Freshening Herdsmen

Jersey Gold Dairy, LLC · HARTLEY, TX

Employment period: 2026-11-02 to 2027-05-07

Hours per week: 66.0

Job duties from the source

Jersey Gold uses a managed reproductive program that generates a predictable, calendar-driven surge in fresh cow and calf-related labor from November through April each year. The Freshening Herdsman will perform the following primary duties, including baseline milking responsibilities, with additional duties concentrated during the November–April freshening season. Fresh Cow Management: monitoring cows in the fresh pen for post-partum illness including metritis, ketosis, displaced abomasum, and hypocalcemia; administering propylene glycol, calcium boluses, and IV fluids under veterinary supervision; recording treatments and outcomes in DairyComp; adjusting pen stocking and moving cows as health status changes. Calving Surveillance and Assistance: maintaining continuous monitoring of close-up pen during peak calving months (November through February); assisting with dystocia and difficult presentations; tagging and recording newborn calves; cleaning and resetting calving area following each event; ensuring cow-calf separation per biosecurity protocol. Colostrum Management: milking fresh cows to obtain first-milking colostrum; tube-feeding or bottle-feeding neonatal calves within the first 2 hours of birth; labeling, dating, and refrigerating or freezing surplus colostrum for subsequent calves. Calf Transfer Preparation: processing each newborn calf for transport to DJF. Confirming colostrum intake, applying ear tag, completing individual calf health record, recording birth weight; coordinating transfer schedule and transport logistics with DJF staff; ensuring proper calf loading and biosecurity protocols are observed at transfer. Dry Cow Pre-Fresh Transition: moving cows from far-off dry pen to close-up pen at appropriate pre-calving interval; monitoring close-up cows for signs of imminent calving and early metabolic disease; body condition scoring and reporting to herd manager. Pregnancy Diagnosis Support: drafting and moving cows to the preg-check chute; restraining individual cows for veterinary ultrasound or rectal palpation; recording pregnancy outcomes in DairyComp; sorting open cows for re-enrollment in synchronization protocols. Cull Cow Sorting and Documentation: identifying cows flagged for culling by herd manager; sorting culls from main herd; completing producer statements, health certificates, and transport paperwork; loading culls for shipment in coordination with contracted haulers. Milking: performing routine milking of assigned cows/pens as part of the farm's regular milking rotation, including udder preparation and sanitation, proper unit attachment and removal, monitoring for mastitis or abnormal milk, and adherence to milk quality and food-safety protocols. DairyComp Record Entry: entering all fresh cow events, treatments, diagnoses, calving outcomes, and calf transfers into DairyComp on same-day basis to maintain herd record integrity required for DHIA reporting and milk quality compliance.

Additional requirements

Justification for Lifting Requirement: The lifting requirement is necessary for the performance of the agricultural duties associated with this position. Workers are required to assist with farming activities that involve handling, moving, loading, and unloading equipment, tools, materials, and supplies. Certain items used in the normal course of the farming operation may weigh up to 75 pounds. Therefore, workers must be physically capable of safely lifting and carrying up to 75 pounds as required to perform the essential duties of the position.

Verification

H-2A disclosures

Housing: Check job order · Daily transport: Check job order · 3/4 guarantee: Check job order

How to apply

Potential U.S. workers will be accepted through the local Job Service Office, word-of-mouth referrals, gate hires (walk-up workers), and other sources. Applicants will be informed of the job duties, requirements, and terms and conditions of employment listed in the job order. Prospective applicants outside the local area may call the Talent Management Office at (806) 365-4189, MondayFriday, 6:00 A.M.4:00 P.M. HR will conduct telephone interviews with non-local applicants, while local candidates will be scheduled for interviews. All candidates must complete an application and pass an employer-paid drug and alcohol screening. Selected candidates must complete paid onboarding before work begins, including required hiring documents and training in Animal Welfare, Basic Safety, and Distracted Driving. Candidates will be paid $25.00 for onboarding.

Recruitment phone: +18063654189

Recruitment: tm@agrivisionfm.com