How to become a Senior Dairy Cattle Farm Worker

Also called: Dairy Herd Manager

Performs skilled tasks on a dairy farm in supervising the breeding, raising, droving, feeding and milking of dairy cattle.

Main tasks

• Oversees dairy cattle breeding programs and the rearing of calves
• Develops and implements dairy cattle feeding plans, and identifies health and nutrition programs in dairy cattle
• Establishes and maintains pastures and fodder crops for dairy cattle production, and identifies plant health and nutrition problems
• Supervises health and welfare programs for dairy cattle
• Implements biosecurity management measures
• Supervises dairy cattle farming operations such as herding, droving, drenching and milking
• Supervises general farming activities such as the maintenance and cleaning of dairy cattle housing, milking systems, water supply and irrigation systems, and other dairy cattle farm infrastructure
• Supervises work routines and trains dairy cattle farm workers

Ways in

• TAFE and VET: Certificate IV in Agriculture (AHC40122); Certificate IV in Agribusiness (AHC41024); Diploma of Agribusiness Management (AHC51422); Diploma of Agriculture (AHC50122); Certificate III in Agriculture (AHC30122); Certificate III in Dairy Production (AHC30224); Certificate III in Rural Operations (AHC32822)

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• About 78,900 people work in this job group now, and about 79,800 are projected by 2035. (+1.2%)
• AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.

Related jobs

• Senior Beef Cattle Station Worker
• Senior Cattle and Sheep Farm Worker
• Senior Horse Stable or Stud Worker
• Senior Piggery Stockperson
• Senior Sheep Farm Worker

Not sure this is for you? Take the 2-minute career quiz

Questions people ask

How do I become a Senior Dairy Cattle Farm Worker?

Ways in include: Certificate IV in Agriculture; Certificate IV in Agribusiness.

Is a Senior Dairy Cattle Farm Worker a growing career in Australia?

Employment is projected to stay about the same by 2035: about 78,900 people now and 79,800 later (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Do you need a degree to become a Senior Dairy Cattle Farm Worker?

Usually not. Only 11% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Certificate IV in Agriculture; Certificate IV in Agribusiness.

Will AI change the work of a Senior Dairy Cattle Farm Worker?

AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.

Sources

• Jobs and Skills Australia: Occupation data (ANZSCO), from ABS Labour Force and Census (February 2026), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Generative AI Capacity Study, interactive table data (September 2025), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Employment Projections (Victoria University) (May 2025 to May 2035), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Australian Taxation Office: Taxation Statistics, Individuals Table 15A (2023-24), CC BY 2.5 AU, retrieved 2026-10-04

Updated 2026-10-04