The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included. |
Alternatives to ovariectomy (spaying) for management of heifers and cows may include: | lot feeding alternative selling options breeder segregation heifer-safe paddocks bull removal pregnancy diagnosis of heifers by veterinarians or accredited testers, with on-selling of empty heifers use of prostaglandins for heifers that are less than 4 months gestation prior to transport to a feedlot/live export depot therapeutic pregnancy control when available |
Pre-operative evaluation of cattle submitted for ovary dropping should include: | selection of cattle that are: surplus wet cows and heifers at least 4 weeks postpartum preferably well handled accustomed to being worked in yards and races empty or early pregnant (less than 4 months gestation) strong and present with a good BCS (greater than 2.5 out of 5) generally at or above a 180kg live weight (lower limit) not affected by heavy tick burdens not scheduled for dehorning within 4 weeks before or after spaying feed only curfewed for a minimum of 12 hours prior to the procedure but have continuous access to water identifying animals showing signs of disease, weakness or emaciation which should not be spayed by any technique |
Risks associated with DOT procedures may include: | fractious animals and those with poor temperaments animals with poor BCS extreme environmental conditions, for example: heat, cold, rain operator limitations for example: fatigue, hand size, lack of experience anaemia due to heavy worm or tick burdens pneumorectum (sucking air into the rectum) lack of feed curfew water curfew, dehydration poor equipment, yards and other necessary infrastructure inadequate spelling facilities Where such risks exist, it is recommended that the overall risks be assessed and risk mitigation put in place in the interests of animal welfare. In some cases the situation will be significant enough to be unmanageable and require deferral of the procedure. |
Weather conditions | Weather conditions for operations should be a fine, mild day. Weather conditions to be avoided include: excessively hot conditions which can increase bleeding and stress on cattle cold weather conditions which place additional stress on cattle wet or dusty conditions which increase the risk of contamination |
Equipment may include: | Essential equipment for performing DOT includes: cattle crush and race ovariotomes x 3 sizes (heifer, cow and large cow) plus spares disinfectant and wash buckets preferably with a lid to reduce dust contamination chlorhexidine or centrimide disinfectant shoulder-length gloves lubricant overalls/aprons safety boots and glasses earmarking pliers ear tagging pliers and tags diamond sharpener paper towelling Extra equipment may include: table and chair knives waterbottle/pannikin counter electric prodder (use should be kept to a minimum) hat/sunscreen |
Cattle crush must include: | a rear kick gate featuring: a recommended average height of 800mm the gap between the bottom of the kick gate and the floor of the crush and the bottom of the side gate and the floor of the crush should be no more than 20 mms side gates that are sheeted or closely railed up to 1 metre head bail solid non-slip floor squeeze a wide area that is dust and mud free around the crush effective protection for operators from cattle in same yard as crush |
Animal welfareconsiderations will include: | complying with relevant legislation, regulations concerned with: animal welfare (eg. Australian Animal Welfare Standards for Cattle (handling and management) the prevention of cruelty to animals adopting best practice recommendations as relevant in the Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for Cattle (handling and management) and in industry documents such as: industry codes of practice industry standards and protocols |
WHS standards may include: | applying appropriate manual handling techniques when handling loads, including livestock and equipment following safe operating procedures for: cleaning, disinfecting and sharpening instruments following personal and workplace hygiene procedures hazard identification and risk minimisation, including handling, use, storage, transport and disposal of chemicals and handling and disposal of biological wastes livestock catching, handling, controlling and restraining methods using materials and equipment in accordance with manufacturers’ instructions using infection control procedures to minimise risks associated with: zoonotic diseases release of infective agents (both animal and human) chemical spillage using personal protective equipment (PPE) including: clothing of a protective nature eye protection gloves items for sun and other protection safety footwear and leg protection surgical mask |
A high standard of hygiene will require: | equipment to be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before initial use, between procedures and each time they are changed for cleaning and sharpening disinfectant to be used in accordance with label instructions (MSDS) appropriate reprocessing of reusable equipment personal hygiene practices especially washing and drying hands (e.g. before and after animal contact) safe handling and disposal of clinical, related and general waste surface cleaning and management of blood and bodily fluid spills techniques to limit contamination use of personal protective equipment |
Common DOT procedural impediments may include, but are not limited to: | excessive animal movement the head of the ovariotome becoming caught in vaginal folds and deep vaginas difficulty in penetrating the vaginal wall the head of the ovariotome becoming caught in broad ligament (membrane obstructions) pneumorectum (wind sucking, ballooning of the rectum) difficulty locating one ovary or both ovaries after the ovariotome is in place difficulty severing the ovary small intestinal entanglement in the spay tool |
DOT procedures include: | administration of pain relief, where available appropriate restraint of the cow, avoiding where possible the use of electro-immobilisation as a form of restraint for the procedure (only to be used when beneficial to the health and wellbeing of the animal and/or the operator) a gloved hand being inserted in the rectum to manipulate the reproductive tract the ovariotome being introduced into the vagina and placed against the vaginal wall above the cervix the vaginal wall being pierced with the spearhead end and the ovariotome passed into the abdomen each ovary then being manipulated per rectum and placed in the oval hole of the ovariotome each ovary then being cut off by a slow backward pull on the ovariotome which draws the ovary into the cutting slot |
Identification earmarks or ear tags requirements include: | completed spay incomplete spay untoward event; should a mishap occur this needs to be identified that may require veterinary referral or humane euthanasia |
Post-spay management requirements include: | monitoring spayed cattle for a minimum of three days after the procedure for indications of complications such as: pain, haemorrhage, rectal perforation, intestinal lacerations, sepsis identifying situations requiring veterinary referral or humane euthanasia providing appropriate treatment for complications which may include antibiotics, analgesia, supportive care or euthanasia avoiding using paddocks with no shelter, little feed, or long distances to walk to water moving spayed cattle gently and calmly and avoiding walking them long distances (more than 5km) to paddocks familiarising cattle with a watering point avoiding forced walks or trucking long distances for approximately 10 days after the procedure organising/conducting post-mortems in deceased animals to determine the cause of death for continuous improvement of the technique |
Documentation and records may include: | accurate animal counts earmark and tagging system identifying spayed animal and operator Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) |