Beef and sheep.

A wide range of jobs from on the farm with animals and hands on work, to working in a range of roles and careers in the meat processing and exporting sector.

A sheepdog rounds-up sheep in a field

Opportunities in beef and sheep

Looking for a job with a great lifestyle and plenty of diversity? There are year-round on-farm opportunities for people with a range of skills and experience in beef and sheep farming plus meat processing – from entry level roles to in-depth training pathways.

Types of jobs in beef and sheep farming

  • Farm assistant / general hand

    Salary: $42,000 per year*

    Farm assistant jobs are the first step into a farming career for many, allowing you to gain valuable experience and a taste for a variety of farm-related tasks. Perfect for the ‘jack of all trades’.

    Farm assistants don’t always need formal training as you’ll receive plenty of it on-the-job. Farm assistants help farmers with a variety of tasks, including raising and caring for animals, moving animals between paddocks, repairs and maintenance, tractor work, and other farming activities.

    If you love working with animals and enjoy hands-on practical work this could be a role for you.

    * Average farm assistant salary, Farming Salaries 2018, Remuneration Summary Report 2017/18, Federated Farmers

    A man on a quad bike herds sheep with his dog
  • Shearer

    Salary: $39,000-$65,000+ per year*

    If you’re hands-on, work well in a team, and are keen to do a job that involves being active, shearing could be for you. A shearer is employed as part of the shearing team to remove the wool from sheep with clippers. The position sometimes involves camping-out and travelling.

    With little to no training needed, this is a great opportunity to get started in a new industry.

    Some of the tasks you will do include catching sheep from a catching pen, moving sheep to shearing stands, shearing and cleaning and sharpening combs and cutters.

    * Salary based on Careers NZ website, shearers with up to three years' experience who can shear 200 sheep a day

    A person shearing a sheep
  • Shepherd / Shepherdess

    Salary: $45,000 per year*

    Do you enjoy working with animals?

    Shepherds/shepherdesses are involved in a variety of animal management activities, including using dogs to work with sheep and cattle and measuring and planning the feed supplies for livestock.

    Animal welfare is top priority and shepherds have an important role in monitoring stock health and working with their manager to resolve issues affecting animals.

    Depending on the farm, a shepherd/shepherdesses may also be involved in fencing or feeding out by tractor.

    Some good skills to have are basic maths and English language, good animal handling skills, and it’s a bonus to have a New Zealand driver's licence.

    As a shepherd you will ideally have a National Certificate in Agriculture Level 2 and be working towards a higher qualification.

    * Average Shepherd salary, Farming Salaries 2018, Remuneration Summary Report 2017/18, Federated Farmers

    A man closes a gate behind a flock of sheep

Red meat processing

Seasonal work through to rewarding careers available now

The red meat processing sector offers a vast array of jobs, ranging from processing, engineering, trades, sales and marketing or human resources, to distribution, animal welfare and many scientific and environmental roles.

There are entry level roles for those without any formal qualifications or experience as well as for those who have undertaken Primary ITO training or tertiary and post-graduate study. There are strong career pathways, enabling staff to progress over time from entry level to more senior and management roles.

You’ll find immediate jobs, training opportunities and a great career in the red meat processing sector. It’s a productive, innovative and progressive environment, offering competitive salaries and strong career pathways.

Find jobs on the Meat Your Career website

Training and learning opportunities

Taster courses help get you ready for jobs in farming. 

Keen to learn more?

To find out more about opportunities for training or new careers visit the sites below.

GrowingNZ

Check out real stories from real people plus study, training and scholarship opportunities.

Visit GrowingNZ

careers.govt.nz

Find out about a range of jobs, what skills are needed and training available.

Visit careers.govt.nz