Elements and Performance Criteria
- Assess animal health status and treatment options
- Source information on animal health program from the livestock production plan
- Assess animal health status and identify potential health issues for different mobs and classes of livestock
- Identify prevention and treatment strategies to resolve health issues
- Source information on parasite immunity to different classes of chemicals and plan for rotation of chemical groups
- Prepare for treatment of animals
- Identify animals affected by infection or parasites or requiring treatment under the animal health plan
- Determine the severity of infection where applicable through approved testing methods or by seeking expert/veterinary advice
- Determine the type and severity of infestation where applicable through faecal egg counts or other tests
- Determine the need for treatment and the type and scope of treatment and prepare according to manufacturer's specifications or veterinary advice
- Prepare equipment and materials and treatment site
- Identify hazards, assess risks and implement control measures
- Select and use personal protective equipment
- Treat animals
- Handle and restrain animals without causing harm or injury to animal or handler and in line with enterprise animal welfare policies
- Administer treatment hygienically and consistently according to manufacturer's specifications or veterinary advice
- Record withholding periods and other details of treatment
- Identify treated animals to ensure withholding period (WHP) compliance and isolation from non-treated animals where required
- Count animals out, prepare and move along a planned route without damage to person, property or environment
- Complete treatment process
- Monitor animal health and condition post-treatment and report abnormalities
- Identify the environmental implications associated with the treatment of animals, assess and control appropriately
- Clean equipment and worksite and dispose of waste, including animal residues
- Store health treatments appropriately
- Document relevant information
- Apply enterprise biosecurity policies where required