Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit covers the process of routine maintenance of growing environments for livestock under production and defines the standard required to: administer vaccines if required; calculate and administer feeds of varying rates; recognise variations from normal in mortality, and behaviour; perform routine hygiene maintenance activities; adjust and monitor environmental lighting, temperature/humidity and air quality.

Application of the unit 

This unit applies to working under supervision within enterprise guidelines.

Prerequisite units 

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Maintain environment systems

1.1. Biosecurity procedures, including access to sheds and boot washing, are implemented and monitored.

1.2. Shed heating, cooling and ventilation systems are monitored in accordance with the standards of the establishment.

1.3. Litter and manure conditions are regularly monitored and changes reported.

1.4. Lighting programs specified for the production unit are maintained and variations notified.

1.5. Light globes are regularly cleaned and malfunctions notified.

1.6. Feed program is monitored, and feeding times and feed rate monitored when restricted feeding is practised. Malfunctions are recognised and notified.

1.7. Maintenance work is carried out according to enterprise Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) hazards identification, risk assessment and risk control measures.

1.8. Waterers in sheds are monitored and malfunctions are recognised and reported to supervisor in accordance with enterprise procedures.

2. Observe and assess livestock health

2.1. Livestock are checked regularly.

2.2. Incidence of ill health is recognised and appropriate action taken to notify and record according to establishment practice.

2.3. Disease prevention strategies appropriate to the unit are carried out as instructed, and in line with establishment practice and the Biosecurity Code.

3. Handle livestock

3.1. Livestock is handled in accordance with animal welfare code of practice, counted and identified accurately.

3.2. Injured, malformed and non-productive livestock is recognised and disposed of humanely according to establishment practice and the welfare code of practice.

3.3. Livestock is treated under direction of the unit supervisor and according to enterprise procedures.

3.4. Effects of treatment are assessed and reported according to enterprise procedures.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

This section describes the skills and knowledge required for this unit.

Required skills 

• identify hazards and follow safe work practices
• follow biosecurity procedures
• calibrate feed weigh cells
• recognise variations from normal in mortality, and behaviour
• perform routine hygiene maintenance activities as required by the employer or unit manager, and more frequently on demand
• adjust and monitor environmental lighting, temperature/humidity, and air quality
• use literacy skills to follow sequenced written instructions and record information accurately and legibly
• use oral communication skills/language competence to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation including questioning, active listening, asking for clarification and seeking advice from supervisor
• use interpersonal skills to relate to people from a range of social, cultural and ethnic backgrounds and with a range of physical and mental abilities.

Required knowledge 

• temperature/humidity and light requirements of different classes of livestock
• light control programs and equipment
• temperature/humidity control equipment
• ventilation control equipment
• feed programs for different classes and types of livestock
• hygiene practices and awareness
• enterprise and industry codes of practice
• OHS, environmental and animal welfare legislation and enterprise procedures.

EVIDENCE GUIDE 

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment 

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit 

The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to workplace operations and satisfy holistically all of the requirements of the performance criteria and required skills and knowledge and include achievement of the following:

• administer vaccines if required
• calculate and administer feeds of varying rates
• recognise variations from normal in mortality, and behaviour
• perform routine hygiene maintenance activities
• adjust and monitor environmental lighting, temperature/humidity, and air quality.

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

Competency requires the application of work practices under work conditions. Selection and use of resources for some worksites may differ due to the regional or enterprise circumstances.

RANGE STATEMENT 

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole.

Environments may include:

• those for intensive poultry and pig production.

Livestock checks may include:

• visually checked during a floor walk, picking up or handling stock for closer investigation.

Unit sector 

Livestock

Co-requisite units 

Competency field