General Farm Worker Apprentice

As an apprentice at Racecourse Farm, you’ll be fully involved in the day to day running of a modern, prize-winning dairy unit. This is a hands-on role where you learn by doing, working closely with experienced stock people and gaining real responsibility from the start.

Your Key Activities:

Daily livestock care - feeding, bedding, scraping, monitoring cow comfort and supporting milking routines Calf and youngstock rearing - from newborn care to weaning and growing heifers into future herd leaders Working with prize winning Holsteins - helping manage high genetic value cattle and learning what makes top class dairy cows stand out Beef herd management - assisting with rearing calves right through to stores or sale to Kepak Feeding and forage work - understanding how we grow and use grass, maize silage, whole crop and purchased feed to build balanced diets Machinery and farm skills - safe use of equipment, yard work, and seasonal tasks across the farm

Professional Development:

You won’t just learn from us - you’ll also work directly with our vet and nutritionist, giving you insight into the professional decision making behind the herd

With the vet:

Attend routine herd health visits Learn about fertility checks and preventative care Understand treatment protocols and welfare standards

With the nutritionist:

See how rations are formulated Learn how forage quality affects performance Help monitor cow condition, intakes, and diet adjustments

The Experience You’ll Gain:

By the end of your apprenticeship, you’ll understand how a successful dairy farm operates from top to bottom - genetics, welfare, nutrition, milk production, youngstock, forage, and business decisions. You’ll be part of a small, committed team where your work genuinely matters and your skills will grow every day

Training:

You will be working towards a Level 2 General Farm Worker apprenticeship standard.

Mandatory qualifications within this standard include:

Level 3 Award in Emergency First Aid at Work Level 2 City & Guilds Principles of Safe Handling and Application of Pesticides Guidance or Lantra Safe Use of Pesticides

Training Outcome:

The successful apprentice will become an integral part of a friendly team.

Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship there may be the opportunity for further full-time employment as a general farm worker. 

Employer Description:

Racewood Holsteins is a progressive dairy enterprise based just outside Bodmin, producing high quality milk from our 200 pedigree Holsteins. We rear all our own replacements and manage every stage of the herd’s development, from newborn calves to mature, high performing cows. Our beef calves are either kept on as stores or sold to Kepak, giving us a well rounded, sustainable livestock system.
What sets us apart is our commitment to cow comfort, welfare, and performance. Our Holsteins are not only productive — they are prize winning cattle recognised for their genetics, conformation, and overall quality. We invest heavily in nutrition, housing, and stockmanship to ensure every animal thrives.
We grow our own grass, maize silage, and whole crop, allowing us to maintain full control over feed quality and consistency. This attention to detail underpins the health of the herd and the reliability of our milk supply.
Racewood Holsteins contributes to local agriculture with a modern, well managed dairy unit known for high standards, strong results, and a passion for producing exceptional cattle.

Working Hours :
Start Time: 10:00 (2x weekdays) Finish Time: 19:00 (2x weekdays) Start Time: 07:00 (2x weekdays) Finish time: 16:00 (2x weekdays) Week 1: 08:00 (Saturday) Finish time: 12:00 (Saturday) Week 2: 08:00 (Sunday) Finish time: 12:00 (Sunday)

Skills:
Communication skills,Attention to detail,Organisation skills,Problem solving skills,Team working,Initiative,Non judgemental,Patience,Physical fitness,Willingness to learn,Proactive,Punctual,Reliable