Would you like to work as a Farm Research Technician with Teagasc?
Teagasc has a vacancy for a Farm Research Technician (Temporary contract) at Clonakilty Agricultural College, Co Cork. Candidates must have a QQI Level 6 qualification in agriculture/dairy herd management or equivalent qualification. Read for details of post and salary. Closing date 27th April 2022
Job Summary
Duration: Temporary Externally Funded Non Grant-in-Aid contract post, the indicative duration of which is 32 months, subject to contract. A panel may be formed from which future similar vacancies may be filled; such a panel will remain active for a maximum period of 12 months.
Basic Function:
The appointee will be responsible for the day to day management of the pasture-based farm systems research experiment at Clonakilty College farm. The appointee will manage the delivery of the research programme working with researchers, farm staff and PhD students to undertake various research measurements on the current experiment in such areas as grassland management, breeding and reproduction, animal health and welfare, milk quality and environmental performance. The position will involve working with the project team on:
- Daily management of a large dairy herd including grassland management, herd health and welfare, breeding and calving season cow management
- Liaising with research staff to deliver the research programme and manage the research experiment(s) in Clonakilty to achieve experimental objectives
- Assist with research measurements and data collection from pastures, soils and animals as part of the research team
- Experimental recording, database management and maintenance of farm records as part of the research and farm management team
- Ensuring compliance with all health and safety requirements
- Dissemination of results to visiting groups when required
Background:
The Teagasc Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Programme is located across 3 main sites at Moorepark, Grange and Athenry. Each has its own enterprise focus (dairying in Moorepark, beef in Grange and sheep in Athenry) but research expertise is pooled to provide greater critical mass in discipline areas such as precision farming technologies which can then service any enterprise. This particular post relates to the dairy research programme located at Clonakilty Agricultural College, under the overall Moorepark Dairy Research programme.
The successful candidate will manage the research experiment at Clonakilty Agricultural College farm with a research dairy herd of approximately 200 cows and associated young stock. The current dairy research experiment is evaluating the effect of perennial ryegrass-only and perennial ryegrass-white clover swards receiving either 150 or 250 kg nitrogen per hectare per year on the productivity and environmental impact of spring milk production systems. Component dairy nutrition and animal health experiments are also undertaken at Clonakilty from time to time.
Job Objectives
- Day to day management of the research experiment at Clonakilty Agricultural College including the dairy herd (approx. 200 cows and young stock), grassland management, herd health and welfare, breeding and calving season cow management
- Liaise with research staff on the management and implementation of the research programme.
- Assist research staff with experimental data measurements and recording and database management.
- To assist research and college staff with record keeping in the college enterprises including the collection and recording of farm enterprise data such as financial, calving/lambing, body weights, condition scores, grass management, and grazing events.
Follow this link to see the complete list of Job Objectives
Skills Required
Essential Qualifications:
QQI Level 6 qualification in agriculture/dairy herd management or equivalent qualification at this level in a relevant discipline.
Desireable Qualifications:
- A Level 7 or 8 qualification in a relevant discipline
- A number of years’ experience working within a research team or in the management of a dairy herd would be a distinct advantage
Find out more about Teagasc Clonakilty Agricultural College here