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. Check health status of animals
   • Check condition and health status of animals and confirm against enterprise health strategies and records
   • Recognise signs of poor health and condition or abnormal behaviour and report to the supervisor for remedial action
   • Arrange preventative health treatments and administer as instructed
   • Identify hazards and report to supervisor
   • Identify environmental implications associated with production and report to the supervisor
2. Identify pregnant animals
   • Identify animals and separate on basis of pregnancy status
   • Identify dry animals and implement appropriate procedures
   • Report additional assistance required for assessing pregnancy status to the supervisor for remedial action
3. Feed pregnant animal
   • Identify nutritional needs of pregnant animals and confirm against the feeding plan
   • Identify animals with special feeding needs and give them preferential feeding and record
   • Implement supplementary feeding as required and record accordingly
   • Maintain a safe and secure environment for pregnant animals
   • Handle animals with minimum stress and discomfort to the animals without excessive yarding or shedding in line with enterprise animal welfare policies

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:

identify hazards and follow safety directions

observe livestock health and wellbeing from joining

maintain appropriate nutritional and environmental requirements

recognise and report abnormalities for remedial action

provide a safe and secure environment for the promotion of the welfare and wellbeing of pregnant animals through to birthing.

administer preventative health treatments

calculate animal numbers, measure feed, assess rate and frequency of feeding, and calculate animal gestation

communicate orally and in writing, animal behaviour and identified abnormalities

control environmental impacts associated with animal production

handle pregnant animals with due care

observe and accurately report animal behaviour

observe local climatic conditions

follow relevant work health and safety requirements

follow relevant animal welfare practices

---

Knowledge Evidence

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:

effects of adverse weather conditions and inadequate nutrition on pregnant animals and their newborn

effect of local climatic conditions on the timing of shearing, separating and transporting pregnant animals

environment codes of practice with regard to animal production

correct livestock handling techniques for dry and pregnant animals

health and nutritional requirements for pregnant animals

housing requirements for intensively produced animals

livestock identification methods

pregnant animals behaviour and abnormalities

pregnancy checking and confirmation procedures (including scanning)

health treatments, procedures and methods to livestock when required

relevant work health and safety requirements

relevant animal welfare and biosecurity legislation and codes of practice

---