Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit covers the process required to monitor animal health, wellbeing and welfare during gestation and defines the standard required to: observe livestock health and wellbeing from joining; maintain appropriate nutritional and environmental requirements; recognise and report abnormalities for remedial action; provide a safe and secure environment for the promotion of the welfare and wellbeing of pregnant animals through to birthing.

Application of the unit 

This unit normally involves working under routine supervision within enterprise guidelines.

Prerequisite units 

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Check health status of animals

1.1. Condition and health status of animals is checked and confirmed against enterprise health strategies and records.

1.2. Signs of poor health and condition or abnormal behaviour are recognised and reported to the supervisor for remedial action.

1.3. Preventative health treatments are arranged and administered according to manufacturer specifications and the supervisor's instructions.

1.4. Existing and potential hazards in the workplace are identified and risk is assessed and controlled according to Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) requirements.

1.5. Environmental implications associated with production are identified, assessed and reported to the supervisor.

2. Identify pregnant animals

2.1. Animals are identified and separated on basis of pregnancy status according to enterprise guidelines.

2.2. Dry animals are identified and procedures implemented according to enterprise requirements.

2.3. Additional assistance required for assessing pregnancy status is reported to the supervisor for remedial action.

3. Feed pregnant animal

3.1. Nutritional needs of pregnant animals are identified and confirmed against the feeding plan according to enterprise requirements.

3.2. Animals with special feeding needs are identified and given preferential feeding, and are recorded according to enterprise requirements.

3.3. Supplementary feeding is implemented as required and recorded according to enterprise requirements.

3.4. A safe and secure environment for pregnant animals is maintained according to enterprise requirements.

3.5. Handling is conducted with minimum stress and discomfort to the animals without excessive yarding or shedding according to animal welfare and enterprise requirements.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

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

Required skills 

• identify hazards and follow safety directions
• administer preventative health treatments
• calculate animal numbers, measure feed, assess rate and frequency of feeding, and calculate animal gestation
• carry out basic repairs to paddocks, shelter, and housing
• communicate orally and in writing, animal behaviour and identified abnormalities
• control environmental impacts associated with animal production
• dispose of sharps, other contaminated items and unused prepared chemicals or medication safely and in an environmentally correct manner
• handle pregnant animals with due care
• observe and accurately report animal behaviour
• observe local climatic conditions
• 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 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 

• effects of adverse weather conditions and inadequate nutrition on pregnant animals and their newborn
• effect of local climatic conditions on the timing of shearing, separating and transporting pregnant animals
• environment codes of practice with regard to animal production
• handling techniques for dry and pregnant animals
• health and nutritional requirements for pregnant animals
• housing requirements for intensively produced animals
• livestock identification methods
• OHS and animal welfare legislative requirements
• pregnant animals behaviour and abnormalities
• pregnancy checking and confirmation procedures (including scanning)
• preventative health treatments, procedures and methods.

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:

• observe livestock health and wellbeing from joining
• maintain appropriate nutritional and environmental requirements
• recognise and report abnormalities for remedial action
• provide a safe and secure environment for the promotion of the welfare and wellbeing of pregnant animals through to birthing.

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
• sheep
• goats
• horses
• alpacas.

Unit sector 

Livestock

Co-requisite units 

Competency field