Rebecca Oakley

Managed milk recording services for 157 fully recorded herds and 30–40 ad hoc testing producers across Cumbria. Led a team of 14 self-employed milk recorders and an area coordinator, strategically deploying resources to ensure efficient service delivery. Oversaw team payments via a CRM-based payroll system, ensuring timely and accurate processing.

A key component of the role involved conducting on-farm customer care reviews to assess evolving client needs and adapt services accordingly. I regularly promoted value-added solutions and delivered demonstrations of Herd Companion and Uniform software to reinforce product value and build customer confidence. When needed, I handled complex customer issues, ensuring prompt and effective resolution to maintain satisfaction and long-term trust in NMR’s services.

Areas were evaluated based on data quality as providing robust and accurate information is essential for our customers to make timely and informed management decisions. When I joined the company the data quality in my area required significant improvement. Through coordinated training sessions designed to improve consistency and skill across the team, along with my own focused efforts, the area now ranks as the top performing area within the wider northern team and is among the leading areas in the country for pedigree data quality.

Responsible for the day to day management of a 200-head autumn calving dairy herd. Core duties included twice daily milking, rearing youngstock and carrying out routine tractor and loader operations. I handled key technical responsibilities such as heat detection, DIY AI, grassland management and foot trimming. I also oversaw all herd administration using Uniform and Agrinet software, ensuring accurate record keeping in line with ARLA CARE contract requirements.

As part of herd development I implemented a targeted breeding plan using historic data extracted from Uniform. This was designed to improve herd efficiency and performance to better align the herd with the existing farm system.

In addition to herd duties, I trained and supervised apprentices which enabled me to develop strong staff management and mentoring skills.

Worked during the calving season on a 450-cow autumn block calving unit. With primary responsibility for rearing youngstock. During my time on the farm I implemented key changes to milk feeding routines and hygiene protocols for calves still on milk. These improvements resulted in a marked increase in growth rates and overall health. Significantly enhancing youngstock development and long term performance potential.

Worked across two dairy units as a relief calf rearer and assistant herdsperson. The first unit was a one person operation milking 240 cows twice daily in a 16:32 swing-over parlour. I was responsible for all aspects of daily management. Duties included milking, calving cows, grass allocation, bedding up, drying off and scraping.

On the second unit I supported calf rearing and relief milking through a 60-point rotary milking 550 cows twice a day in a team of 3.

Both herds operated on an autumn block calving system using self feed silage and maize over winter and grazing from March to September.

I helped milk a herd of 350 Holstein Friesian cows three times daily in a 10:20 Herringbone parlour. High yielding cows were housed all year round on cubicles, where I maintained cleanliness by brushing beds and applying lime. Low yielders grazed outdoors during the summer months. The herd calved all year round and I assisted with heat detection, monitoring calving cows and rearing youngstock as replacement heifers.

I was responsible for accurate record keeping, treating sick calves and heifers, administering vaccinations and maintaining high standards of farm hygiene.

The farm also operated a small sheep enterprise with approximately 300 Texel x Mule ewes, which involved tasks such as moving sheep, managing three-strand electric fencing and supporting outdoor lambing.