Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit covers the functions required to prepare for and carry out the identification and marking of young animals and defines the standard required to: prepare appropriate identifying and marking sites and facilities to industry standards; operate and maintain equipment; determine identifying and marking methods; carry out identifying and marking operations; monitor animals behaviour post-marking for health and well-being.

Application of the unit 

This unit involves workers in the livestock industry who normally operate under limited supervision within enterprise guidelines.

Prerequisite units 

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Prepare to identify and mark animals

1.1. Equipment and materials for identifying and marking animals are selected and checked for correct operation according to manufacturer's specifications and enterprise requirements.

1.2. Suitable marking sites and facilities are identified and prepared according to enterprise requirements.

1.3. Animal preventative health treatments are prepared according to manufacturer's specifications and supervisor's instructions.

1.4. Hazards to health and safety are identified and safety concerns reported to supervisor.

2. Identify and mark animals

2.1. Suitable Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and clothing is selected, used and maintained according to Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) requirements.

2.2. Animals are safely mustered and young animals are identified, drafted and moved to marking site in readiness for identifying and marking.

2.3. Animal identifying and marking operations are safely carried out according to enterprise and animal welfare legislative requirements.

2.4. Environmental implications associated with identifying and marking animals are recognised, assessed and reported to the supervisor.

3. Complete identifying and marking operation

3.1. Animal count is conducted and accurately recorded according to enterprise requirements.

3.2. Animals are prepared and moved along a planned route without damage to person, livestock, property or environment.

3.3. Identifying and marking equipment, materials and facilities are cleaned and maintained according to OHS and enterprise requirements.

3.4. Equipment faults or malfunctions are detailed and reported according to enterprise requirements.

3.5. Animal residues and waste are disposed of according to OHS and enterprise environmental practices.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

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

Required skills 

• identify hazards and implement safe operating procedures
• handle animals in a safe and humane manner
• monitor animal behaviour and recognise abnormalities
• mother-up animals and their young
• apply contingency measures in the event of adverse weather conditions
• maintain identifying and marking sites, facilities and equipment to industry standards
• calculate and record animal numbers and marking operations
• demonstrate safe and environmentally responsible workplace practices
• read and interpret manufacturers specifications, work plans and Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs)
• communicate effectively and maintain accurate reports and records
• use numeracy skills to estimate, calculate and record routine workplace measures
• 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 

• components and functions of identifying and marking equipment and materials
• identifying and marking methods and techniques
• animal identification systems
• animal preventative health requirements and procedures
• animal behaviour and basic health and nutritional requirements
• environmental codes of practice with regard to animal production
• relevant provisions of OHS and animal welfare legislation.

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:

• prepare appropriate identifying and marking sites and facilities to industry standards
• operate and maintain equipment
• determine identifying and marking methods
• carry out identifying and marking operations
• monitor animal's behaviour post-marking for health and well-being.

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.

Livestock may include:

• cattle
• horses
• sheep
• pigs
• alpacas
• goats.

Identifying and marking may include:

• tagging
• tailing
• notching
• tattooing
• micro-chipping
• branding
• dehorning
• trimming eye teeth
• identifying abnormalities or faults and identifying and marking animals for culling.

Unit sector 

Livestock

Co-requisite units 

Competency field