AHCAIS401
Supervise artificial breeding and embryo transfer programs


Application

This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to supervise artificial breeding and embryo transfer programs.

This unit also applies to artificial breeding technicians who provide advice to farmers.

All work must be carried out to comply with workplace procedures, work health and safety, animal welfare and biosecurity legislation and codes of practice and sustainability practices.

This unit applies to individuals who take responsibility for their own work and for the quality of the work of others within known parameters. They use discretion and judgement in the selection, allocation and use of available resources and provide and communicate solutions to a range of predictable and sometimes unpredictable problems.

No occupational licensing, legislative or certification requirements are known to apply to this unit at the time of publication.


Elements and Performance Criteria

Element

Performance criteria

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1. Determine breeding method

1.1 Review options for artificial breeding to determine most suitable and affordable method according to breeding objectives

1.2 Select and match artificial breeding option to resources and breeding objectives

1.3 Identify, source and arrange resource implications of breeding programs

1.4 Prepare program schedules according to available resources

1.5 Ensure suitable personal protective equipment for staff and self are available in line with enterprise work health and safety policies

2. Implement breeding method

2.1 Check the disease status of donor and recipient animals in line with enterprise biosecurity policies

2.2 Obtain genetic material from appropriate and reliable source

2.3 Receive, check and store genetic material appropriately

2.4 Handle animals appropriately in line with animal welfare policies

2.5 Ensure females are inseminated at the optimal stage of the oestrus cycle where artificial insemination is the selected option

2.6 Check to ensure intended recipients are prepared and correctly scheduled where embryo transfer (ET) is the selected option

2.7 Provide hormone injections to intended recipients at appropriate stages of transfer programs where ET is the selected option

2.8 Conduct embryo transfers in compliance with relevant codes of practice and industry standards where ET is the selected option

3. Monitor and maintain program

3.1 Monitor the need for return to service of intended recipient

3.2 Monitor health of livestock in the breeding program

3.3 Review adjustments in genetic material transfer practices to enhance success of future programs

3.4 Document and maintain data on genetic material transfer programs

Evidence of Performance

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:

determine breeding method

implement breeding method

monitor and maintain program

apply work health and safety requirements in the context of own work

apply biosecurity requirements in the context of own work

apply animal welfare practices in the context of own work.


Evidence of Knowledge

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:

legislative requirements, biosecurity requirements, codes of practice, industry standards and procedures for artificial insemination and embryo transfer

resources requirements, types and characteristics of artificial breeding methods and programs

advantages, disadvantages and cost-benefit analysis of artificial breeding programs for the livestock enterprise

types, uses and maintenance of personal protective equipment

requirements, methods and procedures for sourcing, acquiring, transporting and storing genetic material

relevant anatomy and physiology of female livestock

reproductive physiology, reproductive behaviour and pregnancy development of female livestock

requirements and procedures for artificial insemination

requirements and procedures for embryo transfer

causes, signs, treatment and management of reproductive diseases and complications in female livestock

requirements, methods and procedures for improving the success of artificial breeding programs and their impacts on herd performance

relevant documentation and records that are required

relevant work health and safety and animal welfare requirements.


Assessment Conditions

Competency is to be assessed in the workplace and/or a simulated environment that accurately reflects performance in a real workplace setting.

Assessors must satisfy current standards for RTOs.


Foundation Skills

Foundation Skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.


Range Statement


Sectors

Artificial Insemination (AIS)