Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to manage milking shed routines.
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.
This unit applies to individuals who work under broad direction and take responsibility for their own work. They complete routine activities and work in a range of known contexts.
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. Manage routine maintenance | 1.1 Plan maintenance schedules in accordance with manufacturer's recommendations and industry standards 1.2 Implement programmed replacement of consumables in line with recorded usage and replacement schedule 1.3 Identify and replace worn or unsafe components 1.4 Identify and rectify milking equipment maintenance problems 1.5 Engage specialist services for non-routine service and repairs |
2. Manage shed milking routines | 2.1 Determine milking shed routines and schedules with available labour and resources 2.2 Allocate and communicate staff responsibilities 2.3 Establish and implement milk production recording procedures 2.4 Implement industry or supplier quality assurance practices and procedures in programmed shed routines 2.5 Implement enterprise work health and safety policies 2.6 Implement enterprise animal welfare policies |
3. Manage unsuitable milk from at risk cows | 3.1 Establish shed procedures for the identification of cow herd health problems 3.2 Isolate milk from at risk cows to maintain overall milk quality 3.3 Select and administer appropriate treatments according to veterinary or expert advice 3.4 Determine strategies for the isolation or drying off of at risk or mastitis affected cows in accordance with appropriate advice |
4. Maintain enterprise practices for milk quality | 4.1 Develop in shed hygiene routines according to industry best practice and standards 4.2 Implement hygiene procedures to prevent cross infection and teat or udder damage 4.3 Monitor milk quality to comply with specified supplier standards 4.4 Monitor milk cooling equipment and storage to maximise milk quality 4.5 Identify environmental impacts of milking operations, assess likely outcomes and take action to minimise adverse effects in line with enterprise environmental policies |
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:
oversee the routine maintenance and service of milking equipment and replacement of consumables
oversee the conduct of milking operations
identify possible causes of decline in milk quality including animal infection and teat damage identify faults in milking equipment and rectify
oversee cleaning and disinfection of milk area and equipment after milking
maintain records of the milking operation
manage unsuitable milk from at risk cows
maintain enterprise practices for milk quality in co-operation with dairy factory personnel
implement enterprise work health and safety policies
implement enterprise animal welfare and environmental policies
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:
types, functions, cleaning, monitoring and maintenance of milking facilities, machinery, equipment and consumables
enterprise and industry requirements for milking operations such as production targets, finances, required resources, manpower and equipment
work routines, procedures and impacts of bad practices for milking operations
relevant industry standards, guidelines, codes of practice and programmes for milking operations, milk quality assurance and milking shed routines
types, characteristics, signs of ill health, prevention and treatment of relevant diseases in the livestock species and their impact on milking operations and milk quality
criteria, methods and industry standards for determining milk quality
factors affecting milk quality, and their effects and impacts on enterprise production targets and enterprise viability
anatomy, physiology, reproduction cycle, lactation and behaviour of the animal species applicable to milking operations
relevant hygiene and biosecurity practices and requirements for milking operations
relevant livestock testing, health treatment and preventive medicine applicable to milking operations
types, handling, use and disposal of detergents and cleaning agents, work health and safety and environmental practices for these agents
environmental impacts of milking operations and strategies to mitigate such impacts
relevant work health and safety requirements
relevant animal welfare practices and requirements
Assessment Conditions
Competency is to be assessed in the workplace and/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
Dairy (DRY)