How's it going. Hope this weathers not giving you grief.
Im Codey Berridge my fiance Alice and our 3 gorgeous monsters are looking for a great opportunity in the upcoming season or next year. I am a seasoned 2IC currently on my 9th consecutive season on a 300 cow, low input, sand country farm. For the last several years i have been running the main day to day operations under the guidance of the farm owner/manager.
We reside and are looking in the Manawatu area but also would consider something around Taranaki for the right position or Taihape as i feel its over due for a step up.
Ideally a couples position with a small herd fit for solo milking so my partner and i can tag team milking/work duties with a reasonable home balance. But am open to all considerations. Be it just a tractor focused job or another banger 2IC possition.
A bit about my work abilities:
*Strong adherence to best health and saftey practice.
*Proud stock handling. I have had many compliments over the years about how quiet and workable our herd is from relief milkers. I understand you get back what you put in and i like to have a trusting bond with the herd with respect going both ways. No one likes being kicked and no cow likes feeling she needs to.
*Thorough understanding of milk production from grass to vat.
*Genuine commitment to calving. Can and WILL assist if needed. Will bring into shed during night checks if needed. Can not go to bed unless sure everyone will have a good night. Minerals are essential before during and after this period. Mag before n during, cal and mag after particularly.
*My partner and I both have experience in rearing calves and know this is where herd temperament starts.
*Full mating management. I can detect on heat cows with precision even where heat detectors fail. Just a patch of slobber up on a shoulder or a scratch mark on the back is call enough for a draft out and closer inspection. I have 7 season of AI experience and enjoy the challange and outcomes from select breeding in the herd over time. I'm trusted to load and AI solo sometimes during the peak of mating with confidence should the boss need to be elsewhere.
*Keen eye trained pasture/supplement management. Not only picking the heaviest paddocks but being aware of the variables to pasture management. Soemtimes its too far, too wet or too rank and low energy (and eczema prone) for the heaviest paddock to be ideal. No pasture reader can read quality like a seasoned eye.
I can identify when topping or weeding is needed. Im not the type to drive past a cheeky ragwart like i didn't see it.
Mitigating damage in the wetter seasons is one of the most crucial parts especially when grass bassed. You dont want your farm spending its spring trying to recover.
*Competent irrigation and effluent management. Every farm has different systems so show me how you do yours and so it will be done.
*Gentle on farm gear. Im not a hooner or burn out artist. I prefer a nice pace down a race over rushing and putting pressure on trailers or loaders for a few seconds gain. The faster you go the bigger the mess doesn't just apply for car crashes i recon. Im a smooth attentive opperator that wont take out gate posts or put the forks through the hay shed wall. Also know to keep up on regular oil, water and greasing checks and all that stuff thats already getting pedantic to add to this novela.
*Can work as part of a team or solo. Prefer solo as i can depend on me and the blames mine too.
*If you made it this far then you can probably tell i have some set of communication skills, but I've learned that communication is a two way gig.
Thank you for your consideration and we look forward to hearing from you.