King Charles III looking for a shepherd to watch his 3,000 royal sheep

By Izzy Hawksworth via SWNS

King Charles III is looking to hire a shepherd to care for 3,000 royal sheep.

Thousands of sheep have been introduced at his Sandringham Estate in Norfolk since he took over the running from his late father Prince Phillip in 2017.

He inherited the estate last month after Queen Elizabeth II died, and is now looking to hire a shepherd to look after his 3,000 sheep and 200 beef cattle.

The flock of Sandringham sheep supply lamb for a 'premium supermarket retailer' and they are fed on a 'forage-only diet.'

The estate has described the ideal candidate as someone who will "be able to uphold the highest standards of animal welfare" and has "experience in livestock husbandry."

They also want to hire someone who can "work effectively in a small team and be a team player both within the farm and wider estate operations."

The shepherd also must have their own working dog and have a full, clean UK driving license.

The job description on the Sandringham website says: "Sandringham Farm requires a skilled shepherd to join our small livestock team.

"The farm is approximately 6000 acres of organic land, comprising of 4000 acres of arable and 2000 acres of temporary leys and permanent grass for breeding ewes and beef cattle.

"The wider estate features forestry, game and public enterprises, offering a rich and varied work experience, but also requires consideration for and interaction with these areas.

"The 3000-strong Aberfield mule flock is self-replacing and produces finished lamb for a premium supermarket retailer.

"There is a strong emphasis on maternal, easy lambing genetics, and the use of technology to assist where appropriate.

"Ewes are lambed outdoors, and lambs are finished on a forage-only diet.

"A herd of shorthorn-based sucklers was established in 2021, with the aim of calving up to 200 cows within the next few years.

"The herd is housed in a new building with modern handling facilities, with an emphasis on safety and ease of operation.

"Again, all progeny is finished on-farm with 100% homegrown forage.

"Day to day shepherding will form the majority of this role with some assistance in winter housing and spring calving of the beef herd.

"A passion for livestock, an open mind, and a willingness to learn and develop alongside an innovative system will be critical to succeeding in this role."