Company description

FARM OVERVIEW

In late 2012, the Afterglow Farm Dairy farm owners acquired an active 300 head cow dairy operation located at 820 Lake Road, Port Washington, Wisconsin. The farm was converted to the current goat farm with the primary purpose of producing quality goat milk using sustainable farming practices.

The farm is now fully operational, and features an efficient goat milking production facility with capacity to eventually milk up to approximately 600+ goats. A small farmstead creamery designed for artisan value-added production is planned for 2018, once sustainable milking operations have been fully developed.

A new farm leadership team has recently been brought on board, led by experienced General Manager Brent Foat and Herd Manager Nicolette Wolf. We are now looking to add assistant leadership to the existing team, particularly in the area of herd health and management.

Job description

ASSISTANT HERD MANAGER:

We are seeking an experienced dairy farmer to serve in the role of Assistant Herd Manager. Afterglow Dairy Farm is willing to train the right candidate with limited goat – specific experience, however sufficient farm experience, work with dairy animals and background in animal science is required. Specific experience with dairy goats is strongly preferred.

Herd Management

Assist With:

• Provide oversight for herd management including animal data entry and animal care;
• Manage milking operations including milking the dairy herd, cleanliness of parlor and milking equipment and maintenance of milking equipment; and,
• Oversee day-to-day animal health needs and animal-related operations including parasite management, udder health, routine body condition evaluation, vaccinations, hoof trimming, hair clipping, etc.
• Work with General Manager to develop and implement breeding plan.
• Maintain all records pertaining to goats—DHI, parasite loads, treatments, stock registrations through ADGA , kid identification, birthing, sales, etc.

Feeding and Kid Rearing Operations

Assist With:

• Feed TMR to milking herd and young stock;
• Establish and move fences for any rotational grazing of animals;
• Arrange all planting and harvesting of directly grown feed and forage, and manage all custom hire relationships for third party purchases;
• Keep feed records and inventory reporting;
• Maintain feeding equipment and keep corrals clean;
• Feed and observe kids including feeding, disbudding, vaccinating, tattooing, etc.

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Must be able to demonstrate knowledge of goats and experience working with dairy animals.
• Must have experience working on a farm, preferably a goat farm. Willing to train exceptional candidates with limited goat farm experience.
• Must be familiar with all aspects of job responsibilities.
• Ability to work independently and with other co-workers.
• Sound judgment and commitment to sustainable farm values.
• A two or four-year degree in a related field is preferable but not required. On –farm experience may be substituted for education and is generally more important than extensive academic training.

Compensation

this position is: salaried, less than $50,000

Application instructions

Deadline

October 01, 2016