Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to safely move, draft and control livestock using basic methods and procedures in an agricultural enterprise.
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 work under general supervision and exercise limited autonomy with some accountability for their own work. They identify and provide solutions to a limited range of predictable problems.
In addition to legal responsibilities, all units of competency dealing with animals in the AHC Training Package have the requirements for animals to be handled humanely to minimise stress and discomfort.
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. Prepare to handle livestock | 1.1 Confirm work plan with supervisor 1.2 Identify, prepare and maintain livestock handling areas, gates and access routes 1.3 Select, check and prepare handling equipment for use and report missing equipment, malfunctions and need for maintenance as required 1.4 Recognise hazards in the workplace and report safety concerns 1.5 Select appropriate personal protective equipment and ensure correct fit |
2. Handle livestock | 2.1 Locate and identify livestock for handling 2.2 Observe and anticipate behavioural characteristics of livestock and use appropriate handling methods 2.3 Move livestock to designated handling areas and carry out procedures to control, draft and sort livestock with due care and in line with enterprise animal welfare policies 2.4 Carry out restraint procedures safely and with minimum stress and discomfort to livestock and in line with enterprise animal welfare policies 2.5 Monitor and anticipate continually livestock behaviour during moving and drafting processes to ensure wellbeing of livestock and safety of handlers 2.6 Conduct or tally livestock numbers or livestock count of groups/mobs and record or report as required 2.7 Recognise and report environmental implications associated with livestock production |
3. Complete handling procedure | 3.1 Confirm livestock dispersal plan with supervisor as required 3.2 Prepare gates and access routes for livestock departure 3.3 Move livestock to designated areas safely and with minimal stress 3.4 Ensure adequate clean water and feed at destination as required 3.5 Clean and maintain handling areas and equipment and store surplus materials 3.6 Report handling area maintenance requirements and equipment faults or malfunctions 3.7 Dispose of livestock residues and waste in accordance with environmental practices 3.8 Record and report relevant information |
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:
prepare handling areas, gates and access routes for livestock movement
monitor and anticipate livestock behaviour
recognise enterprise livestock identification systems
identify and draft livestock during handling operations
move and control livestock using low stress livestock handling techniques
minimise undue stress and risk to livestock and handlers
recognise livestock abnormalities
assess, calculate and record livestock numbers
control the environmental impacts associated with livestock production within the limitations of own responsibility
follow enterprise work health and safety policies
follow enterprise animal welfare policies
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:
livestock behavioural characteristics and movement in handling areas
components and functions of handling equipment
handling techniques and restraint methods
enterprise livestock identification systems
environmental codes of practice with regard to livestock production
regulatory controls with regard to handling livestock on public roads where required
common livestock breeds
basic nutritional and welfare requirements
range of common livestock abnormalities, illnesses and injuries and associated signs
relevant work health and safety requirements
relevant animal welfare and biosecurity legislation and codes of practice
Assessment Conditions
Competency is to be assessed in the work place or workplace and simulated environments that accurately reflect 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
Livestock (LSK)