Dairy Manager Resume examples & templates
Copyable Dairy Manager Resume examples
By 2030, dairy management will likely shift from traditional oversight to a blend of agricultural science and sustainability technology. As consumer preferences evolve and environmental regulations tighten, tomorrow's dairy managers won't just monitor milk production—they'll be environmental stewards, animal welfare specialists and data analysts rolled into one. A study from the International Dairy Federation found that farms implementing advanced management practices saw production efficiency increase by 17.3% while reducing their carbon footprint.
Caught between tradition and innovation, dairy managers face fascinating challenges. The rise of robotic milking systems (now used in nearly 8% of U.S. dairy operations) has transformed daily workflows, while regenerative agriculture practices are reshaping feed management and pasture rotation strategies. The role demands technical know-how, leadership skills and an intimate understanding of animal behavior—a combination rarely found in other agricultural positions. For those who can navigate this evolving landscape, dairy management offers a career that balances hands-on farm work with cutting-edge agricultural technology and business management.
Junior Dairy Manager Resume Example
MICHAEL THOMPSON
Fresno, CA 93721 • (559) 487-2134 • michael.thompson@email.com • linkedin.com/in/michaelthompson
Dedicated dairy operations professional with hands-on experience in herd management and milk production processes. HACCP certified with strong knowledge of sanitation protocols and quality control measures. Committed to maintaining animal welfare while optimizing production efficiency and product quality. Seeking to leverage my technical knowledge and leadership skills in a full-time Dairy Manager position.
EXPERIENCE
Assistant Dairy Manager
Central Valley Dairy Cooperative • Fresno, CA • January 2022 – Present
- Supervise daily operations for a 275-cow dairy facility, including milking, feeding and health monitoring
- Implemented new feeding schedule that reduced feed waste by 13% while maintaining milk production levels
- Train and oversee 4 milking technicians on proper equipment handling and sanitation protocols
- Collaborate with veterinarians to develop preventative health programs, reducing mastitis cases by 17%
- Maintain detailed records of milk production, quality metrics and animal health using DairyComp 305 software
Dairy Production Intern
Westside Farms • Tulare, CA • May 2021 – December 2021
- Assisted with daily milking operations for a 500-cow dairy operation
- Learned proper milk handling procedures and quality testing protocols
- Helped monitor herd health and reported concerns to senior management
- Participated in routine maintenance of milking equipment and cooling systems
Farm Worker (Part-time)
Thompson Family Farm • Clovis, CA • Summers 2019-2020
- Performed general farm maintenance and assisted with daily feeding operations
- Helped with seasonal crop harvesting and storage
- Gained foundational knowledge of agricultural operations and animal husbandry
EDUCATION
Associate of Science in Dairy Science
Fresno City College • Fresno, CA • Graduated: December 2020
- Relevant Coursework: Dairy Cattle Management, Milk Production, Animal Nutrition, Agricultural Business
- President, Future Farmers of America (FFA) chapter, Fall 2020
CERTIFICATIONS
- HACCP Certification (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) – 2021
- Artificial Insemination Technician Certification – 2021
- First Aid/CPR Certification – 2022
SKILLS
- Herd Management & Animal Welfare
- Milking Systems & Equipment Maintenance
- Quality Control & Milk Testing
- Feed Ration Formulation
- DairyComp 305 Software
- Staff Training & Supervision
- Reproduction Management
- Sanitation Protocols
- Basic Veterinary Procedures
- Inventory Management
Mid-level Dairy Manager Resume Example
Marcus Bennett
Portland, OR | (503) 555-9218 | m.bennett@gmail.com | linkedin.com/in/marcusbennett
Professional Summary
Detail-oriented Dairy Manager with 5+ years supervising milk production, quality control, and herd health operations. Passionate about maintaining the highest food safety standards while improving operational efficiency and staff performance. Reduced milk production costs by 13% at Greenfield through improved feeding strategies and equipment optimization while maintaining 4.2% butterfat content.
Experience
Dairy Operations Manager | Greenfield Dairy Farms | Tillamook, OR | June 2020 – Present
- Manage daily operations of 650-cow dairy facility, supervising team of 12 employees across milking, feeding, and maintenance functions
- Implemented revised milking protocols that decreased mastitis incidence by 27% and improved milk quality ratings from Grade B to Grade A+
- Reduced feed costs by $0.87 per hundredweight through reformulation of TMR rations while maintaining milk production targets
- Developed comprehensive SOP documentation for all dairy operations, resulting in 40% faster onboarding for new hires
- Oversee maintenance schedule for $1.2M worth of dairy equipment including double-12 herringbone parlor system
Assistant Dairy Manager | Miller Family Creamery | Eugene, OR | August 2018 – May 2020
- Supervised daily milking operations for 320-cow organic dairy, ensuring compliance with organic certification requirements
- Coordinated with veterinarians on herd health program, reducing calf mortality by 15% through improved colostrum management
- Trained and mentored 6 milking technicians on proper equipment handling and animal welfare best practices
- Managed inventory of supplies and feed, implementing just-in-time ordering system that reduced waste by 22%
Herd Manager | Westbrook Farm | Corvallis, OR | March 2017 – July 2018
- Monitored health of 175 Holstein cows, administering treatments and maintaining detailed health records
- Assisted with reproductive management program, helping increase conception rate from 42% to 58%
- Collaborated with nutritionist to implement seasonal ration adjustments based on forage quality tests
Education
Bachelor of Science in Animal Science – Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR (2016)
Minor in Agricultural Business Management
Certifications
- Certified Dairy Manager (CDM) – American Dairy Science Association (2019)
- Artificial Insemination Technician – Genex Cooperative (2017)
- HACCP Food Safety Certification (2020, renewed 2023)
Skills
- Dairy herd management & health monitoring
- Milking systems operation & maintenance
- Staff training & supervision
- Reproductive management programs
- Feed ration formulation & TMR mixing
- Quality assurance & milk testing
- Regulatory compliance (FDA, USDA, Organic)
- DairyComp 305 & FarmWorks software
- Budget management & cost control
- Equipment maintenance scheduling
Senior / Experienced Dairy Manager Resume Example
Thomas J. Hargrove
Belleville, WI 53508 • (608) 555-1274 • thargrove@dairypro.net • linkedin.com/in/thomasjhargrove
Professional Summary
Dedicated Dairy Operations Manager with over 12 years of progressive experience in high-volume milk production facilities. My expertise spans herd health management, milk quality optimization, and staff development across multiple production environments. I’ve reduced operational costs by $437K annually while improving milk quality scores by 31% through implementation of targeted nutrition programs and stringent sanitation protocols. Known for building cohesive teams that consistently exceed production targets.
Experience
Senior Dairy Operations Manager | Horizon Dairy Cooperative | Madison, WI | 2019-Present
- Oversee daily operations of a 1,800-head facility producing 14.7M gallons annually, managing 23 full-time employees and $3.2M operating budget
- Cut labor costs by 17% while increasing milk production by 1,240 lbs per cow annually through staff cross-training and milking procedure refinement
- Decreased somatic cell count from 245,000 to 142,000 cells/ml through implementation of comprehensive udder health program
- Negotiated new equipment leasing agreements saving $78,500 yearly while upgrading critical milking systems
- Redesigned feeding protocols resulting in 11% reduction in feed costs with no negative impact on production metrics
- Mentored 4 assistant managers who were subsequently promoted to management positions within the cooperative
Dairy Production Manager | Clearwater Farms Inc. | Janesville, WI | 2015-2019
- Managed herd health, breeding, feeding and milk production for 950-cow operation
- Improved reproductive efficiency by 23% by revamping heat detection protocols and training staff on visual observation techniques
- Implemented mastitis prevention strategy reducing treatment costs by $65K annually
- Collaborated with nutritionist to develop TMR formulations that increased butterfat from 3.6% to 4.1%
- Supervised team of 12 employees, reducing turnover from 42% to 18% through improved training and schedule flexibility
Assistant Herd Manager | Prairie View Dairy | Watertown, WI | 2011-2015
- Coordinated daily milking operations for 600-cow dairy with 2x milking schedule
- Monitored herd health and administered treatments according to veterinary protocols
- Maintained detailed records on breeding, production, and health events using DairyComp 305
- Trained and supervised 8 milkers and 2 relief staff members
- Implemented new parlor sanitization procedures that reduced bacteria counts by 38%
Education & Certifications
Bachelor of Science, Dairy Science | University of Wisconsin-Madison | 2011
Artificial Insemination Certification | ABS Global | 2012 (Recertified 2021)
Advanced Milk Quality Management | Wisconsin Dairy Business Association | 2017
FARM Program Animal Care Evaluator | National Milk Producers Federation | 2018
HACCP Certification | International HACCP Alliance | 2020
Skills
- Dairy herd management & health protocols
- Staff training & performance evaluation
- Milk quality optimization & testing
- DairyComp 305 & FarmWorks software
- Reproductive management programs
- Nutrition & feed management
- Milking system maintenance
- Budget oversight & cost control
- Regulatory compliance (FDA, USDA, EPA)
- Heifer development programs
- Waste management systems
How to Write a Dairy Manager Resume
Introduction
Landing that perfect Dairy Manager position starts with a resume that showcases your expertise in herd management, milk production, and operational efficiency. Your resume isn't just a list of jobs—it's your professional story that demonstrates how you've improved dairy operations, managed staff, and maintained quality standards. In today's competitive agricultural job market, you'll need to stand out from the crowd with specific achievements and industry knowledge. Let's break down exactly what makes a dairy manager resume work (and what makes hiring managers toss resumes in the reject pile).
Resume Structure and Format
Keep your resume clean and organized—just like your milking parlor should be. Aim for 1-2 pages depending on your experience level. Newer managers can stick to one page, while those with 10+ years might need two (but never more!).
- Use clear section headings: Contact Info, Summary, Experience, Education, Skills
- Choose readable fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman (10-12pt)
- Include white space—crowded resumes get skimmed, not read
- Save as a PDF to preserve formatting (unless specifically asked for a .doc)
- Name your file professionally: "FirstName_LastName_DairyManager.pdf"
Profile/Summary Section
Your summary is like the first 15 seconds of a farm tour—it needs to impress immediately. In 3-4 sentences, highlight your dairy management experience, operational achievements, and specialized knowledge.
Lead with your strongest credential! If you've managed a 500-head dairy operation or achieved record milk production numbers, put that front and center rather than generic statements about being "detail-oriented."
Example: "Dairy Operations Manager with 7 years of experience overseeing herds of 350+ Holstein cows. Reduced mastitis rates by 32% while increasing milk production from 65 to 78 lbs per cow daily. Expertise in nutrition management, reproductive efficiency, and HACCP compliance. Skilled at training and leading teams of 12+ milkers and technicians."
Professional Experience
This is where you prove you can handle the job. For each position, include:
- Company name, location, and dates (month/year format)
- Your title and brief description of the operation size
- 4-6 bullet points highlighting specific achievements
- Measurable results (milk production increases, reduced feed costs, etc.)
Focus on your impact, not just duties. Instead of "Responsible for herd health," write "Implemented preventative health protocols that reduced veterinary costs by $14,750 annually while improving herd wellness scores from 3.2 to 4.6 on 5-point scale."
Education and Certifications
Dairy management often requires specialized education. List degrees in reverse chronological order, including:
- Degree, institution, graduation year
- Relevant coursework (animal science, agricultural business, etc.)
- Certifications (Artificial Insemination, Milk Quality Assurance, etc.)
- Professional development courses
Keywords and ATS Tips
Many agricultural employers use Applicant Tracking Systems to screen resumes. Include these industry-specific keywords:
- Herd health management
- Milk quality standards
- Reproductive efficiency
- Feed management/TMR
- Staff scheduling and training
- Parlor operations
- Compliance (FDA, USDA, OSHA)
- Mastitis prevention
Industry-specific Terms
Show you speak the language of dairy farming by naturally incorporating terminology like:
- Somatic cell count (SCC)
- Dry matter intake (DMI)
- Days in milk (DIM)
- Total mixed ration (TMR)
- Bulk tank testing
- Cow comfort scoring
Common Mistakes
Avoid these resume blunders that can send your application straight to the rejection pile:
- Using vague statements like "improved milk production" (by how much?)
- Focusing only on milking procedures when dairy management involves business operations
- Forgetting to mention your familiarity with relevant software (DairyComp 305, etc.)
- Including irrelevant work history (your summer job at the movie theater 15 years ago)
- Typos! (Nothing says "I don't pay attention to details" like misspelling Holstein)
Before/After Example
Before: "Responsible for dairy cows and milk production. Managed employees and followed protocols."
After: "Supervised daily operations for a 275-cow Holstein dairy, implementing revised nutrition protocols that boosted milk fat from 3.6% to 4.1% while reducing feed costs by $1.28/cow/day. Trained and mentored 6 milkers in low-stress handling techniques, cutting employee turnover from 75% to 28% annually."
Related Resume Examples
Soft skills for your Dairy Manager resume
- Cross-functional communication (liaising between production, quality control, and sales teams)
- Staff development & performance coaching for a team of 7-12 dairy technicians
- Conflict resolution during high-stress production periods, especially when dealing with equipment malfunctions
- Crisis management during unexpected supply chain disruptions or quality concerns
- Flexible scheduling & shift management while balancing personal needs with production demands
- Quick decision-making when quality parameters drift outside acceptable ranges
Hard skills for your Dairy Manager resume
- Milk Quality Analysis & SCC Testing
- Feed Ration Formulation using NutriCalc Pro
- DairyComp 305 Herd Management Software
- HACCP Certification & Implementation
- Robotic Milking System Maintenance (Lely A5)
- Mastitis Detection & Treatment Protocols
- Dairy Equipment Troubleshooting (pasteurizers, separators, etc.)
- Milk Price Futures & Hedging
- Wisconsin Certified Milk Handler License