Assessor Resource

AHCLSK409
Supervise animal health programs

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: April 2024


This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to supervise animal health programs.

This unit applies to managers of animal production enterprises and covers the process of implementing and monitoring animal health programs.

All work must be carried out to comply with workplace procedures, work health and safety, animal welfare and biosecurity legislation and codes of practice and sustainability practices.

This unit applies to individuals who take responsibility for their own work and for the quality of the work of others within known parameters. They use discretion and judgement in the selection, allocation and use of available resources and provide and communicate solutions to a range of predictable and sometimes unpredictable problems.

All units of competency dealing with animals in the AHC Training Package have the requirements for animals to be handled humanely to minimise stress and discomfort.

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

You may want to include more information here about the target group and the purpose of the assessments (eg formative, summative, recognition)


Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

Element

Performance criteria

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1. Monitor and assess animal health

1.1 Conduct regular observations to assess animals' health

1.2 Recognise and report symptoms of ill health and common diseases or parasite infestations

1.3 Carry out sampling and arrange testing for internal parasites or diseases where required

1.4 Refer unusual or suspected exotic disease outbreaks for veterinary advice in line with biosecurity legislation and enterprise policies

1.5 Report notifiable diseases and comply with all restrictions and treatment requirements

1.6 Record animal health status

1.7 Identify work health and safety hazards, assess risks and implement and monitor suitable controls

1.8 Select, use and maintain appropriate hygiene measures and suitable personal protective equipment (PPE)

1.9 Monitor and record animal welfare status in line with enterprise and legislative requirements

1.10 Dispose of deceased animals according to environmental policies

2. Implement preventative health strategies

2.1 Identify risks to animal health, and source strategies, from the production plan, relevant expert or specialist consultant where applicable

2.2 Develop and implement a vaccination program to control clostridial and other diseases

2.3 Identify livestock prone to internal parasite build up and plan out the timing of treatments

2.4 Implement or research pest and disease control strategies based around pasture spelling and rotations of different classes of livestock

2.5 Plan the health treatments for animals using an integrated approach

2.6 Use drenches, vaccines and other stock medications according to manufacturer instructions and comply with withholding periods

2.7 Rotate drench groups to minimise the risk of parasite resistance

3. Record and review the animal health program

3.1 Record all treatments and maintain an inventory of stock medicines

3.2 Record health issues and record the results of tissue, organ and blood samples if applicable

3.3 Use records of health tests and animal health treatments, including animal production records, to review the animal health plan

The candidate must be assessed on their ability to integrate and apply the performance requirements of this unit in a workplace setting. Performance must be demonstrated consistently over time and in a suitable range of contexts.

The candidate must provide evidence that they can:

identify hazards, assess risks and implement and monitor safe work practices and appropriate hygiene procedures

monitor the health and wellbeing of animals

detect possibility of disease through parameters such as loss of bodyweight behaviour or length of time required to eat food

recognise clinical symptoms (normal vs. abnormal)

recognise abnormal physiological and behavioural signs in livestock

collect samples for testing for internal parasites and diseases

implement preventative health strategies

administer vaccines and medications to animals

maintain records associated with animal health programs

implement relevant biosecurity and animal welfare practices

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:

symptoms of common livestock diseases and parasite infestations

storage conditions for a range of chemicals, including veterinary chemicals

types of vaccines and how they work

zoonotic diseases and their mode of transmission

animal anatomy and physiology relevant to the collection of tissue, organ, blood and other biological samples in live and dead animals and the conduct of post-mortems

relevant biosecurity requirements

management practices and processes to minimise noise, odours, and debris from the livestock operations

relevant legislation, regulations and codes of practice relating to the use of veterinary medicines, animal diseases, animal welfare and waste and environmental management,

relevant work health and safety legislation, regulations and codes of practice

Competency is to be assessed in the work place or simulated environments that accurately reflect performance in a real workplace setting.

Assessors must satisfy current standards for RTOs.

Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assingnment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)

Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

Element

Performance criteria

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1. Monitor and assess animal health

1.1 Conduct regular observations to assess animals' health

1.2 Recognise and report symptoms of ill health and common diseases or parasite infestations

1.3 Carry out sampling and arrange testing for internal parasites or diseases where required

1.4 Refer unusual or suspected exotic disease outbreaks for veterinary advice in line with biosecurity legislation and enterprise policies

1.5 Report notifiable diseases and comply with all restrictions and treatment requirements

1.6 Record animal health status

1.7 Identify work health and safety hazards, assess risks and implement and monitor suitable controls

1.8 Select, use and maintain appropriate hygiene measures and suitable personal protective equipment (PPE)

1.9 Monitor and record animal welfare status in line with enterprise and legislative requirements

1.10 Dispose of deceased animals according to environmental policies

2. Implement preventative health strategies

2.1 Identify risks to animal health, and source strategies, from the production plan, relevant expert or specialist consultant where applicable

2.2 Develop and implement a vaccination program to control clostridial and other diseases

2.3 Identify livestock prone to internal parasite build up and plan out the timing of treatments

2.4 Implement or research pest and disease control strategies based around pasture spelling and rotations of different classes of livestock

2.5 Plan the health treatments for animals using an integrated approach

2.6 Use drenches, vaccines and other stock medications according to manufacturer instructions and comply with withholding periods

2.7 Rotate drench groups to minimise the risk of parasite resistance

3. Record and review the animal health program

3.1 Record all treatments and maintain an inventory of stock medicines

3.2 Record health issues and record the results of tissue, organ and blood samples if applicable

3.3 Use records of health tests and animal health treatments, including animal production records, to review the animal health plan

The candidate must be assessed on their ability to integrate and apply the performance requirements of this unit in a workplace setting. Performance must be demonstrated consistently over time and in a suitable range of contexts.

The candidate must provide evidence that they can:

identify hazards, assess risks and implement and monitor safe work practices and appropriate hygiene procedures

monitor the health and wellbeing of animals

detect possibility of disease through parameters such as loss of bodyweight behaviour or length of time required to eat food

recognise clinical symptoms (normal vs. abnormal)

recognise abnormal physiological and behavioural signs in livestock

collect samples for testing for internal parasites and diseases

implement preventative health strategies

administer vaccines and medications to animals

maintain records associated with animal health programs

implement relevant biosecurity and animal welfare practices

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:

symptoms of common livestock diseases and parasite infestations

storage conditions for a range of chemicals, including veterinary chemicals

types of vaccines and how they work

zoonotic diseases and their mode of transmission

animal anatomy and physiology relevant to the collection of tissue, organ, blood and other biological samples in live and dead animals and the conduct of post-mortems

relevant biosecurity requirements

management practices and processes to minimise noise, odours, and debris from the livestock operations

relevant legislation, regulations and codes of practice relating to the use of veterinary medicines, animal diseases, animal welfare and waste and environmental management,

relevant work health and safety legislation, regulations and codes of practice

Competency is to be assessed in the work place or simulated environments that accurately reflect performance in a real workplace setting.

Assessors must satisfy current standards for RTOs.
Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Conduct regular observations to assess animals' health 
Recognise and report symptoms of ill health and common diseases or parasite infestations 
Carry out sampling and arrange testing for internal parasites or diseases where required 
Refer unusual or suspected exotic disease outbreaks for veterinary advice in line with biosecurity legislation and enterprise policies 
Report notifiable diseases and comply with all restrictions and treatment requirements 
Record animal health status 
Identify work health and safety hazards, assess risks and implement and monitor suitable controls 
Select, use and maintain appropriate hygiene measures and suitable personal protective equipment (PPE) 
Monitor and record animal welfare status in line with enterprise and legislative requirements 
Dispose of deceased animals according to environmental policies 
Identify risks to animal health, and source strategies, from the production plan, relevant expert or specialist consultant where applicable 
Develop and implement a vaccination program to control clostridial and other diseases 
Identify livestock prone to internal parasite build up and plan out the timing of treatments 
Implement or research pest and disease control strategies based around pasture spelling and rotations of different classes of livestock 
Plan the health treatments for animals using an integrated approach 
Use drenches, vaccines and other stock medications according to manufacturer instructions and comply with withholding periods 
Rotate drench groups to minimise the risk of parasite resistance 
Record all treatments and maintain an inventory of stock medicines 
Record health issues and record the results of tissue, organ and blood samples if applicable 
Use records of health tests and animal health treatments, including animal production records, to review the animal health plan 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

AHCLSK409 - Supervise animal health programs
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

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Assessor name:

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Assessment Record Sheet

AHCLSK409 - Supervise animal health programs

Student name:

Student ID:

Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

(add lines for each task)

Feedback to student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Student signature:

Date: