John Cole
Morrinsville,WKO
Summary
I am a mature, responsible and reliable dairy farmer and Father of 3 with a solid and extensive work history in dairy farming with experience under a range of systems. I have worked in herringbone sheds and rotary, pasture based and high input, sole charge and team environments. I am competent and capable in all the day to day farm duties including overseeing calving and mating season with experience in night checks and calving issues, identifying and putting up on heat cows, and ensuring herd health and robust shed systems are a priority. With a change in structure on our current farm we are taking this opportunity to seek a management level position. Ideally this would be within Matamata as our daughter is due to start Matamata Intermediate and my partner is an ECE teacher in a Matamata Centre where our 3 year old also attends. We would appreciate any opportunity to discuss your position further.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
Dairy Farmer
Walsh Enterprises Ltd.
Maungatapu Road, Morrinsville, Waikato
06.2023 - Current
- Operating and managing a 490 cow dairy farm alongside manager, and in manager's absence
- Feeding out and managing feed
- Weed control
- Ensuring optimum shed hygiene to consistently meet targets for low cell counts
Dairy Farm Manager
Stonycreek Farms Ltd
Raukawa Road, Matamata, Waiato
06.2022 - 05.2023
- Overseeing operation of a 550 cow farm
- Allocating jobs to farm assistant and working in conjunction with a smaller farm overseen by same operating manager, especially over calving
- Managing feed on a pasture based farm, using a 10 in 7 regime as directed by operations manager
- Overseeing calving season, including night checks
- Selecting on heat cows to put up
- Record keeping
Assistant Manager
Q Wykes Farms Ltd. (Owners Bryan and Suzie Jackson)
Pakarau Road Morrinsville, Waikato
06.2020 - 05.2022
- Managing a 440 high input cow farm alongside contract milker who I worked with in Te Puke
- Solo operation of a rotary shed, ensuring it runs smoothly and fixing faults as they appear
- Feeding out using implement on a farm where good feeding and use of supplement was required
- Calving night checks
- Selecting on heat cows
Assistant Manager
Q Wykes Farms Ltd. (Owners Roger and Collette Hintz)
Pah Road, Te Puke , Bay Of Plenty
06.2018 - 05.2020
- Operating a 480 high input farm alongside contract milker and overlooking relief staff in contract milker's absence
- Supporting targets for production
- Attending regular health and safety meetings with owners and ensuring robust systems were followed
Dairy Farm Manager
Huia Trust Farms Ltd.
Katikati, Bay Of Plenty
06.2014 - 05.2018
- Solo operation of 238 cow farm
- Grazing management
- Animal husbandry skills
- Navigating challenges of working on a farm in re-development phases
2IC
Wilcock Farms Ltd- Warwick and Adrienne Wilcock
Cambell Road, Matamata, Waikato
06.2012 - 05.2014
- Caring for a mob of cows on 480 cow dairy farm
- Delegating jobs amongst 2 other team members
- Utilising protrack and herd home
Farm Assistant
Macmar Farms Ltd- Aaron and Kathy Hynds
Papamoa, Bay Of Plenty
04.2008 - 05.2010
- Managing a herd of bulls
- Responsible for management of irrigation system
- Learning all aspects of dairy farming on a 880 cow farm within a team of 4
Education
Annexa Animal Health
License To Milk- Milk Quality Harvesting 2
Farmsafe- Tractor Safety Skills
Bay of Plenty Polytechnic
Diploma In CookerySkills
- Experienced in a range of systems- A priority is always ensuring proper shed hygiene and smooth operations where possible
- Capable and competent resulting in efficient and effective processes
- Confident tractor skills and in using a range of implements
- Animal husbandry skills- Careful and observant of stock, competent in identifying and treating a range of animal health issues
- Grazing and pasture management- focus on grass quality and feed requirements for stock
- A quiet demeanour, and understanding of stock behaviour which supports smoother operations and cow flow
- Farm maintenance skills- water work, identifying and fixing leaks, fencing- permanent and break
- Overseeing calving season, including night checks for checking Mums for issues and knowing how to respond
- Identification of cows in heat
- Experience in working with and liasing with a range of personel, including farm consultants, contractors etc
Affiliations
- Guitar (acoustic and electric)
- Making and collecting car model kits
- Spending time with family
References:
- Mike Garrud- Operations Manager (Walsh Enterprises) 021542211 (written reference coming)
- Ben Watson- Operations Manager (Stonycreek Farms) 0277666668 (written reference available on request)
Timeline
Dairy Farmer
Walsh Enterprises Ltd.
06.2023 - Current
Dairy Farm Manager
Stonycreek Farms Ltd
06.2022 - 05.2023
Assistant Manager
Q Wykes Farms Ltd. (Owners Bryan and Suzie Jackson)
06.2020 - 05.2022
Assistant Manager
Q Wykes Farms Ltd. (Owners Roger and Collette Hintz)
06.2018 - 05.2020
Dairy Farm Manager
Huia Trust Farms Ltd.
06.2014 - 05.2018
2IC
Wilcock Farms Ltd- Warwick and Adrienne Wilcock
06.2012 - 05.2014
Farm Assistant
Macmar Farms Ltd- Aaron and Kathy Hynds
04.2008 - 05.2010
Annexa Animal Health
License To Milk- Milk Quality Harvesting 2
Farmsafe- Tractor Safety Skills
Bay of Plenty Polytechnic
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