Learn the essential skills and knowledge to become active and highly employable in the sector of New Zealand Farm Management, whether you are just starting out or looking to further expand your professional network.

Our New Zealand Certificate in Agriculture (Level 3) with strands in Dairy Farming, Meat, and Fibre provides individuals with the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed in the agricultural industry. Whether you are interested in working on a dairy farm, meat processing facility, or fiber production operation, this program will equip you with the practical skills needed to excel in these fields.

To become a successful dairy farmer, it is not necessary to have specific qualifications. However, it is highly recommended to undergo relevant training courses in agriculture, dairy farming, agribusiness, or farm management. Dairy farmers are often willing to train individuals who demonstrate a strong work ethic, a positive attitude, and a willingness to learn. By enrolling in a program like the New Zealand Certificate in Agriculture, aspiring dairy farmers can gain valuable experience and knowledge to help them succeed in the industry.

The admission process for the New Zealand Certificate in Agriculture (Level 3) will vary depending on the institution offering the program. Prospective students may be required to submit an application form, academic transcripts, and a personal statement outlining their interest in agriculture. Some institutions may also conduct interviews or assessments to determine the suitability of applicants for the program. Interested individuals should contact the university or college directly for more information on the admission requirements and application process.

The National Trade Academy Ltd (“NTA”) was founded in 2000 to provide a variety of pre-employment training programs for people interested in careers in land-based industries such as agriculture, equestrian, animal care, and horticulture. At our new NTA English Academy in Christchurch’s central city, this has now been expanded to include General English for speakers of different languages.

Dairy Farming Courses In New Zealand For International Students

• Massey University, Auckland. University Website. Diploma in Dairy Technology. …
• Waikato Institute of Technology (WINTEC), Hamilton. University Website. Diploma in Dairy Processing.
• Ruraltec. University Website. …
• Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre. University Website. …
• Telford Rural Polytechnic. University Website.

We specialise in offering Dairy Farming programmes to international students who want to learn about the New Zealand Farming system and learn about how NZ technology, skills and knowledge makes us the world’s leader in Dairy production. A more recent programme is our NZ Certificate in Animal Technology “Rural Animal Technician” Strand Level 5 which is very suitable to Veterinarian graduates who require more practical experience working with large rural animals in a rural Veterinary practice.

We now also have a Commercial Pilot Licence Training Scheme training pilots for airlines around the world.

We also specialise in a number of English Plus Programmes including;

• English plus Agriculture
• English Plus Horticulture
• English Plus Horse Rising

More about National Trade Academy

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NTA has a 70 Hectare Agriculture and Equestrian centre 10 minutes from Christchurch airport. We are in a fantastic environment in a country setting with our own Riding school and Farm Park for visitors to see different animals farmed in New Zealand. We have classrooms, Dressage Arena, Show jumping Arena Lunging Arena, Stables, Farm sheds, horses and other animals used for our training. We have a Mountain Bike trail next door as well as an exotic wildlife park. We have a public bus service that will pick up students from the city and return them there at the end of the day.

We have opened our new NTA English Academy at 76 Peterborough Street, Central City in Christrchurch NZ’s 2nd largest City. 

We have also, under a sub contreact agreement with the NZ Airline Acfademy, opened a new Campus to train commecial pilots at the Oamaru aiport 3 hours south of Christchurch in picturesque part of the country.

free online dairy farming courses

Milk and dairy production

Dairy cows are bred specifically for their high milk producing capacity. In this article we explore the full milk production process.© EIT FoodDairy cows produce milk which is in high demand from consumers as fresh milk, or processed dairy products such as cheese, butter and yoghurt. There were an estimated 274 million dairy cows in the world in 2016 [1], with India and the USA producing a large fraction of the world’s milk (20% and 12% respectively) [1]. (Take a look at the link in the ‘See Also’ section at the bottom of this article for an infographic from the FAO showing milk production by country and how it has changed over the last 3 decades.)

Milk production cycle

Dairy cows are specialised breeds of cattle with high capacity for milk production. The typical dairy cow production cycle is shown in the diagram below. A young female cow known as a heifer gives birth to its first calf at approximately 24 months of age. After calving the heifer becomes a lactating (milking) cow. The average length of the period in milk is 10 months, followed by a 2 month ‘dry’ or resting period before the cow has the next calf.

Figure 2: Milk production cycle

Dairy cows are typically milked twice per day in a milking parlour, using milking machinery which delivers the milk directly to a bulk collection tank. The bulk tank cools and maintains the milk at 3–4°C before it is collected by a tanker [3]. The tanker then delivers the milk to a milk processor to be pasteurised. A modern, high yielding dairy cow produces an average of 7,800 litres of milk per year, although this is influenced by many factors including breed and production system [4].

Figure 3: Milking parlour at the University of Reading’s farm. A clean environment is vital to meet hygiene standards.

How milk is produced

Due to the long lifecycle of a dairy cow, it is important to understand how the production system may affect the welfare of the animal and the productivity of the farm. There are two common yet contrasting systems of dairy production:

• outdoor grass-based and
• continuous indoor housed.

The grass-based system relies on grassland being available for grazing for much of the year. In the continuous indoor housed system, milking cows remain inside purpose-built barns throughout the year [5]. They are provided with individual bays to lie in, and a feeding barrier to access feed and water.

Both systems have advantages and disadvantages which are summarised in the table below:

	Grass based system	Continuously housed system
Advantages	Lower production costs [4]. Allows cows to exhibit natural feeding and social behaviours [9]. Contributes to ecosystem functions, eg through nutrient recycling, and in turn may benefit soil, biodiversity and wildlife [6].	Higher milk yields than grass-based: achievable milk yields 9000-10000 litres/cow/year. Easier control of energy and nutrient intakes for optimal health and production. Easier monitoring of health; disease prevention and control.
Disadvantages	Lower milk yields than continuously housed: achievable milk yields 4000-5000 litres/cow/year [3]. Land availability suitable for grazing may be limiting. Lower profit margins despite lower costs (due to lower yield). Weather and climatic conditions affect the quality of pasture and success of grazing.	Higher production costs (eg high feed costs), but usually offset by higher yields. Higher dependency on intensified crop production and its associated effects (use of agro-chemicals, biodiversity loss, soil degradation). High capital investment and reliance on mechanisation and industrial techniques.

Table 1: Advantages and disadvantages of grass-based and continuously housed systems

Sustainability Challenges

From a welfare point of view, managing the feeding and health of dairy cows is one of the most critical factors for a successful dairy farm. The dietary needs of dairy cows change through the production cycle and so each cow must be carefully monitored to ensure they have optimal energy and nutrient intakes to be healthy and productive.The contribution of ruminant livestock production to greenhouse gas emissions is increasingly highlighted [7] and scientists and farmers are working together to find ways to reduce the environmental impact of the dairy industry [8].

And finally, the economic viability of dairy farming has become increasingly challenging in recent years. The 5-year rolling average milk price in the UK is 27.2 pence per litre (ppl). Taking all the costs into ac

count, for the top 25% of UK milk producers, it costs 26.7 ppl to produce. For the bottom 25% of producers, it costs 36.6 ppl to produce [10]. Margins on milk production are therefore very tight and many farmers have ceased keeping a dairy herd as a result.

dairy farming courses nz

New Zealand Certificate in Agriculture (Level 3) with strands in Dairy Farming and Meat and or Fibre

Strategic Purpose Statement

This qualification is intended for people who want to learn pastoral livestock farming skills and knowledge required for working in either the dairy, meat and or fibre farming sectors.

Graduate Profile

Graduates of this qualification will be able to:

• Work as an effective member of a farming team by maintaining own health and wellbeing, communicating with team members and stakeholders, contributing to financial efficiency, and using appropriate technology.
• Assist with soil and pasture management activities in a livestock production context.
• Assist with implementing livestock feeding plans to meet production requirements.
• Assist with mating and parturition of farmed livestock over a mating and parturition season.
• Assist with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of livestock health problems.

 Graduates of the Dairy Farming strand will also be able to:

• Milk animals, maintaining hygiene and animal welfare.
• Assist with cleaning and maintaining the milking plant and farm dairy to maintain optimum milk quality.
• Assist with identifying milk quality problems and implementing solutions to those problems.
• Assist with dairy environmental management.
• Assist with young stock rearing

 Graduates of the Meat and/or Fibre strand will also be able to:

• Assist with maintaining agribusiness machinery.
• Carry out young stock husbandry.
• Care for and handle farm working animals.
• Carry out farm fencing.

Education Pathways

This qualification may build on the New Zealand Certificate in Primary Industry Skills (Level 2). May lead on to the New Zealand Certificate in Agriculture (Level 4) with strands in Arable Farming, Dairy Farming, Breeding Livestock Farming and Non Breeding Livestock Farming.

Employment Pathway

This programme is suitable for individuals who may have some general experience and be either working within or wishing to enter a career in the agriculture industry and who want to develop their skills and knowledge. Graduates of this programme are likely to be employed within the livestock sector as farm assistants or junior shepherds. They may be employed full-time in a husbandry role or perform the work as part of a wider on-farm role.

Entry Criteria

Prospective students must have the physical capability to cope with the practical demands of this programme. The programme is designed to provide authentic farming experiences and this includes early morning starts, working with animals outdoors in all weathers, and physical work including lifting weights up to 20kg.

• Students will require suitable wet weather protective gear and farm appropriate footwear.
• Wet weather gear is included in the course fees for international students and is included in course related costs for domestic students.
• Information is provided in acceptance letters. Detail and costs can be discussed at the pre-enrolment interview.

 Domestic students

• Age: Must be at least 17 years of age.
• Applicants should demonstrate an ability to succeed in tertiary study, shown by the completion of any of the following
• New Zealand Certificate in Primary Industry Skills (level 2) with optional strand  in Self-Management and Employability Skills [Ref: 2218] or have evidence of  equivalent industry experience.
• A minimum of three years secondary education and NCEA Level 1 Step 3 Reading and Step 4 Numeracy on the Literacy and Numeracy for Adults Assessment Tool

  International students

• Age: Must be a minimum age of 18 years old or turning 18 prior to the end of the Programme.
• Academic: Open entry with an agricultural background or an interest in agriculture in their own country.
• International students for whom English is a second language must attain an IELTS General or Academic score of 5 or equivalent with no band score lower than 5 or pass an internal test to assess their English proficiency level according to Rule 18 English language requirements for international students.

To complete module 13 Farm working animals, learners must have access to their own farm working dog.

Applicants will participate in a pre-enrolment interview. Enrolment is subject to the Academic Programme Manager’s approval.

Fees Free applies for domestic students. Contact us for eligibility criteria and course fees. Programme approved for international students.