Dairy Farming Frequently Asked Questions
You will find below the answers to questions we get asked the most. If you have any questions on our New Zealand Dairy farming programme we would love to hear them. We will be adding more questions and answers as we get them (and think of an answer). You can either give us a call +44 207 353 7699 or send us an email to info@internoptions.com
Do I need dairy farming experience before I apply?
You will need to have around two years dairy farming experience to be eligible, you will also need to have experience on an automated milking machine. Otherwise you will need to be currently studying agriculture or have gown up on a dairy farm.
Can I work in dry stock in New Zealand?
The NZ programme is a specific dairy farming programme and we can’t place into dry stock with sheep or cattle placements. The majority of the jobs in NZ are in Dairy and you would need shearing experience to work
I don’t have dairy farming experience, what else can I do?
For New Zealand we can place you into our Equine Internships programme if you have experience with horses. Otherwise our Australian Horticulture Jobs Programme you don’t need any experience for and it pays the most out of all our programmes.
When is the best time to start?
July/ August is the time to start your dairy farming placement in New Zealand. This is calving time and the time when milk production is lowest.
What rosters can I expect to work?
This varies from farm to farm with a minimum of 6 days on and 1 day off, or 12 days on and 2 days off. Other common rosters are 8 and 2; 11 and 3 and 6 and 2.
How much money should I bring with me?
You will need to bring a minimum of NZ$500 with you to cover your first 3 to 4 days of induction and accommodation cost in Auckland and Matamata and the bus trip from Auckland to Matamata. From there your accommodation and food costs will be paid once you are on the farm so your overheads will be quite low. If you want to take additional spending money for any adventure sports that catch your eye when you arrive, this is recommended. We recommend between NZ$600 and NZ$2,000.
What clothes should I bring with me?
Wet weather gear is essential in New Zealand as the stock are not housed, and to care for stock you will be out in all weathers. You may bring wet weather gear from home, or purchase it when you get to New Zealand. Please ensure any work clothes you do bring are scrubbed clean, as the Immigration Department at Airports are very strict on bringing in diseases!
How long does milking take each day?
This depends on the size of the herd and the size of the cowshed! Most farms milk twice a day from 4.30am or 5.30am till 8am, and then again in the afternoon from 2.30pm or 3.30pm to 6pm. Also see the page outlining the Typical Day on a New Zealand Dairy Farm
What sort of shed/ automated milking machine will I be milking with?
This will depend on the farm with about half the farms having herringbone sheds (20 – 46 aside) and the other half rotaries (20 -80 bail).
How many cows will I be milking?
The heard size on New Zealand dairy farms range in size from 100 – 2000+, with the average herd size being about 500. The majority of farms we will place you on will have herds of 350 to 900 cows employing 1 to 4 staff members.
How long can I work on a farm for?
Depending on the passport you hold will depend how long you can work for one employer for. If you hold a UK passport you can work for up to 12 months with one employer. For more information on this see the New Zealand Visas page
Can I take holidays while I’m working?
Most of our jobs are relief milking positions from 3weeks up to 12 months, so if you would like to take a holiday after your first placement, no problem just tell us when you get to New Zealand on your induction.
Will I be on the same farm the whole time?
Not if you don’t want it to be, we can move you around New Zealand where you will get paid a travel allowance to move to the next farm, essentially being paid to travel around New Zealand!
What visa do I apply for?
You will be applying for a working holiday visa for New Zealand unless you are a current student and then you can apply for a work visa. Intern Options will help you every step of the way with your visa application.
Do I need to pay for flight to New Zealand?
You will need to pay for your flight to New Zealand. Outside of the programme fee you will need to budget for a flight to New Zealand, travel insurance and visa cost (£40 or £75). For more information on booking flights and insurance see the following two articles:
What size farm will I be working on?
Depending on your level of experience you will be started on a small, medium or large sized farm. Small farms start around 200 cows, medium sized dairy farms will have 300 to 800 cows and large farms in New Zealand can get up to 2,000 to 4,000 cows. At this level
How many people will I be working with?
This will depend on the size of the farm. For small to medium sized farms it will be yourself and the family who own the farm and maybe one other. For larger farms it usually works out to 1 worker per 200 cows.
What is accommodation like?
Accommodation is provided for you on the farm while you are working. This will either be in the same house as the family or more likely it will be a detached house from the main property. You will have your own cooking facilities, bedroom etc and will be given your food to cook yourself or eat with the family on smaller farms.
Will there be internet available on the farm?
Every farm we know of have internet available, New Zealand is quite developed when it comes to broadband and wireless internet.
How do I apply for a dairy farming position?
To download the application document you can go to the how to apply page for more details. Otherwise you can give Intern Options a call to 0207 353 7699 or email to info@internoptions.com and we can post you one out.
