Robotic Dairy Farm Student Intern

Objective:  To provide consistent, high quality care to calves and cows while maintaining an efficient work flow and mindset of continuous improvement

Interns will work in all areas of cow and calf care at the farm as listed below.  In addition, each intern will have a continuous improvement project.  The scope and topic of the project will be jointly determined between the livestock manager and student based on the student’s interest and farm needs. 

• Team Work and Communication:
  • Invest in daily and weekly team communication and continuous improvement
  • Communicate and work as a team with other areas of the farm
• Calf Care:
  • Harvest and feed colostrum to newborn calves
  • Maintain cleanliness of colostrum harvest and calf feeding equipment
  • Feed calves milk, grain, and water per standard operating procedures
  • Vaccinate and treat sick calves per protocols
• Cattle Care:
  • Milk cows utilizing proper milking procedure
  • Keep milking parlor and storage areas clean
  • Maintain footbath per protocol
  • Perform robot machine cleaning and maintenance
  • Train cattle to use the robotic milking machines
  • Assist with reproduction programs (preg checking, injections, breeding)
  • Vaccinate and treat sick cattle per protocols
  • Clean pens and provide bedding
• Other:
  • Record necessary information timely and accurately
  • Assist in moving calves and cattle 
  • Assist in covering forage
  • Assist as needed with other duties and in other areas of the farm

Qualifications and Skills: 

• Communicate openly and enjoy working with people
• Mindset of growth, efficiency, and continuous improvement
• Maintain a positive attitude
• Enjoy learning and developing yourself as well as others
• Flexible to work on a wide variety of projects and with many different people
• Valid United States Driver’s License