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Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Identify and provide animal nutritional needs
   • Nutritional needs of pregnant animals are identified and confirmed against the enterprise feeding plan.
   • Feed and feed supplements are determined and provided in accordance with the feeding plan and local conditions.
   • Procedures to minimise feed wastage and spillage, and dispose and recycle feed waste are implemented in line with enterprise requirements.
   • Existing and potential Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) hazards in the workplace are identified, risk assessed and controlled in line with enterprise requirements.
2. Monitor feeding process
   • Grazing and supplementary feeding is monitored to ensure animals are maintained in the required condition.
   • Feeding abnormalities are recorded and reported in line with enterprise requirements.
   • Environmental implications associated with animal production are identified, assessed and relevant measures implemented.
3. Maintain a secure environment for animals
   • Condition and security of paddocks, shelter and/or housing is monitored and maintained in line with enterprise requirements.
   • Basic repair work is carried out and reported as required in line with OHS and enterprise requirements.
   • Risk of predators to newborn animals is assessed and reported in line with workplace procedures.
   • Environmentally responsible measures to eradicate or control identified predators are implemented safely in accordance with relevant legislative requirements.
4. Carry out animal husbandry procedures
   • Animals are prepared for birthing in accordance with enterprise requirements.
   • Preventative health treatments are determined and administered to animals to manufacturer's specifications and recorded in line with enterprise requirements.
   • Contingency measures are prepared and implemented as required.
   • Protection from weather is provided for newborn.

Required Skills

Required skills

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 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 firearms safely implement predator control strategies read and interpret manufacturers specifications work and feeding plans and material safety data sheets assess and calculate herdflock numbers measure feed assess rate and frequency of feeding and calculate animal gestation use oral communication skillslanguage competence to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation including questioning techniques active listening clarifying information and consulting with supervisors as required use interpersonal skills to work with and relate to people from a range of cultural social and religious backgrounds and with a range of physical and mental abilities

Required knowledge

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 environmental impact of the use and disposal of hazardous substances and minimisation measures hazards associated with handling animals and veterinarian medicines and chemicals sustainable land management practices StateTerritory legislation regulations and codes of practice with regard to OHS animal welfare poisons and firearm safety relevant licensing and permit requirements firearms predators and behaviour patterns and control and eradication measures personal protective clothing and equipment and when and how it should be used enterprise policies with regard to birthing animals recording and reporting routines

Evidence Required

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria required skills and knowledge range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package
Overview of assessment
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit	The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to workplace operations and satisfy holistically all of the requirements of the performance criteria and required skills and knowledge and include achievement of the following assess animals health status provide appropriate nutritional and environmental requirements for pregnant animals perform husbandry procedures with pregnant animals implement measures for the survival and health of newborn animals recognise and report abnormalities
Context of and specific resources for assessment	Competency requires the application of work practices under work conditions Selection and use of resources for some worksites may differ due to the regional or enterprise circumstances

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Range Statement

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole.
Animals may include:	cows and heifers (beef and dairy cattle) ewes does (goats) hembra (alpacas) sows mares.
Factors to be considered may include:	weather protection (wind, rain, snow, heat) and the availability of feed and water supplies the provision of "lamb or kid proof" water troughs paddocks that are suitable to the size of herd or flock adequate shelter and housing safe fencing and yards.

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