Michael Laing Email & Phone Number

A broiler breeder farm, day old to death facility with 25,000 birds, which includes 9 small (460 m²) open sided houses (heated using 150 kW coal burning heatcos) and on-site cold rooms and a farm packing cold room for fertile hatching eggs.Core Overview:­Managed all operations to ensure bird health and welfare remained the main priority; maintained egg health to ensure healthy chicks at hatch dates. ­Oversaw daily business activities; improved overall business functions,… Show more A broiler breeder farm, day old to death facility with 25,000 birds, which includes 9 small (460 m²) open sided houses (heated using 150 kW coal burning heatcos) and on-site cold rooms and a farm packing cold room for fertile hatching eggs.Core Overview:­Managed all operations to ensure bird health and welfare remained the main priority; maintained egg health to ensure healthy chicks at hatch dates. ­Oversaw daily business activities; improved overall business functions, managed budgets, developed strategic plans, created policies, and communicated business goals.­Directed and provided on-the-job training to a team of 24 employees. Key Roles & Accountabilities:­Conducted daily site visits, managing challenges to keep as close as possible to farm predictions and breeder standards.­Managed the birds’ growth profile with weekly weighing and feed adjustment.­Supervised procedures for egg collections and storage. ­Followed biosecurity and vaccination programs set out by a veterinarian, ensuring vaccine handling storage and usage were done to the highest standards.­Planned feeding schedule and ordered feed for the different rearing and laying stages. ­Monitored hatch and fertility data supplied by clients.­Performed daily post-mortems to identify any possible early disease outbreaks.­Owned depletion management function. ­Implemented findings / recommendations resulting from workshop and infrastructure audits.­Prepared and conducted end-of-flock report and audit.­Oversaw general farm maintenance such as boreholes and water reticulation.­Communicated regularly with and updated clients. ­Reported to General Manager and CEO. Show less

Rohallion is a 3000-hectare farm situated on the Lesotho border next to Wepener – with 25 hectares of new Lucerne under Agrico centre pivots which were originally under flood irrigation. The farm runs along the Lesotho border for 12 km and along the Caledon River for ± 6 km. It has another 2 farms (Mon Repos 1500 ha and Jammerberg 750 ha) within its borders. Apart from this farm is a small 460-hectare farm 25 km away called Springfield – with 40 hectares under flood irrigation. Both farms are… Show more Rohallion is a 3000-hectare farm situated on the Lesotho border next to Wepener – with 25 hectares of new Lucerne under Agrico centre pivots which were originally under flood irrigation. The farm runs along the Lesotho border for 12 km and along the Caledon River for ± 6 km. It has another 2 farms (Mon Repos 1500 ha and Jammerberg 750 ha) within its borders. Apart from this farm is a small 460-hectare farm 25 km away called Springfield – with 40 hectares under flood irrigation. Both farms are used to breed beef cattle and produce Lucerne. Before the centre pivots could be built, all fields had to be made level. Core Overview:­Oversaw the care and maintenance of 490 cattle and harvesting of lucerne. ­Set up and managed feed mill used to produce pellets and licks for ruminants; worked with AFMA (Animal Feed Manufacturers Association) to produce minimal use licks.­Managed a 10-member team, promoting an environment of skill and knowledge sharing and later managed a team of 12 who worked in shift patterns at the Feed Mill. Key Roles & Accountabilities:­Set daily, monthly, and annual goals and budgets and developed strategic action plans on how to achieve them. ­Scheduled and supervised vaccinations and inoculations of the animals. ­Planned harvesting / cutting of lucerne - required very strategic and accurate planning to beat the weather and reduce leaf loss on the crop.­Repaired equipment, machinery, and irrigation when needed.­Gained knowledge and practical skill in welding on different types of metals such as cast iron and galvanised steel.­Performed financial administrative duties and prepared and submitted daily / weekly reports. Feed Mill­Controlled stock moving in and out of the farm; planned for seasonal products and year-round products.­Partnered with clients to improve production and quality of the product.­ ­[Kindly be advised, further details available upon request (Comprehensive CV)]. Show less

A 280-hectare dairy farm in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands with a total of 900 cows from heifers to milk cows. Summer rainfall was up to 800mms with some scattered showers during winter. Pastures covered 140 hectares of the property with the remainder being used for growing maize for silage and oats with stooling rye as a winter cover crop. During summer, the Urea application rate varied from 80-100 kgs per hectare. Core Overview:­Managed all steps of maize growth, which included… Show more A 280-hectare dairy farm in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands with a total of 900 cows from heifers to milk cows. Summer rainfall was up to 800mms with some scattered showers during winter. Pastures covered 140 hectares of the property with the remainder being used for growing maize for silage and oats with stooling rye as a winter cover crop. During summer, the Urea application rate varied from 80-100 kgs per hectare. Core Overview:­Managed all steps of maize growth, which included planting, fertilizing, watering, and harvesting crops.­Oversaw the milk production process; cared for the cows to make sure they remained healthy and maintained their pastures and land. ­Led two groups of staff members (farm and dairy). Farm staff were on 12 days on 2 days off rotation – farm staff group included 2 drivers, 2 dragline staff members, 2 calf girls, 1 member of staff that monitored all fencing (electric and permanent), and 2 staff members who would help where needed. Dairy staff were on 25 days on 5 days off rotation – dairy staff group included 6 members of staff; 2 helping to push and select cattle if needed, and 4 milking. Handled all staff issues and emergencies. Key Roles & Accountabilities:­Utilised Amazone U-WX fertiliser spreader at a width of 18 metres for monthly applications; calculated, recorded, and ensured correct amounts were being added to pastures. ­Applied Roundup® and pre and post-emergence pesticides at rates varying from 2-8 litres a hectare.­Operated John Deere 6320 with a Quicke loader on it; loaded bales and silage into a 10 cubic metre silage wagon and fed it out to milk cows, dry cows, or pre and post AI heifers.­Performed calibrations on a 10-metre boom sprayer, 16-row no-till John Deere box planter, and the Amazone fertiliser spreader.­Operated Valtra N103 with a Trimble EZ-Guide 250 system.­[Kindly be advised, further details available upon request (Comprehensive CV)]. Show less

A Grandparent operation in Dealesville with a hatchery and farm at the employee’s disposal.Core Overview:­Underwent hatchery management. ­Managed 9 staff members. Key Roles & Accountabilities:­Gained experience and knowledge about egg storage, incubation, hatching, processing, and the importance of mixing and applying vaccines. ­Attended meetings and provided weekly reports regarding concerns and changes. ­Supported the implementation of… Show more A Grandparent operation in Dealesville with a hatchery and farm at the employee’s disposal.Core Overview:­Underwent hatchery management. ­Managed 9 staff members. Key Roles & Accountabilities:­Gained experience and knowledge about egg storage, incubation, hatching, processing, and the importance of mixing and applying vaccines. ­Attended meetings and provided weekly reports regarding concerns and changes. ­Supported the implementation of streamlined operations to increase efficiencies and output.­Exposed to setter, hatcher, and general hatchery maintenance. ­Performed calibrations to incubator / setter under the supervision of the maintenance manager.­Performed chick processing.­Graded eggs and saw to correct storage and handling. ­Reported to Hatchery Manager and General Manager. Show less

Performed parent stock breeder management.Reared flock through to depletion at 65 weeks.Achieved breeder standards.Peak production was at 89% throughout all 3 houses of 6900 females with a starting mating ratio of 11.5%.Fertility was never below 89% and had very few complaints from the hatchery and customers about abnormal 7-day mortalities.Performed various duties; vaccinations rearing and breeder farms, daily reports, grading, turning litter, collecting… Show more Performed parent stock breeder management.Reared flock through to depletion at 65 weeks.Achieved breeder standards.Peak production was at 89% throughout all 3 houses of 6900 females with a starting mating ratio of 11.5%.Fertility was never below 89% and had very few complaints from the hatchery and customers about abnormal 7-day mortalities.Performed various duties; vaccinations rearing and breeder farms, daily reports, grading, turning litter, collecting eggs, packing egg trucks, weighing feed, feeding, post-mortems.Cared for 3 laying flocks which were post, pre, and peak with regards to production.Studied with maintenance manager to learn basic management on and in poultry houses. Show less

Second harvest completed.Assisted with cleaning out all the grain barns and preparing all equipment for the harvest of wheat, barley, and canola (oilseed rape) that had grown on the 700-ha farm with pastures for hay.Serviced the combine harvester, all tractors, and 2 forklifts.Operated a 200 hp new Holland with a 15-tonne grain trailer and forklifts (to load grain onto trucks and into the dryer).Performed spraying and fertilising.Maintained and operated… Show more Second harvest completed.Assisted with cleaning out all the grain barns and preparing all equipment for the harvest of wheat, barley, and canola (oilseed rape) that had grown on the 700-ha farm with pastures for hay.Serviced the combine harvester, all tractors, and 2 forklifts.Operated a 200 hp new Holland with a 15-tonne grain trailer and forklifts (to load grain onto trucks and into the dryer).Performed spraying and fertilising.Maintained and operated dryer.Utilised New Holland TM 175, 15-tonne trailers, Merlo and JCB all-terrain loaders. Show less

Oversaw general care for 80 horses.Mucked out stables and fed horses.Conducted long-reining.Operated tractor and forklift.

First harvest completed on 2500 ha farm with summer and winter wheat, barley, and canola (oilseed rape).Cleaned all equipment and machinery.Serviced and filled the combine harvester.Operated grain cart and dryer.Assisted with cultivations such as ploughing, power harrowing, and rolling.Utilised Case 9120, 45ft flex header, 1998 John Deere 6910, 15-ton trailer.

Supplied most of the major chain supermarkets in Scotland. Picked strawberries.Served as a packer in the cold room.Loaded trucks.

Machinery Operators Course

Certificate In Hatchery Management

Certificate In Breeder Management

Senior Certificate / Matric