Dairy farming
Dairy Farming has been part of New Zealand’s proud farming history and gets better all the time, thanks to innovation and technology.
As the world’s biggest exporter of dairy products, New Zealand process 21 billion litres of milk each year. New Zealand’s quality products are in demand thanks to the country's productive land, healthy livestock, and smart, switched-on farmers and other rural professionals.
Job overview
From starting as a farm assistant, through to contract milking, managing or owning/operating a dairy farm, there are on-job qualifications and industry growth opportunities to support a successful life-long career.
Skills and experience
- Physically fit – dairy farm work can be physically demanding
- Confident and caring with animals
- Patient, adaptable, and practical
- Motivated
- Able to follow a routine
- Able to show initiative and make decisions
- Well organised, goal-focused, and able to think ahead
- Able to work well independently and in a team
- Good at communicating.
News from our learners and employers
Primary ITO has launched the new Farm Environment Planning Level 4 Micro-credential (a smaller sized piece of targeted learning) in response to farmers and their staff needing to know how to implement and monitor a farm environment plan.
A new Managing Milk Harvesting “micro-credential” is extending skills and knowledge to improve milk quality and production for those working in the dairy goat and sheep milking industries.
From tractors to quad bikes and everything in between. Get yourself or your team trained with our hugely popular vehicle and machinery micro-credentials in 2023!
Waikato Dairy Manager of the Year Runner Up Sicelo Nene is very thankful for being able to learn about the New Zealand dairy industry and gain qualifications while he works his way up in the industry.