At just 20 years old, Jorja Ayers is making her mark in the dairy industry as herd manager at Uruwhenua Farm, just outside Tākaka.
The well-established dairy farm, which has been running since 1947, milks 730 cows peak through a 54-bale rotary shed, and Jorja is loving every minute of it.
Originally from Motueka and not from a farming background, Jorja always had a passion for animals. That love led her into a Primary Trades programme during her time at Motueka High School, where she first tried working in a vet clinic.
“It was cool, but I didn’t like being inside all day,” she laughs. Her next Primary Trades placement at Paratiho Farms in Upper Moutere opened new doors. “I got to experience sheep, beef, and deer farming, and I realised I really liked being outdoors and hands-on.” She also studied horticulture and agricultural science through a school programme, which helped shape her next steps.
Uncertain about a specific career path, Jorja began browsing Farm Source job listings and spotted a dairy assistant role on the West Coast near Pike River. With no prior dairy experience—but a boyfriend (at the time) living in the area—she decided to give it a shot and was thrilled to land the job.
“I was really excited! And once there I enjoyed working with the cows,” She adds. Unfortunately, a year in the Contract Milker Jorja was working under exited farming and moved to Australia. Jorja started looking for a new dairy role—ideally closer to family in Motueka. That’s when she landed the Herd Manager role at Uruwhenua Farm.
This place is what I thought farming would be like,” Jorja says. “I’ve learnt so much. Before I came here, I didn’t know how to treat lame cows, and this season there have been more cases than usual. So, I’ve learned how to manage and treat lame cows as well as good record keeping”. Another highlight for Jorja has been calving.
“I actually love calving—I find mating more stressful!” she admits. “We have a really quick but busy calving season here. Last season, we calved 360 calves in the first ten days. “From that, 215 were kept as replacement calves. Jorja adds that they also have beef stock and the calves last season were Charolais cross “, Which took a bit of muscle to pick them up.”
Jorja is currently completing her Level 4 Primary ITO qualification and is soaking up every learning opportunity that comes her way. She says one of the most eye-opening parts of the job is how complex farming really is. “People outside of farming often don’t realise what’s involved. You have to be a mechanic, a vet, a pasture manager, a scientist—it’s way more than just milking cows.”
One of her favourite aspects of the job is working on a farm that embraces animal welfare and modern technology. “We’ve got automatic cup removers, automatic teat sprayers and plant washer, and we use Protrack in the shed, plus Halter cow technology.” Halter, a GPS-enabled virtual fencing system controlled by a smartphone app, has been a game-changer, Jorja says.
“It’s basically like having another staff member. It’s incredible and has really helped when people are off sick or injured.” The farm recently hosted a Halter open day for other Golden Bay farmers, and the response was strong. “A few farms are now really keen to get on board. I think we’ll see more and more using Halter soon.”
Jorja is thinking long-term when it comes to her farming journey. “I’d love to get into contracting or sharemilking one day. I enjoy learning and trying new things, and I’ve realised that in dairy farming, you learn something new every day—no matter how long you’ve been doing it. I’m grateful to be on a farm that supports that, and I’m excited about the future.”
