Might Include:

• Milk cows daily
• Set up fences for cows
• Check on cows that are ready to calf from 6pm onwards
• Feed and rear calves
• Wash milk vats
• Get the cows in from the paddock twice a day
• Drive a tractor, quad, motorbike, side by side (buggy)
• Heavy lifting
• Feed yourself well and rest well!

Bear in mind though not all farms will operate this way and you might be stuck doing the same job for your whole employment. Make sure to ask questions before accepting a job so you know what you are getting into.

A Quick Word of Warning

In recent years, workplace accidents, and specifically quad bike injuries, have been on the rise. It’s important that you take care of yourself when out on the farm. So buckle up, stick a helmet on, and act responsibly. If in doubt, always ask how machinery works. Basic training should be provided on all farms.

© Luke Wing

Where to Find Work on a Dairy Farm

The best place to find dairy farming work is on the FarmSource.co.nz website, which is run by Fonterra and originally known as Fencepost. You will find advertisements for a variety of roles, from farm assistants and calf-rearers through to managers.

Our backpacker job board also has a lot of farm work posted regularly, amongst other backpacker jobs! Websites like Seek.co.nz and TradeMe.co.n have their fair share of farm job listings too.

© NZPocketGuide.com

What to Ask When Looking for a Dairy Farm Job?

It is important when contacting a dairy farmer for a job to interview them as much as they interview you. You need to get a clear picture of what your life is going to be like for the next four months. Ask as many questions as possible! If it doesn’t smell right, just move on to the next job listing there really is a lot of farmers that need help.

Some of the Main Questions You Need to Ask are:

• How much am I being paid? Remember, you should be paid at least at the minimum wage rate. Check out the New Zealand working holiday employment rights for more information.
• What is the accommodation like? All accommodation should have the following: Hot odourless running clean water. Fridge, freezer, cooker, washing machine, a place to hang clothes and a shower. All of which is in good working order. A comfortable bed.
• How far away is the nearest town? The nearest town isn’t too much of an issue as long as you can get a regular food source, however, if you are missing civilisation that badly, hop on the next bus or ask to borrow the pick up from the boss.
• What is the work/days off ratio and is it all year round? The workdays-to-days-off ratio is important. I mostly worked a 6/2 work ratio all year round which was a healthy ratio. However, some farms operate different schedules such as 7/2, 9/3 or even 12/2 so be sure to find out. If the job listing says negotiable, then negotiate!
• What size is the herd? The herd size really determines how much work you can expect to have and the variety of jobs are expected in one day. The smaller the herd, the more jobs there are to do as there is less staff. The more cows there are the fewer jobs there are to do because, in theory, there is more staff on the property.
• How many people work on the farm? For similar reasons than above, it is important that you get a picture of the size of the team for social interaction and the type of work available. The bigger the team is, the more confined to a position you will be.