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Dairy Farm Assistant

Kaiāwhina Pāmu Kau

Dairy farm assistants help farmers with a variety of tasks, including caring for and milking cows, repairs and maintenance, and other farming activities.

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Secondary education

No specific secondary education is required for this job, but agricultural and horticultural science, maths and English to at least NCEA Level 2 are useful.

For Year 11 to 13 learners, Gateway and trades academies are good ways to gain relevant experience and skills.

Study fields

Study levels

  • Up to NCEA Level 3
  • Certificate

Useful experience

Useful experience for dairy farm assistants includes:

  • working with animals, especially cows or calves
  • farm, forestry, engineering or labouring work
  • operating farm machinery and tools
  • driving heavy vehicles.

What you will do

Dairy farm assistants may do some or all of the following:

  • milk cows
  • feed and safely handle animals, and report any health and welfare issues
  • weeding, fencing and pest management
  • use and maintain farm vehicles, machinery and infrastructure
  • follow health and safety and wellbeing procedures
  • nutrient, effluent and water management work.

Skills and knowledge

Dairy farm assistants need to have knowledge of:

  • dairy farming methods
  • the life and breeding cycles of cattle
  • how to use and maintain farm equipment and machinery
  • practical skills for tasks such as fencing and effluent management
  • driving skills for motorbikes, tractors or farm utility vehicles.
Pay

Dairy farm assistants usually earn

$48K-$80K

per year

Job opportunities
Good
Chances of getting a job as a dairy farm assistant are good due to high demand for their services.

Industry

Agriculture and Horticulture

Dairy farm assistants help farmers with a variety of tasks, including caring for and milking cows, repairs and maintenance, and other farming activities.

Similar jobs in this industry

Entry requirements

There are no specific requirements to become a dairy farm assistant as you can gain skills on the job. However, many employers prefer to hire people who have experience, pre-employment training, or have or are working towards a qualification.

Dairy farmers will often train inexperienced people if they have a can-do attitude and willingness to learn. They may offer their employees training through the Primary Industry Training Organisation (Primary ITO), which oversees apprenticeships.

Pre-employment training 

Pre-employment training options include internships, work experience and short courses available through private training organisations and polytechnics.

Apprenticeships 

Apprentices earn while they learn and develop their skills and career prospects through on-the-job experience over two or three years. Apprenticeships are available through different industry organisations and companies. 

On-the-job training

Dairy farm assistants may choose to study towards a qualification while in work, or attend farming discussion groups.

Chances of getting a job

Good demand for dairy farm assistants

Chances of getting a job as a dairy farm assistant are good because of high demand for people with dairy farming skills. Dairy farm assistants with experience and qualifications are particularly in demand. There are opportunities for skilled workers throughout the dairy farming year, not just at busy times such as calving.

Large industry with career pathway opportunities

Dairy farming is a large occupation employing many entry-level workers.

Most dairy farm assistants don't stay in the same job for more than a year, so there's a high turnover rate.

According to the Census, 5,304 dairy cattle farm workers (dairy farm assistants) worked in New Zealand in 2018. 

Small range of employers 

Most dairy farm assistants work for private farmers, farm managers or private companies.

Find out more about training

GoDairy
0800 43247969 - info@dairynz.co.nz - www.godairy.co.nz
Primary ITO
0800 208020 - info@primaryito.ac.nz - www.primaryito.ac.nz

Progression and specialisations

Dairy farm assistants may progress to other roles in the dairy industry such as:

Working conditions

Dairy farm assistants:

  • may work long and irregular hours depending on the season and size of farm
  • work on farms and in milking sheds
  • work outside with animals, crops and machinery in all weather conditions
  • usually live on or near the farm where they're employed. 

Physical Requirements

Dairy farm assistants need to have a good level of fitness as dairy farm work can be physically demanding.

Useful personal qualities

Dairy farm assistants need to be:

  • confident and caring with animals
  • hard-working and motivated
  • adaptable and efficient 
  • responsible 
  • willing to learn
  • able to work well under pressure and in a team.

Industry

Agriculture and Horticulture

Dairy farm assistants help farmers with a variety of tasks, including caring for and milking cows, repairs and maintenance, and other farming activities.

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