Google Links

Follow the links below to find material targeted to the unit's elements, performance criteria, required skills and knowledge

Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Prepare to handle livestock
   • Confirm work plan with supervisor
   • Identify, prepare and maintain livestock handling areas, gates and access routes
   • Select, check and prepare handling equipment for use and report missing equipment, malfunctions and need for maintenance as required
   • Recognise hazards in the workplace and report safety concerns
   • Select appropriate personal protective equipment and ensure correct fit
2. Handle livestock
   • Locate and identify livestock for handling
   • Observe and anticipate behavioural characteristics of livestock and use appropriate handling methods
   • Move livestock to designated handling areas and carry out procedures to control, draft and sort livestock with due care and in line with enterprise animal welfare policies
   • Carry out restraint procedures safely and with minimum stress and discomfort to livestock and in line with enterprise animal welfare policies
   • Monitor and anticipate continually livestock behaviour during moving and drafting processes to ensure wellbeing of livestock and safety of handlers
   • Conduct or tally livestock numbers or livestock count of groups/mobs and record or report as required
   • Recognise and report environmental implications associated with livestock production
3. Complete handling procedure
   • Confirm livestock dispersal plan with supervisor as required
   • Prepare gates and access routes for livestock departure
   • Move livestock to designated areas safely and with minimal stress
   • Ensure adequate clean water and feed at destination as required
   • Clean and maintain handling areas and equipment and store surplus materials
   • Report handling area maintenance requirements and equipment faults or malfunctions
   • Dispose of livestock residues and waste in accordance with environmental practices
   • Record and report relevant information

Range Statement

---

Performance Evidence

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:

prepare handling areas, gates and access routes for livestock movement

monitor and anticipate livestock behaviour

recognise enterprise livestock identification systems

identify and draft livestock during handling operations

move and control livestock using low stress livestock handling techniques

minimise undue stress and risk to livestock and handlers

recognise livestock abnormalities

assess, calculate and record livestock numbers

control the environmental impacts associated with livestock production within the limitations of own responsibility

follow enterprise work health and safety policies

follow enterprise animal welfare policies

---

Knowledge Evidence

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:

livestock behavioural characteristics and movement in handling areas

components and functions of handling equipment

handling techniques and restraint methods

enterprise livestock identification systems

environmental codes of practice with regard to livestock production

regulatory controls with regard to handling livestock on public roads where required

common livestock breeds

basic nutritional and welfare requirements

range of common livestock abnormalities, illnesses and injuries and associated signs

relevant work health and safety requirements

relevant animal welfare and biosecurity legislation and codes of practice

---