Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to carry out the identification and marking of livestock.
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 identify and mark animals | 1.1 Select and check appropriate equipment for correct operation, and maintain or replace as required 1.2 Select appropriate materials and ensure adequate quantities for required task 1.3 Identify, clean and prepare suitable marking sites and facilities 1.4 Prepare and ensure adequate quantities of animal preventative health treatments as instructed 1.5 Identify hazards, control risks as appropriate and report to supervisor 1.6 Select, use and maintain suitable personal protective equipment |
2. Identify and mark animals | 2.1 Muster animals and identify, draft and move young animals to marking site in readiness for identifying and marking 2.2 Carry out animal identifying and marking operations in line with enterprise animal welfare policies 2.3 Carry out contingency plans as instructed in the event of adverse weather conditions 2.4 Identify environmental implications associated with enterprise operations for identifying and marking animals and report to the supervisor |
3. Complete identifying and marking operation | 3.1 Keep tally or record animal numbers as required during operations and assist to conduct and record animal counts at completion of tasks 3.2 Prepare animals and move along a planned route without damage to person, livestock, property or environment 3.3 Clean, maintain and store equipment, materials and facilities 3.4 Report equipment faults or malfunctions 3.5 Dispose of animal residues and waste appropriately 3.6 Monitor livestock behaviour and wellbeing post-operations, and mother-up young animals if required 3.7 Apply enterprise biosecurity and environmental policies where required |
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:
identify hazards, control risks and implement safe operating procedures
prepare and maintain appropriate identifying and marking sites and facilities to industry standards
handle animals in a safe and humane manner in line with enterprise and industry animal welfare policies
operate and maintain equipment
determine identifying and marking methods
carry out identifying and marking operations
monitor animal's behaviour post-marking for health and well-being, mother-up animals and their young if required
apply contingency measures in the event of adverse weather conditions
tally, count, calculate and record animal numbers during marking operations if required
demonstrate safe and environmentally responsible workplace practices
follow enterprise work health and safety policies
follow enterprise biosecurity and environmental policies as required
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:
components and functions of animal handling equipment
animal marking methods and identification systems
animal preventative health requirements and procedures
relevant livestock behaviour
basic livestock health and nutritional requirements
environmental codes of practice with regard to animal production
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)