This unit applies to alpaca farm or stud workers and is likely to be carried out with limited supervision within enterprise guidelines. It may require working with or under the direction of more experienced personnel, including veterinarians.

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Prepare animals for mating

1.1. Male and female animals to be mated are selected according to stud's mating plan.

1.2. Condition of animals selected for mating is accurately determined and body scores are recorded according to recognised industry practices.

1.3. Nutritional program is adjusted where required and monitored to produce optimum condition for mating.

1.4. Where females are over-fleeced, preparations are made to ensure that tail and vulva area are clean and free of fleece.

1.5. Animals are checked for any signs of infection or other reason not to proceed with the planned mating and remedial action is taken as appropriate.

2. Facilitate mating

2.1. Receptive females are identified according to industry practice.

2.2. Paddock or pen mating areas are secure and provide access for handlers during joining.

2.3. Mating procedures and handling techniques are used that minimise stress and discomfort to animals and meet Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) and animal welfare requirements.

2.4. Pen mating is supervised and, when required, intervention is undertaken or obtained to maximise conception rates.

3. Complete mating procedures

3.1. Pregnancy testing is undertaken or commissioned at earliest opportunity to identify pregnancy status of animals and suitable action is taken as required.

3.2. Records of mating are recorded accurately, legibly and according to enterprise and industry requirements.

Required skills

identifying hazards and implementing safe operating procedures

accurately scoring alpaca condition

assisting with ultrasonography and/or blood collection if requested by professional service providers

cleaning up work site and safely disposing of waste

communicating effectively with other team members and veterinarians

conducting a spit off

employing safe work practices

supervising alpaca mating and assisting as appropriate

use literacy skills to read, interpret and follow organisational policies and procedures, follow sequenced written instructions, record accurately and legible information collected and select and apply procedures for a range of tasks

use numeracy skills to estimate, calculate and record routine workplace measures

use interpersonal skills to work with and relate to people from a range of cultural, social and religious backgrounds and with a range of physical and mental abilities.

Required knowledge

alpaca handling and assisted joining techniques

alpaca health and abnormalities

alpaca movement and behavioural characteristics

anatomy and physiology of male and female alpaca reproductive systems

enterprise and industry identification system for alpaca

enterprise and industry policies regarding recording and reporting routines for matings

female and male body conditioning through nutrition programs

Johne's disease status mating procedures

mobile mating procedures

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and when and how it should be used

pregnancy testing techniques, including detection of ovulation

relevant state and territory animal welfare legislation and codes of practice

relevant state and territory legislation, regulations and codes of practice with regard to workplace OHS.

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to workplace operations and satisfy holistically all of the requirements of the performance criteria and required skills and knowledge and include achievement of the following:

monitor the condition of female and male alpacas

recognise ovulation and detect oestrus in females

supervise mating

conduct and commission pregnancy tests

identify and implement action required as a result of pregnancy tests.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Competency requires the application of work practices under work conditions. Selection and use of resources for some worksites may differ due to the regional or enterprise circumstances.

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole.

Types may include:

mating and monitoring reproduction in all types and strains of alpacas.

Unit sector

Livestock

This unit contains employability skills.