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Unit of competency details

ACMEQU501 - Manage horse nutrition and feeding plans (Release 2)

Summary

Usage recommendation:
Current
Mapping:
MappingNotesDate
Supersedes ACMHBR501 - Manage horse nutritionRedesigned unit merging content of ACMPHR504 Manage equine nutrition, and ACMHBR501 Manage horse nutrition 17/Feb/2022
Supersedes ACMPHR504 - Manage equine nutritionRedesigned unit merging content of ACMPHR504 Manage equine nutrition, and ACMHBR501 Manage horse nutrition 17/Feb/2022

Release Status:
Current
Releases:
ReleaseRelease date
2 (this release) 29/Mar/2022
(View details for release 1) 18/Feb/2022

Companion volumes:
Unit of competency Assessment requirements

Delivery:
Find RTOs approved to deliver this unit of competency.

Training packages that include this unit

Qualifications that include this unit

Classifications

SchemeCodeClassification value
ASCED Module/Unit of Competency Field of Education Identifier 050105 Animal Husbandry  

Classification history

SchemeCodeClassification valueStart dateEnd date
ASCED Module/Unit of Competency Field of Education Identifier 050105 Animal Husbandry  27/Apr/2022 
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Unit of competency

Modification History

Release

Comments

Release 2

This version released with ACM Animal Care and Management Training Package Version 5.1.

Release 1

This version released with ACM Animal Care and Management Training Package Version 5.0.

Application

This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge to manage the nutritional requirements of horses, including feeding plan development, implementation and monitoring, selection of feed and pasture for horses, and responses to nutrition-related disorders and specific needs. It applies to all horse industry sectors, including training and competition centres, agistment centres and riding schools.

The unit applies to individuals who have responsibility for management of the nutritional requirements of a broad range of horses. They work independently within organisational guidelines, analyse information, solve routine and at times complex problems and convey information and skills to others.

Commonwealth and state/territory health and safety and animal welfare legislation, regulations and codes of practice relevant to interacting with horses apply to workers in this industry. Requirements vary between industry sectors and jurisdictions.

No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

Pre-requisite Unit

Nil

Unit Sector

Equine (EQU)

Elements and Performance Criteria

Elements

Performance Criteria

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1. Determine nutritional requirements of horses

1.1 Access information on horse nutritional requirements, and indicators and consequences of nutrient deficiency and dietary imbalances

1.2 Analyse and calculate the value and composition of available feed and pastures

1.3 Determine nutritional requirements of horses, taking into consideration class, life stage, exercise regime and workplace activity

1.4 Assess body condition and nutritional requirements of individual or groups of horses

2. Develop diets and feeding plans for horses

2.1 Formulate effective feeding plans incorporating rations, schedule and methods

2.2 Design feed charts specifying rations for individual or groups of horses

2.3 Adapt feeding plans to respond to variations in nutritional requirements and seasonal conditions

3. Manage horse pasture grazing

3.1 Analyse nutritional value of common pasture species and weeds, and seasonal changes in availability, digestibility and nutritional value

3.2 Monitor and manage chemical control of weeds and toxic plants

3.3 Establish grazing practices to optimise horse nutrition and welfare requirements

3.4 Monitor grazing practices and plant growth stages to manage pasture plant growth and environmental requirements

4. Manage implementation of horse diets and feeding plans

4.1 Apply a cost-effective approach to sourcing and supplying required nutrients

4.2 Implement safe, secure and hygienic storage of feed ingredients

4.3 Oversee supply of rations to horses according to feeding plan schedule and requirements

4.4 Implement safety procedures for feeding horses, covering different locations and horse combinations

4.5 Implement feeding methods and placement of feed, to support natural feeding behaviours and access for horses

4.6 Monitor horses to confirm access to and consumption of feed

4.7 Confirm feeding records and feed orders are maintained, monitored and prepared according to workplace requirements

5. Evaluate horse diets and feeding plans

5.1 Monitor and document reactions to changes in feed types, ingredients or schedules

5.2 Monitor horse health for signs of inadequate nutrition or nutrition-related diseases

5.3 Develop and implement a plan to manage documented adverse reactions to rations, or signs of poor nutrition

5.4 Monitor, review and record feeding plans for individual or groups of horses and implement improvements and adjustments as required

Foundation Skills

This section describes those language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills that are essential for performance in this unit of competency but are not explicit in the performance criteria.

Skill

Description

Reading
  • Research, interpret and analyse textual information about horse nutrition and feed from a range of sources

Writing
  • Prepare logically structured and sequenced plans and instructions in print-based and/or digital formats

Numeracy
  • Calculate quantities, volume and weight relevant to rations and horse feed
  • Use mathematical concepts to calculate nutrient budgets, portions and costs
  • Sequence and adjust feeding schedules

Unit Mapping Information

Code and title current version

Code and title previous version

Comments

Equivalence status

ACMEQU501 Manage horse nutrition and feeding plans Release 2

ACMEQU501 Manage horse nutrition and feeding plans Release 1

Updated to correct merged unit references - unit now correctly maps to ACMPHR504 Manage equine nutrition, and ACMHBR501 Manage horse nutrition

Equivalent

ACMEQU501 Manage horse nutrition and feeding plans Release 2

ACMPHR504 Manage equine nutrition

Redesigned unit merging content of ACMPHR504 Manage equine nutrition, and ACMHBR501 Manage horse nutrition

Not equivalent

Links

Companion Volumes, including Implementation Guides, are available at VETNet: - https://vetnet.gov.au/Pages/TrainingDocs.aspx?q=b75f4b23-54c9-4cc9-a5db-d3502d154103

 

Assessment requirements

Modification History

Release

Comments

Release 2

This version released with ACM Animal Care and Management Training Package Version 5.1.

Release 1

This version released with ACM Animal Care and Management Training Package Version 5.0.

Performance Evidence

An individual demonstrating competency must satisfy all of the elements and performance criteria in this unit.

There must be evidence that the individual has:

  • managed the nutritional requirements and feeding plans, for individual horse or group of horses, to address three of the following:
  • weight loss
  • metabolic condition
  • spelling – not in full work
  • specific health problem.

In doing the above, the individual must have:

  • assessed and scored body condition for each horse
  • formulated and documented feeding plans for individual or group of horses
  • organised supply and storage of rations
  • optimised nutritional content for pasture grazing
  • implemented, monitored and evaluated the feeding plans.

Knowledge Evidence

An individual must be able to demonstrate the knowledge required to perform the tasks outlined in the elements and performance criteria of this unit. This includes knowledge of:

  • main structures and functions of horse digestive system, including rate of passage of different nutrients and feedstuffs
  • credible sources of information regarding horse nutrition, feeding and related health issues
  • key nutritional requirements, relevant to class, life stage, exercise regime and workplace activity
  • indicators and consequences of nutrient deficiency, dietary imbalances and metabolic conditions
  • methods for assessing and scoring body condition
  • feed types and sources, including:
  • nutrient value and composition
  • pasture species and plants poisonous to horses
  • feeding systems and storage methods
  • feed suppliers
  • feeding plans, including schedule and ration formulation methods
  • horse feeding behaviour relevant to managing nutrition, including:
  • herd behaviour
  • individual horse behaviour
  • young horses and access to feed
  • pasture management techniques, including:
  • suitable plants
  • chemical control of weeds and toxic plants
  • environmental impact of horse grazing behaviour on pastures
  • workplace record-keeping requirements
  • relevant regulations, codes of practice and workplace procedures relating to nutrition and feeding horses, including:
  • work, health and safety and safe work practices
  • animal welfare principles, practices and ethics
  • workplace hygiene, infection control and biosecurity requirements.

Assessment Conditions

Assessment of the skills in this unit of competency must take place under the following conditions:

  • physical conditions:
  • an equine workplace or an environment that accurately represents workplace conditions
  • resources, equipment and materials:
  • various horses with different nutritional needs as specified in the performance evidence
  • range of feed and pasture for horses
  • workplace recording and feed plan formats
  • specifications:
  • information about different feeds and supplements, or technology to access the information.

The Companion Volume:User Guide: Safety in Equine Training provides advice and sample templates to assist assessors with the risk assessments that should be undertaken to help ensure the safety of all involved in the assessment.

Assessors of this unit must satisfy the requirements for assessors in applicable vocational education and training legislation, frameworks and/or standards.

Links

Companion Volumes, including Implementation Guides, are available at VETNet: - https://vetnet.gov.au/Pages/TrainingDocs.aspx?q=b75f4b23-54c9-4cc9-a5db-d3502d154103

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