Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit covers the process of applying preventative health treatments and other medications to livestock and defines the standard required to: select, use and maintain specialised animal health equipment; muster, move and handle livestock for health treatments; prepare treatment site; facilities and equipment; carry out livestock treatments; monitor effectiveness of treatments and provide follow up if required; maintain records of treatments.

Application of the unit 

This unit applies to workers in livestock enterprises that operate with some judgement and discretion, and would normally be carried out under minimal supervision within enterprise requirements and procedures.

Prerequisite units 

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Prepare for treatment of livestock

1.1. Equipment and materials for treating livestock are selected, checked for safe and sound operation and confirmed against work plan.

1.2. Livestock treatment site and facilities are prepared to industry standards in line with enterprise requirements.

1.3. Livestock treatments are prepared and confirmed against work plan

1.4. Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) hazards in the workplace are identified, risk assessed and risk controls are implemented.

2. Treat livestock

2.1. Livestock are mustered safely, yarded, controlled, inspected and identified for treatment in line with enterprise requirements.

2.2. Low risk operating procedures with regard to livestock handling are observed and implemented in line with enterprise requirements.

2.3. Dose rates are calculated and equipment calibrated and checked

2.4. Treatment is administered in accordance with manufacturer's specifications and enterprise requirements including animal welfare.

2.5. Environmental impacts associated with livestock husbandry practices are identified and minimised according to enterprise procedures.

3. Complete treatment process

3.1. Livestock are prepared and moved along planned route without damage to person, property or environment.

3.2. Equipment, materials and facilities used for treatments are cleaned, maintained and stored in line with manufacturer's specifications, OHS and enterprise requirements.

3.3. Livestock residues and waste are disposed of in line with enterprise requirements for OHS and environmental management.

4. Monitor effectiveness of treatment

4.1. Livestock are monitored post-treatment for signs of treatment effectiveness.

4.2. Abnormalities in livestock health and condition are recognised and treated appropriately.

4.3. Livestock treatment process and outcomes including withholding periods are detailed and recorded in line with enterprise requirements.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

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

Required skills 

• identify hazards and implement safe work practices
• select and utilise equipment and materials appropriate for treating requirements and match to work tasks
• assess and calculate herd/flock numbers, measure dosage and quantities.
• monitor livestock behaviour and recognise abnormalities
• administer preventative health treatments in accordance with work plan
• prepare, clean and maintain treatment site, facilities and equipment to industry standards
• muster, move and control livestock
• apply contingency measures for administering treatments in the event of adverse weather conditions
• carry out animal husbandry procedures
• provide due care and handle livestock humanely
• clean and maintain treatment equipment, site and facilities to industry standards
• communicate abnormalities, equipment faults and workplace hazards, report and maintain treatment records
• read and interpret manufacturers specifications, work and maintenance plans, and Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs)
• monitor and minimise impacts to the environment associated with livestock production, and the use and disposal of hazardous substances
• comply with OHS and animal welfare requirements
• use oral communication skills/language competence to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation, including questioning techniques, active listening, clarifying information and consulting with supervisors as required
• use numeracy skills to estimate, calculate and record routine workplace measures
• use interpersonal skills to work with and relate to people from a range of cultural, social and religious backgrounds and with a range of physical and mental abilities.

Required knowledge 

• equipment and materials for treating livestock, their components and functions
• livestock health treatments, procedures and methods
• livestock identification methods
• mustering and moving techniques
• livestock husbandry practices
• withholding periods for residues in meat, milk or wool
• livestock behaviour and basic health and nutritional requirements
• environmental impacts and minimisation measures associated with livestock production, and the use and disposal of hazardous substances
• hazards associated with handling livestock and veterinarian medicines and chemicals
• personal protective clothing and equipment and when and how it should be used and maintained
• enterprise policies with regard to treating livestock, recording and reporting routines relevant State/Territory legislation, regulations and codes of practice with regard to workplace OHS, animal welfare, and the use and control of hazardous substances
• procedures for cleaning and maintaining treatment equipment and materials.

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:

• select, use and maintain specialised animal health equipment
• muster, move and handle livestock for health treatments
• prepare treatment site, facilities and equipment
• carry out livestock treatments
• monitor effectiveness of treatments and provide follow up if required
• maintain records of treatments.

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:

• all types and breeds of livestock.

Treatments may include:

• medication including drenches, vaccines, supplements and prescribed medicines.

These may be administered by

• pour on liquids
• oral drenching
• bolus or capsule injection
• vaccinating
• injection with syringe.

Unit sector 

Livestock

Co-requisite units 

Competency field