Keith is from Ireland and graduated from Gurteen and Kildalton Agriculture Colleges with agriculture qualifications. Keith went to New Zealand in 2009 for 6 months of dairy farming work on the Intern Options – Dairy Farming Programme and started work in the North Island.

This is what Keith had to say about his time in New Zealand.

Hi Jon, just arrived back from new Zealand came back a few months earlier than planned, as I had work to carry out on my own farm.

Had no regrets leaving early as I felt I had achieved a lot of experience and did a huge amount of sightseeing. I have travelled & toured throughout the North and South islands of New Zealand and also have visited Australia twice toured Sydney & Alice Springs..

The highlight of Australia was climbing Sydney Harbour Bridge & visiting Ayers rock!.. New Zealand has brilliant scenery it was great working on a farm beneath the Alps in the South Island with all the snow on them there like the spine of the South Island.

During my time working in NZ I worked on three different size Dairy farms. My 1st two farms I worked in were on the North Island in Tepuke & the Coromandel Peninsula on a herd size was 750 on one farm & 300 on the second farm….. The final farm I worked on was a 1200 cow Dairy unit in Christchurch.

On all farms I met nice people you meet a lot of different nationalities, I worked with three people from Chille, England & Switzerland we said we’ll keep in touch

Typical day would involve start milking at five am it’s an early start breakfast around 8 till 9 then lunch from around 12:30 till 2:00.

For more information on what happens on a dairy farm each day, click through to the page – typical day on a New Zealand dairy farm page.

Apart from milking, the daily chores involved moving fences & feeding stock. Finished in evenings around 5:30 & then into the house for something to eat & fall down on the chair!! ha

The last town I was working near before I left was Christchurch city which was half an hour drive. There is plenty to see and do there Mt Hutt is very nearby and it’s a great place to go skiing or it’s a great place to learn to ski even!

The flight was grand to LA but from LA to Auckland I thought it would never end it was my first time ever flying so I suppose that was an experience it’s self ha.

My advice to anybody thinking about going out would be simply just go and book your flights and you will never regret it in the future that you did it. It opens your eyes!!

If you’re interested in a Dairy Farming Internship or Work Placement like Keith’s, check out the Dairy Farming Placements page for more information and to apply.