Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to harvest deer velvet.
This unit applies to people who harvest deer velvet. All work must be carried out to comply with workplace procedures, work health and safety, animal welfare and biosecurity legislation and codes, and sustainability practices.
All work is carried out under the supervision of an attending veterinarian following National Velvet Accreditation Scheme (NVAS) procedures for harvesting deer antler.
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. Prepare for velveting | 1.1 Check facilities, materials and equipment are available, serviceable and functioning and contribute to a safe, hygienic and stress free environment for animals and operators 1.2 Arrange veterinary supervision and drugs, equipment, emergency equipment and personal protective equipment are ready for use 1.3 Draft and restrain animals selected for velveting according to animal welfare and work health and safety policies |
2. Harvest velvet | 2.1 Determine volume of analgesic or anaesthetic drug for each animal and administer under supervision of attending veterinarian 2.2 Remove antler using hygienic techniques and appropriate standards 2.3 Ensure human and animal emergency procedures are ready for implementation 2.4 Collect information during harvesting process for annual return/audit 2.5 Tag velvet for identification using NVAS tags or NVAS Statutory Declaration Forms, and cross-reference to the animal velveted to allow for full trace back |
3. Complete harvesting process | 3.1 Release animal into recovery area and monitor for adverse reactions and take appropriate action as required 3.2 Clean velveting area and equipment and dispose of waste in line with enterprise biosecurity and environmental policies 3.3 Dispose of hazardous substances and used equipment according to legislative requirements and codes of practice 3.4 Store equipment, record drug usage and place remaining drugs in a secure facility 3.5 Follow industry procedures in the event of post-velveting death |
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:
safely handle and restrain deer including dealing with aggressive or difficult animals
administer drugs to deer under supervision of a registered veterinarian
velvet unassisted a minimum of three deer under supervision of a registered veterinarian
comply with the National Velvet Accreditation Scheme (NVAS) and quality assurance program of the Deer Industry Association of Australia (DIAA)
manage deer effectively before, during and after velveting
implement emergency response procedures when required
develop and maintain effective working relationships with a range of organisations operating in the deer industry
communicate with work team using industry standard terminology
implement enterprise work health and safety, biosecurity and animal welfare policies
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:
animal welfare legislation and issues
definitions of, and requirements with respect to, veterinary supervision and legal responsibilities of deer producers and veterinarians
drug legislation relating to deer velvet harvesting
food safety requirements relating to drug residues and withholding periods, and the hygienic handling of velvet
management of deer before and after velveting
surgical velveting procedures
NVAS and quality assurance program of the Deer Industry Association of Australia(DIAA)
enterprise work health and safety, biosecurity and animal welfare policies
Assessment Conditions
Competency is to be assessed in the workplace or 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
Deer (DER)