Description
Work with dairy scientists, veterinarians, and herd managers to support milk production, quality, and animal health programs. Set up, operate, and maintain milking, cooling, and feeding equipment; collect milk, feed, and animal samples. Prepare specimens and record detailed herd performance data to support nutrition, reproduction, and health research or on-farm trials. Conduct tests and implement protocols to improve milk yield and components, reduce mastitis, and enhance cow comfort and disease resistance.
- • Record milk production, reproduction, health, and treatment data.
- • Prepare summaries and charts on milk quality, herd performance, and trial results.
- • Conduct mastitis screenings and somatic cell count checks.
- • Perform calf and heifer rearing duties, including colostrum management and feeding.
- • Operate milking systems, feed mixers, skid steers, and farm trucks.
- • Perform barn sanitation, bedding management, and manure handling.
- • Refine milking routines and environmental controls to improve yield and cow comfort.
- • Maintain and repair parlors, bulk tanks, milklines, vacuum pumps, and feeders.
- • Assist with vaccinations, deworming, and treatment administration under supervision.
- • Train milkers and staff in milking hygiene and animal handling SOPs.
- • Prepare or present training on milk quality, mastitis control, or parlor procedures.
- • Evaluate bedding materials, stall design, and stocking rates for cleanliness and comfort.
- • Conduct feed and ration trials to assess intake, milk components, and efficiency.
- • Record barn temperature, humidity, and ventilation data to monitor heat stress.
- • Weigh feed and additives and measure reagents for milk and blood tests.
- • Set up and calibrate milk meters, samplers, and laboratory instruments.
- • Prepare milk, blood, fecal, urine, or feed samples for laboratory analysis.
- • Examine cows for signs of illness, lameness, ketosis, or udder infections and report findings.
- • Collect milk, blood, fecal, urine, and forage or TMR samples.
- • Supervise milking hygiene and sanitation protocols, including pre- and post-dipping.
- • Respond to producer or staff inquiries on milk quality and herd protocols.
- • Clean and sanitize parlors, lines, and bulk tanks; verify wash cycles and CIP results.
- • Perform on-farm milk and metabolic testing using SCC counters, pH meters, refractometers, and ketone tests.
- • Test colostrum quality and perform on-farm mastitis culturing as directed.
- • Prepare culture media and plates for milk or mastitis pathogen testing.
- • Monitor heat detection, AI schedules, pregnancy checks, and calving outcomes.
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Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
