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Roots to Work is a project of Sustain: the alliance for better food and farming.

Agroecological Livestock Person

The Apricot Centre @Huxham's Cross Farm
Dartington, Devon

Posted: 21 Mar 2025

Deadline: 6 Apr 2025

Compensation: £12.60 per hour (Real Living Wage)

Living Wage employer

Paid Full-time

Job description

About the Apricot Centre

The Apricot Centre is a regenerative, biodynamic  farm dedicated to producing high-quality, organic food while enhancing biodiversity and soil health. We integrate livestock into our farming system to improve soil fertility, create closed-loop systems, and support a thriving farm ecosystem.

The Role

We are looking for a dedicated and experienced livestock person to manage our small scale cattle, pigs, and poultry systems, with the potential to expand to sheep in the future. The role requires a practical, hands-on approach to animal husbandry, pasture management, and welfare, ensuring our livestock thrive in a regenerative farming system.

This position also includes driving duties for animal care and, occasionally covering our delivery round and market stall, so a full UK driving licence is essential. 

Key Responsibilities

• Daily care and management of cattle, pigs, and poultry, including feeding, bedding, and health checks.
• Egg duties, including collecting, cleaning, packing, and quality control.
• Implementing holistic and regenerative grazing systems to improve soil and pasture health.
• Overseeing pig and poultry feed made from a mixture of homegrown and bought in ingredients
• Monitoring livestock health and assisting with veterinary care and treatments.
• Maintaining animal housing, fencing, and infrastructure to high welfare standards.
• Recording and managing livestock data such as feed consumption, health treatments, and growth rates.
• Supporting the farm’s organic and biodynamic certification requirements.
• Assisting with occasional sheep management as the farm expands.
• Leading or assisting with the application of biodynamic preparations, supporting soil and plant health.
• Working weekends regularly (time off given in lieu during the week).

You may occasionally be asked to help out on other areas of the farm business to cover holidays and sickness, This will include, but not be limited to, deliveries, running our market stall, horticulture and packhouse. 

Person Specification

Essential:

• Experience working with cattle, pigs, and poultry in a farm setting.
• Knowledge of regenerative or agroecological livestock systems.
• Ability to work independently, organise your own time and solve problems
• A full UK driving licence.
• Physically fit and able to work in all weather conditions.
• Attention to detail and commitment to high welfare standards.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of organic and biodynamic farming principles.
• An understanding of biodynamics in order to lead the application of preparations, or a willingness to learn (full training provided).
• Experience of supervising farm trainees and apprentices
• Experience in fencing, farm maintenance.
• Relevant qualifications and certificates (agriculture, tractor, chainsaw, etc.)

What We Offer

• A role in a forward-thinking regenerative farm with a strong environmental and social ethos.
• A supportive and skilled team environment.
• Training and development opportunities in regenerative livestock management and biodynamic preparations.
• A fair wage at the Real Living Wage of £12.60 per hour.
• 28 days paid holiday (including bank holidays).
• On-site accommodation may be available in a static caravan on the farm.

Application information

To apply, please send your CV and a short cover letter explaining your experience and why you’re interested in the role to dave.wright@apricotcentre.co.uk

Closing date for applications Sunday 6th April 2025. Start date negotiable but no later than 5th May 2025. 

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