Stockperson Large Private Estate near Salisbury
An exciting opportunity has become available for the right person to join a well-established farming business.
We are looking for an experienced stockperson to take a leading role on a large private estate near Salisbury, managing a 300-head pedigree South Devon and Red Angus spring-calving suckler herd. Cattle are finished under a Dovecote park beef scheme a program that sources Britch beef from selected farms, focusing on animal welfare, quality and sustainability. The successful applicant will be capable of running the herd independently, while also working as part of a wider team when required.
Although you will work closely with the farm manager on key decisions, you will have the freedom to manage the herd day-to-day in the way you see fit provided it is in the best interests of herd performance and fits within our overall system.
Key Responsibilities & Requirements
• Proven experience with cattle management and all aspects of general animal husbandry.
• Calving experience is essential.
• Competent operator of loader tractor/telescopic handler (feeding, bedding, mucking out, topping, silage and haymaking).
• Grassland management, including strip grazing, fencing, and water system maintenance.
• Keeping herd records up to date through our Cattle Data computer system.
• Knowledge of pedigree breeding, EBVs, and cattle genetics is highly desirable.
• In recent years, we have built a strong reputation for selling bulls, so a willingness to assist with bull sales and customer communication is expected.
• Some machinery maintenance knowledge would be an advantage.
• The successful candidate will also assist with relief grain carting and bale hauling during harvest, as part of our wider arable enterprise.
What We Offer
• Competitive salary (dependent on experience).
• Quality on-farm accommodation. (2 Bed cottage walking distance from main cattle yard)
• Use of an off-road truck and tractor.
• Opportunity to take real ownership of the herd and play a key part in developing a high-performing, progressive livestock enterprise.
About the Estate
The estate is divided into two main enterprises. The largest is a 2,400-acre arable unit, managed with a strong focus on regenerative farming. This includes direct drilling, winter cover cropping, and a commitment to reducing inputs through building healthier soils and more resilient crops.
Alongside this, the pedigree beef herd continues to develop through modern, progressive practices such as strip grazing, the use of artificial insemination to introduce new bloodlines, and a strong focus on nutrition and feed strategies around calving to promote easy calving's and vigorous, healthy calves.
Beyond the core farming enterprises, the estate also runs a successful shoot, an eventing yard, and manages a significant area of woodland meaning theres always something interesting to get involved with during quieter periods.
We are proud of our tight-knit, supportive team that works together in a friendly, positive, and non-hostile environment everyone mucks in, no matter the task.
If you are passionate about cattle, motivated, and ready to take the next step in your career, please send your CV and a brief cover.
