AHCLSK301
Administer medication to livestock


Application

This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to apply preventative health treatments and other medications to livestock under professional supervision.

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 broad direction and take responsibility for their own work. They complete routine activities and work in a range of known contexts.

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 for treatment of livestock

1.1 Select equipment and materials and check for safe and sound operation and confirmed against work plan

1.2 Prepare livestock treatment site and facilities

1.3 Prepare livestock treatments

1.4 Identify hazards, assess risk and implement risk controls

2. Treat livestock

2.1 Muster livestock and yard, control, inspect and identify for treatment in line with enterprise requirements and animal welfare policies

2.2 Use low risk operating procedures with regard to livestock handling

2.3 Calculate dose rates and calibrate equipment

2.4 Administer treatment

2.5 Identify and minimise environmental impacts

2.6 Minimise risks of resistance to veterinary medicines and chemicals

3. Complete treatment process

3.1 Prepare livestock and move along planned route without damage to person, property or environment

3.2 Clean, maintain and store equipment, materials and facilities used for treatments

3.3 Dispose of livestock residues and waste appropriately

4. Monitor effectiveness of treatment

4.1 Monitor livestock post-treatment for signs of treatment effectiveness

4.2 Recognise abnormalities in livestock health and condition and treat appropriately

4.3 Record livestock treatment process and outcomes including withholding periods

4.4 Apply enterprise biosecurity 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 and implement safe work practices

prepare, clean and maintain treatment site, facilities and equipment to industry standards

select and utilise equipment and materials appropriate for treating requirements and match to work tasks

muster, move and handle livestock for health treatments

administer preventative health treatments in accordance with work plan

monitor effectiveness of treatments and provide follow up if required

maintain records of treatments

assess and calculate herd/flock numbers, measure dosage and quantities

monitor livestock behaviour and recognise abnormalities

apply contingency measures for administering treatments in the event of adverse weather conditions

carry out animal husbandry procedures

provide due care and handle livestock humanely

communicate abnormalities, equipment faults and workplace hazards

read and interpret manufacturers specifications, work and maintenance plans, veterinary chemical labels and Safety Data Sheets (SDS’s)

apply relevant work health and safety requirements

apply relevant biosecurity requirements

apply relevant animal welfare practices

apply relevant environmental sustainability practices


Evidence of Knowledge

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:

equipment and materials for treating livestock, their components and functions

livestock health treatments, procedures and methods

livestock identification methods

mustering and moving techniques

withholding periods for residues in meat, milk or wool

technique of disposing of livestock residues and waste appropriately

hazards associated with handling livestock and veterinarian medicines and chemicals

implications and management of veterinary medicine and/or chemical resistance

personal protective clothing and equipment and when and how it should be used and maintained

procedures for cleaning and maintaining treatment equipment and materials

enterprise policies with regard to treating livestock, recording and reporting routines

relevant State/Territory legislation, regulations and codes of practice with regard to work health and safety, animal welfare, biosecurity and the use and control of hazardous substances


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)