Rank: Super forum user 
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Not sure if anyone is in agriculture. I have a friend who has started work at a farm. She was hired on the prmise of being office staff. But as time progressed, within months she was then told to help out on the yard. She has no formal agriculture training. But she's been asked to tag calves just after birth and to inject cattle with some drugs. (not sure which) When she makes any form of protest the manager/owner goes toe to toe and balls her out that she is there to work and to do as he says. She is no timid young lady but she does find it intimidating at times. She is looking for a new job but doesn't want to cause to many waves where she currently is.
So my questions are 1. Do you have to complete a course/gain a qual to tag cattle? 2. Do you need to complerte a course/gain a qualification to inject cattle?
I think the answer to both is yes, but I can't find it written down. Don't really want to join a farming forum to ask just 2 questions. I have no relationship with the farm other than a friend works there.
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Rank: Forum user
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Hi Mark, I’d be fairly confident formal training does exist, but I think farming is one of those industries where only a small percentage of often highly skilled workers actually have the certificate to back it up. It’s still very much a trade passed down through generations, often within families. My kids ride horses so I’ve seen my fair share of farms, and I often find myself thinking, How do they get away with half the stuff they do? But ultimately, this is probably a HR issue which is another thing that’s pretty much non-existent on most farms. My advice, If she’s unhappy in the role and it’s not what she applied for or expected forget being the nicer person, especially if "toe to toe" is another way to say shouting / abusive, your friend should just walk away. Waves or no waves. Edited by user 07 August 2025 09:03:16(UTC)
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 1 user thanked Jonny95 for this useful post.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Originally Posted by: Jonny95  Hi Mark, I’d be fairly confident formal training does exist, but I think farming is one of those industries where only a small percentage of often highly skilled workers actually have the certificate to back it up. It’s still very much a trade passed down through generations, often within families. My kids ride horses so I’ve seen my fair share of farms, and I often find myself thinking, How do they get away with half the stuff they do? But ultimately, this is probably a HR issue which is another thing that’s pretty much non-existent on most farms. My advice, If she’s unhappy in the role and it’s not what she applied for or expected forget being the nicer person, especially if "toe to toe" is another way to say shouting / abusive, your friend should just walk away. Waves or no waves.
I've tried to convince her to walk, but a mortgage dictates otherwise. And yes toe to toe is a polite way of saying he shouts abuse, belittles and dominates. Not sure if he does it to male staff but I doubt it.
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Rank: Forum user
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Hi - I come from a farming (small) family background and there was little or no H&S involved, instructions from a wide set of grandparents. Although 40+ years ago since I did any tagging / injecting / horn removal / slaughtering etc. I'm sure I could still do i, but will never search for a training certificate. Perhaps the industry has moved on and more farmers are aware of H&S these days, but for lone workers you have to have your wits around you and get on with life, in all weathers, temperatures, conditions I would enquire at some local agricultural college to see if they could provide better advice, but for tagging / injecting a 30 minute session with an experinced person may be more than enough.
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1 user thanked Evans38004 for this useful post.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Hi Mark - formal training could be got via LANTRA but the HSE guidance is fairly vague as to what workers need training in unless e.g. using chainsaws or plant. See Farmwise HSG270 Might even be better to start looking at the HSENI website rather than HSE in Great Britain, as HSENI generally follows HSE but has been slower to follow the path of dumbing down on guidance to appease those advocating deregulation. Easy to say someone should walk away from a substandard employer, much more difficult to do if there is are bills to be paid.
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Rank: Super forum user
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It is hard for her, she has been there a year or just over and lost almost 15kg in weight. She looks continually sad. But a mortgage needs paying so she has to stay, but she has had a couple of job interviews so lets hope things change for her. Will look at the NI site to see if they can offer any guidance.
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1 user thanked Mark-W for this useful post.
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