Assessor Resource

AHCLSK503
Develop and implement a breeding strategy

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: April 2024


This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to develop and implement a livestock breeding program.

This unit applies to managers of livestock enterprises responsible for selection and breeding programs and the use of resources appropriate to meet the breeding aims of the enterprise.

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 personal responsibility and exercise autonomy in undertaking complex work. They analyse design and communicate solutions to sometimes complex problems.

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. Assess breeding requirements

1.1 Assess and clarify breeding requirements

1.2 Identify and arrange resources to support breeding requirements

1.3 Select breeding options to optimise results and consistency

1.4 Undertake economic assessments to establish the feasibility of the breeding objectives

1.5 Formulate breeding program to meet enterprise objectives, and ensure sufficient flexibility to accommodate contingencies

2. Select livestock for breeding

2.1 Determine selection criteria for the visual and objective methods of selecting livestock based on heritability and economic returns for the enterprise

2.2 Establish culling and replacement practices to maintain or improve appropriate herd size, animal ratios and grade of livestock

2.3 Assess genetic gain potential to determine and justify herd or flock structure

2.4 Source genetic material to optimise genetic gain within the herd or flock from suitable sources

2.5 Check and monitor selected livestock to ensure condition and welfare status meets breeding program requirements

2.6 Carry out measurements of production and genetic characteristics and evaluate results within appropriate breeding program requirements

3. Monitor breeding program

3.1 Monitor implementation of the breeding program for efficiency and effectiveness

3.2 Prioritise and implement changes necessary to achieve breeding aims according to breeding program requirements

3.3 Monitor and control allocated resources within enterprise budgetary constraints

3.4 Maintain safe workplace and environmentally responsible practices in line with industry and enterprise work health and safety and environment sustainability requirements

3.5 Observe and comply with relevant legislative requirements associated with livestock production such as animal welfare and biosecurity requirements

4. Evaluate breeding program

4.1 Review and evaluate breeding program processes and outcomes against enterprise objectives

4.2 Evaluate performance of facilities, resources and equipment for effectiveness and efficiency

4.3 Evaluate effectiveness of selection criteria for contribution to achievement of breeding aims and enterprise profitability

4.4 Document relevant information for continual assessment to inform future practice

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 genetic information for existing and potential livestock through breed data

use industry programs to benchmark and identify sources of genetic material

develop a breeding objective

implement selection strategies for livestock

implement animal welfare strategies to handle livestock safely and humanely

monitor progress in a breeding program and review where necessary

evaluate breeding program

document and review data derived from the breeding strategy

maintain a safe and hazard-free workplace environment

monitor and minimise impacts to the environment

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:

difference between genotype and phenotype, the heritability of genetic traits and the basic genetic theory related to genetic correlation of traits

relevance of generation interval in relation to commercial improvement

relevance of estimated breeding values in the development of a multi trait selection strategy

economic impact of production characteristics

features of and measurement of production and genetic t characteristics used in breeding programs

relevant work health and safety and biosecurity requirements, and animal welfare and environment sustainability practices

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 conditions 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. Assess breeding requirements

1.1 Assess and clarify breeding requirements

1.2 Identify and arrange resources to support breeding requirements

1.3 Select breeding options to optimise results and consistency

1.4 Undertake economic assessments to establish the feasibility of the breeding objectives

1.5 Formulate breeding program to meet enterprise objectives, and ensure sufficient flexibility to accommodate contingencies

2. Select livestock for breeding

2.1 Determine selection criteria for the visual and objective methods of selecting livestock based on heritability and economic returns for the enterprise

2.2 Establish culling and replacement practices to maintain or improve appropriate herd size, animal ratios and grade of livestock

2.3 Assess genetic gain potential to determine and justify herd or flock structure

2.4 Source genetic material to optimise genetic gain within the herd or flock from suitable sources

2.5 Check and monitor selected livestock to ensure condition and welfare status meets breeding program requirements

2.6 Carry out measurements of production and genetic characteristics and evaluate results within appropriate breeding program requirements

3. Monitor breeding program

3.1 Monitor implementation of the breeding program for efficiency and effectiveness

3.2 Prioritise and implement changes necessary to achieve breeding aims according to breeding program requirements

3.3 Monitor and control allocated resources within enterprise budgetary constraints

3.4 Maintain safe workplace and environmentally responsible practices in line with industry and enterprise work health and safety and environment sustainability requirements

3.5 Observe and comply with relevant legislative requirements associated with livestock production such as animal welfare and biosecurity requirements

4. Evaluate breeding program

4.1 Review and evaluate breeding program processes and outcomes against enterprise objectives

4.2 Evaluate performance of facilities, resources and equipment for effectiveness and efficiency

4.3 Evaluate effectiveness of selection criteria for contribution to achievement of breeding aims and enterprise profitability

4.4 Document relevant information for continual assessment to inform future practice

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 genetic information for existing and potential livestock through breed data

use industry programs to benchmark and identify sources of genetic material

develop a breeding objective

implement selection strategies for livestock

implement animal welfare strategies to handle livestock safely and humanely

monitor progress in a breeding program and review where necessary

evaluate breeding program

document and review data derived from the breeding strategy

maintain a safe and hazard-free workplace environment

monitor and minimise impacts to the environment

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:

difference between genotype and phenotype, the heritability of genetic traits and the basic genetic theory related to genetic correlation of traits

relevance of generation interval in relation to commercial improvement

relevance of estimated breeding values in the development of a multi trait selection strategy

economic impact of production characteristics

features of and measurement of production and genetic t characteristics used in breeding programs

relevant work health and safety and biosecurity requirements, and animal welfare and environment sustainability practices

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 conditions 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
Assess and clarify breeding requirements 
Identify and arrange resources to support breeding requirements 
Select breeding options to optimise results and consistency 
Undertake economic assessments to establish the feasibility of the breeding objectives 
Formulate breeding program to meet enterprise objectives, and ensure sufficient flexibility to accommodate contingencies 
Determine selection criteria for the visual and objective methods of selecting livestock based on heritability and economic returns for the enterprise 
Establish culling and replacement practices to maintain or improve appropriate herd size, animal ratios and grade of livestock 
Assess genetic gain potential to determine and justify herd or flock structure 
Source genetic material to optimise genetic gain within the herd or flock from suitable sources 
Check and monitor selected livestock to ensure condition and welfare status meets breeding program requirements 
Carry out measurements of production and genetic characteristics and evaluate results within appropriate breeding program requirements 
Monitor implementation of the breeding program for efficiency and effectiveness 
Prioritise and implement changes necessary to achieve breeding aims according to breeding program requirements 
Monitor and control allocated resources within enterprise budgetary constraints 
Maintain safe workplace and environmentally responsible practices in line with industry and enterprise work health and safety and environment sustainability requirements 
Observe and comply with relevant legislative requirements associated with livestock production such as animal welfare and biosecurity requirements 
Review and evaluate breeding program processes and outcomes against enterprise objectives 
Evaluate performance of facilities, resources and equipment for effectiveness and efficiency 
Evaluate effectiveness of selection criteria for contribution to achievement of breeding aims and enterprise profitability 
Document relevant information for continual assessment to inform future practice 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

AHCLSK503 - Develop and implement a breeding strategy
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

Feedback to student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Assessment Record Sheet

AHCLSK503 - Develop and implement a breeding strategy

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: