Our Team

When it comes to the success of a dairy farm, teamwork is essential. Ohio dairy farmers operate their farms with a team of skilled and trained professionals who take into consideration all aspects of farming.

Keep reading to learn more about the specific team member roles on a dairy farm.

Farm Owner

The farm owner has a significant financial investment in the farm and therefore is ultimately responsible for the performance, strategic growth and development of the farm. An owner must be highly skilled in all aspects of farm operations, from ensuring excellent care of the cows and calves to taking care of the land, air and water and to providing safe, high-quality milk to consumers in Ohio and nationwide. The owner also sets the business direction and policies within which the farm operates, so it is essential that the farm owner is knowledgeable and skilled in business and farm management.

Herdsman

A herdsman is a trained individual who oversees and manages the day-to-day operation of the dairy herd. He or she can be responsible for 100 or more cows at a time. A skilled herdsman knows the habits and personality quirks of all cows under his or her care and the quality of milk each cow is producing. A herdsman might work alone or manage other farm workers, depending on the size of the farm. On smaller dairy farms, the farm owner often serves as the herdsman.

As Kevin, lead herdsman at Andreas Farms describes, a herdsman is responsible for the daily work with the cows, which also include a number of daily chores. But ultimately, a herdsman monitors animal health and breeding, manages vaccination protocols and works closely with veterinarians, and oversees the specialty roles on the farm including the nutrition manager, hoof manager, calf manager, and parlor manager to ensure that the farm runs efficiently and can address any issues the moment they arise.

Veterinarian

Veterinarians are animal doctors who have earned a degree in veterinary medicine. Sometimes called “large animal veterinarians” or “livestock veterinarians,” many specialize in the treatment of cows and work directly with dairy farmers at their farms on a regular basis to ensure healthy herds, provide preventative care and specific medical attention when needed.

Nutritionist

An animal health professional who specializes in the nutritional needs of dairy cows is called a dairy nutritionist. The major responsibilities of a dairy nutritionist are to recommend optimal diets to farmers and regularly monitor how cows respond to their feeding program. Diets include a mix of grass feeding to specially formulated feeds that include corn silage, vitamins and minerals to ensure every cow gets all the nutrition she needs to produce wholesome dairy foods.

Hoof Trimmer

Hoof care is important because if a cow’s feet aren’t well maintained and she becomes uncomfortable, she won’t be a productive member of the herd. A hoof trimmer has specific expertise in the trimming of a cow’s hooves, or toenails, in order to maintain comfort at all times. Hoof trimmers are trained to detect and prevent disease, injury or other hoof-related problems, and they can advise farmers on treatments before they become a problem.