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Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Identify and provide animal nutritional needs
   • Identify nutritional needs of pregnant animals and confirmed against the feeding plan
   • Determine and provide feed supplements as required
   • Implement procedures to minimise feed wastage and spillage, and dispose and recycle feed waste
   • Identify hazards, assess risks and implement control measures
2. Monitor feeding process
   • Monitor grazing and supplementary feeding to ensure animals are maintained in the required condition
   • Record and report feeding abnormalities
   • Identify and assess environmental implications associated with animal production and implement relevant measures
3. Maintain a secure environment for animals
   • Monitor and maintain condition and security of paddocks, shelter and housing
   • Carry out basic repair work and report
   • Assess risk of predators to newborn animals and report in line with workplace procedures
   • Implement environmentally responsible measures to eradicate or control identified predators
4. Carry out animal husbandry procedures
   • Prepare animals for birthing
   • Determine and administer preventative health treatments
   • Prepare and administer contingency measures as required
   • Provide protection from weather for newborn animals
   • Apply enterprise animal welfare policies to all livestock husbandry and handling activities

Range Statement

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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:

match supply of grazing or predetermined rations to nutritional requirements for pregnant animals

monitor animal health and condition and recognise abnormalities

carry out animal husbandry procedures, and provide due care and handle animals humanely in line with enterprise animal welfare policies

maintain animal shelter and housing where applicable

administer preventative health treatments

collect, store and administer colostrum

implement contingency measures in the event of adverse weather or birthing difficulties

employ safe and environmentally responsible systems and procedures with regard to the handling of animals, feed, hazardous substances and predator control strategies

read and interpret manufacturers specifications, work and feeding plans, and Safety Data Sheets

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

apply relevant work health and safety requirements

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Knowledge Evidence

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:

physiological and behavioural signs of impending birth

animal behaviour and nutritional requirements of pregnant animals

pasture and animal grazing management

feed and feed supplements for pregnant animals and when to provide them

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

preventative health treatments, procedures and methods

animal husbandry procedures

environmental impact of animals on ground cover and minimisation measures

hazards associated with handling animals and veterinarian medicines and chemicals

State/Territory legislation, regulations and codes of practice with regard to work health and safety, animal welfare and poisons

predators and behaviour patterns, and control and eradication measures

relevant licensing and permit requirements (firearms)

enterprise policies with regard to birthing animals, recording and reporting routines

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