Unit of competency

Modification History

Application

This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to facilitate and monitor animal reproduction in accordance with the facility breeding and/or reproduction management plan. The breeding program may be for natural or artificially assisted reproduction.

This unit applies to individuals who work in animal carer, keeper or aquarist roles, undertaking individual and team activities in small to large scale animal facilities. They perform work under broad direction and are required to take responsibility for their own work, including carrying out assigned tasks, organising processes and working to schedules.

All work must be carried out to comply with workplace procedures according to Commonwealth and state/territory health and safety and animal welfare regulations, legislation and standards that apply to the workplace.

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

Pre-requisite Unit

Nil

Unit Sector

Exhibited Animals (EXH)

Elements and Performance Criteria

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.

Unit Mapping Information

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

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 undertaken the following activities according to facility breeding or population management plan for at least two different animals:

• provided environments conducive to reproduction
• observed and recognised signs of behavioural and physical changes associated with mating, reproduction and birth or hatching process
• recorded data and maintained records for each animal.

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:

• facility animal population or reproduction management plan, including species-specific strategies
• principles and practices of animal reproduction monitoring, including:

• environmental processes that influence breeding, birth or hatching
• factors that impact or interfere with reproduction/breeding program
• seasonality and non-seasonality of reproduction

• reproductive cycle and anatomical structures and physiological features of sexual maturity in animals, including:

• puberty
• oestrus
• metamorphosis in amphibians and invertebrates
• parturition or hatching

• species-specific animal behaviours relating to reproduction, including:

• courtship and mating behaviours of males and females
• olfactory signals
• specific breeding calls
• changes in dietary habits, fattening up
• behaviours pre-birth and post-birth, hatching
• normal and abnormal animal behaviour

• facility procedures relevant to animal reproduction, including:

• managing animal interactions
• animal introduction procedures and planning
• safety interacting with animals during mating or breeding periods to avoid bites, kicks, scratches, envenomation and zoonoses
• hygiene and infection control

• species-specific animal husbandry requirements related to breeding animals, including:

• suitable environment for breeding
• suitable media to assist with birth or hatching
• housing requirements for mother and young, where relevant
• diet, nutritional and health requirements
• safeguards to maximise the survival of captive offspring

• data collection and record-keeping requirements.

Assessment Conditions

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

• physical conditions:

• an animal care workplace or an environment that accurately reflects a real workplace setting

• resources, equipment and materials:

• live animals
• equipment and resources typically available in an animal facility

• specifications:

• facility policies and procedures relating to animal reproduction

• relationships:

• co-workers and team members.

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