Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit covers supervising animal health programs and defines the standard required to: determine animal health issues; prepare and implement a work plan for animal health; coordinate staff, equipment and resources to supervise animal health programs; monitor the health and wellbeing of animals; and maintain accurate data records.

Application of the unit 

This unit applies to managers of animal production enterprises and covers the process of implementing and monitoring animal health programs.

Prerequisite units 

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Monitor and assess animal health

1.1. Regular observations are taken to assess animals' health according to the requirements of the organisation.

1.2. Symptoms of ill health and common diseases or parasite infestations are recognised and reported.

1.3. Sampling is carried out and testing arranged for internal parasites or diseases.

1.4. Unusual or suspected exotic disease outbreaks are referred for veterinary advice immediately.

1.5. Notifiable diseases are reported and all restrictions and treatment requirements are complied with.

1.6. Animal health status is recorded according to enterprise requirements.

1.7. Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) hazards are identified, risk assessed and suitable controls implemented.

1.8. Suitable personal protective equipment (PPE) is selected, used and maintained.

1.9. Animal welfare status is recorded according to enterprise and legislative requirements.

1.10. Deceased animals are disposed of according to organisational and environmental policies.

2. Implement preventative health strategies

2.1. Risks to animal health are identified, and strategies sourced, from the production plan.

2.2. A vaccination program is developed and implemented to control clostridial and other diseases.

2.3. Livestock prone to internal parasite build up are identified and the timing of treatments is planned out.

2.4. Strategies based around pasture spelling and rotations of different classes of livestock are implemented.

2.5. The health treatments for animals are planned using an integrated approach.

2.6. Drenches, vaccines and other stock medications are used according to manufacturer instructions and withholding periods are complied with.

2.7. Drench groups are rotated to minimise the risk of parasite resistance.

3. Record and review the animal health program

3.1. All treatments are recorded and an inventory is maintained of stock medicines.

3.2. Health issues are recorded and the results of tissue, organ and/or blood samples are recorded if applicable.

3.3. Records of health tests and animal health treatments, including animal production records, are used to review the animal health plan.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

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

Required skills 

• identify hazards and oversee safe work practices
• detect possibility of disease through parameters such as behaviour or length of time required to eat food
• recognise clinical symptoms (normal vs. abnormal)
• recognise abnormal physiological and behavioural signs in livestock
• undertake post-mortems and collect tissue, organ and blood samples
• administer vaccines and medications to animals
• recognise abnormal behavioural signs
• use literacy skills to read, interpret and follow organisational policies and procedures, develop sequenced written instructions, record information collected accurately and legibly, and select and apply procedures to a range of tasks
• use oral communication skills/language competence to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation, including questioning, active listening, asking for clarification, negotiating solutions and responding to a range of views
• use numeracy skills to estimate, calculate and record routine and more complex workplace measures and data
• use interpersonal skills to work with others and relate to people from a range of cultural, social and religious backgrounds and with a range of physical and mental abilities.

Required knowledge 

• storage conditions for a range of chemicals, including veterinary chemicals
• types of vaccines and how they work
• zoonotic diseases and mode of transmission
• animal anatomy and physiology for post-mortems, and the collection of tissue, organ and blood samples
• environmental controls and codes of practice applicable to the organisation, including biosecurity
• sound management practices and processes to minimise noise, odours, and debris from the livestock operations
• relevant legislation and regulations relating to waste and environment management, animal diseases and animal welfare
• relevant OHS legislation, regulations and codes of practice.

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:

• determine animals health issues
• prepare and implement a work plan for animal health
• coordinate staff, equipment and resources to supervise animal health programs
• monitor the health and wellbeing of animals
• maintain accurate data records.

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.

Animal health programs may include:

• those for sheep
• goats
• pigs
• horses
• alpacas
• deer
• poultry
• beef and dairy cattle.

Unit sector 

Livestock

Co-requisite units 

Competency field