The 5 Important Skill Sets Every Herdsperson Needs to Know
At the turn of the 21st century, a herdsperson for a modern dairy required three main skills: a keen sense of how to care for cows, an open mind to new opportunities and a good dose of perseverance to endure looming challenges.
Today, a successful herdsperson must require those same skill sets and many more. Just ask Danny Avila and Luis Davalos, two herdsmen who have been managing their respective dairy operations for a combined 40 years. Over their four decades of experience, the duo can attest the road to becoming an accomplished herdsperson requires grit, motivation and some good old-fashioned work ethic.
For Danny Avila, becoming a herdsman came naturally. Growing up, he watched his father work at a nearby dairy and quickly discovered he had a knack for working with cattle too. In high school, he began working at the dairy his brother owned; then after graduation, he went to work on a 200-cow operation.
“Having that experience really helped me because I had to learn how to do every little thing on the farm,” Avila says.
After working in that role for two years, Avila made the decision to branch out to a bigger operation and began managing 600 cows before eventually landing his current position at Clauss Dairy in Hilmar, Calif.
“I came on as an entry level employee and worked my way up the ladder,” Avila adds, noting he now manages 2,000 cows across two operations.
Luis Davalos has a similar story. He, too, grew up watching his father work at a local dairy and discovered he was meant to follow that same path. He got his start working at that same dairy, then eventually shifted to different operations before setting down roots at Corrales Dairy in Roswell, N.M. Today, Davalos manages 7,600 cows and assists with the herd’s replacements and beef-on-dairy animals.
While becoming a herdsperson might have been in their DNA, Avila and Davalos share the five essential qualities they believe every herdsperson should possess today to be successful.
1. COMMUNICATION
In their experience, having the ability to effectively communicate is the No. 1 skill every herdsperson must have, according to Avila and Davalos. While this skill might sound simple, it can be quite complex. However, the pair recommend deconstructing communication into various components.
“I think the biggest takeaway I’ve learned about communication is making sure we’re communicating clearly and effectively with our employees,” Avila says. “Sometimes we push employees too hard. I think we gain more when we are leading them, working alongside them, encouraging them and motivating them to keep moving on. They’re just able to grow so much faster, and a lot of that stems from good communication. You have to tell them what they’re doing right, but also compassionately tell them what could use some improvement.”
Davalos agrees, emphasizing that it’s important to also understand what makes your employees tick.
“Communication goes beyond just talking to your employees about work,” Davalos explains. “It also means talking to them about their goals, challenges and everyday life. I want to know more about who I’m working with, what their family is like and what matters to them. Because what matters to them should also matter to me.”
Most likely, language will be a barrier to overcome. Avila suggests investing the time to learn your employees’ primary language.
“Learning your employees’ native language has a huge influence on your ability to effectively communicate,” he says. “You need to be able to communicate with workers quickly and effectively, and learning their language is the best way to do so. Whenever we have an intern working on the farm, one thing I strive for them to learn is Spanish.”
In addition to communicating with employees, both Avila and Davalos stress the importance of keeping the business lines of communication open.
“Talk with your veterinarians, your feed delivery guys, your sales reps, anyone who’s a regular stakeholder in your dairy,” Davalos adds. “My farm truck has become my mobile office, and I’m talking with these guys daily to make sure we’re all on the same page on what needs to be done for the dairy.”
2. ACCOUNTABILITY
Another essential trait a herdsperson on today’s dairy operations must possess is accountability. This means taking responsibility for their actions and decisions, which directly affect the health and well-being of the animals, the efficiency of farm operations and the overall success of the business.
According to Davalos, being accountable means being reliable, trustworthy and transparent in his duties. As a result, this helps foster trust and confidence among his colleagues, the owners, and the farm’s stakeholders.
“As the manager, I have to hold my guys accountable for their jobs. But, not only do I have to hold my employees accountable, I have to hold myself accountable to the team,” Davalos explains. “Each night I go home wondering if I did enough, and the answer is no because the job is never really finished, but it helps me self-reflect and focus on how to keep everything moving in the right direction.”
By taking the initiative to hold themselves accountable, Avila and Davalos help set a positive example for their team members. This encourages employees to take responsibility for their own actions and work, leading to a more engaged and empowered workforce.
3. RESOURCEFULNESS
In the dynamic environment of dairy farming, unforeseen challenges often arise. That’s why Davalos and Avila have learned to be the best at their jobs; they must be resourceful because a resourceful herdsperson can quickly assess situations and find creative solutions.
“During my time as a herdsman, I’ve had to learn how to troubleshoot and problem solve,” Davalos says. “This has pushed me to learn how to delegate and figure out who to lean on when I need assistance.”
Davalos likes to think of resourcefulness as an upside-down umbrella. In a way, this helps shield the day-to-day challenges that come with running a dairy from the farm’s owner.
“Part of my role includes protecting the owner from some of the daily headaches,” Davalos says. “This helps give them the time to make some of the bigger decisions that are going to help move the dairy forward, and it shows they trust me to make the best day-to-day decisions.”
4. TECH-SAVVY
Over the past decade, technology has had a major influence on the productivity and efficiency of a dairy farm. It’s also dramatically changed the roles and responsibilities of herdsmen and herdswomen for the better. Just ask Avila.
“Technology has been my biggest friend when it comes to caring for the cows,” Avila explains. “We have so much individual animal information at the tip of my fingers, and it allows me to make the best decision for the cow, the herd and the farm as a whole.”
Davalos concurs, adding incorporating different forms of technology across the operation has made his team that much better at doing their jobs.
“Technology is changing and ever-evolving just like the dairy industry,” Davalos says. “It’s helping us identify where we need to turn our attention. Mike Marley, the owner of Corrales Dairy, quickly instilled in me this motto when it comes to technology: If you can measure it, you can manage it. There’s a lot of truth to that.”
Not long ago, animal health information was logged manually. Today, this real-time information can be accessed with a few clicks of a button on either a phone or computer. However, this new technology also brings the responsibility of organizing information on individual cows, the entire herd and the operation as a whole.
“You have to learn how to sift through all the data, but having the ability to use technology to help make the best decisions for the farm and for the cows has become a real game changer,” Avila says. “I can’t imagine performing my job today without it.”
Some of the technology Avila and Davalos use on their farms include:
- Activity monitors
- Sort gates
- Feed monitoring programs
5. UNDERSTANDING
According to Davalos, a herdsperson today must think of themselves as an hourglass, with them being the narrow piece in the middle. Information from the owners and advisers has to flow through the middle to get down to the employees. Similarly, suggestions and wishes from the employees has to go through the herdsperson to get to the those in higher positions. Davalos says this role takes a great deal of understanding to interpret the information on both sides.
“I have to be able to communicate with my guys on why certain decisions are being made, and I have to put myself in my boss’s shoes and understand how he came to the conclusion he did,” Davalos notes. “On the other hand, when an employee has a request, I also have to put myself in their shoes and interpret their wants and needs to the owner.
It becomes a balancing act and you have to learn to understand both sides.”
WORDS OF ADVICE
While being a herdsperson today might look vastly different than it did two decades ago, the duo can attest some of the same principles apply: care for the cows, keep an open mind and persevere. However, the pair are also willing to pass along some advice to a herdsperson who is just getting their feet dirty.
“Stay humble, work hard and put yourself in your employees’ shoes,” Avila says. “When your employees know you’ve performed the same job they have, they’re more likely to respect you. Get in the trenches with them to know what it takes to get the job done.”
Davalos recommends living each day like a border collie.
“It sounds funny, but they wake up each morning ready to take on the day. It’s a drive, the natural drive they have to get the job done, they just have it in their heart. I try to channel that same instinct,” he adds.
Though the challenges and hurdles that face today’s herdsmen and herdswomen continue to grow, Avila and Davalos note that being a herdsperson offers an unmeasurable amount of rewards. Whether it’s working with the cows, the people or simply taking the time to soak in the day’s accomplishments, it’s a job the duo say they wouldn’t trade for the world.
Dairy Herd Management, June 2024
