Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to monitor available pasture for grazing and implementing a feeding plan.
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.
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. Determine livestock condition and nutritional requirements | 1.1 Monitor and report livestock condition 1.2 Identify livestock production status 1.3 Source livestock nutritional requirements and the nutritional value of feedstuffs from the feeding plan 1.4 Use feeding plans to determine adjustment in response to the monitoring of livestock condition and pasture growth 1.5 Report and separate animals that are in atypical condition, injured or diseased in line with enterprise biosecurity policies 1.6 Apply enterprise animal welfare policies to livestock handling and husbandry activities |
2. Assess pasture feed | 2.1 Assess quantity and quality of available pasture 2.2 Implement grazing management plans and monitor to ensure the sustainable stocking capacity of pasture 2.3 Monitor grazing behaviour of livestock and identify shy or problem feeders 2.4 Determine livestock feeding methods and level of supplementary feeding if required |
3. Manage the feeding of livestock | 3.1 Graze livestock on pasture according to the guidelines described in the feeding plan 3.2 Obtain required supplementary feed 3.3 Provide supplementary feed to livestock in the appropriate manner and times 3.4 Identify and assess indications of any negative environmental impacts and make amendments to the feeding method as required 3.5 Monitor and report condition and live weight response to feeding |
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:
monitor pasture health and condition
assess herd/flock health and condition and live weight
identify livestock nutritional requirements
order feed if requested in line with feeding plan
identify feeding problems and animals that require individual treatment
handle livestock humanely and monitor animal welfare
respond to or report negative environmental impacts of feeding
apply relevant biosecurity, animal welfare and environmental sustainability policies
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:
nutrient and feeding requirements of a range of livestock
different types of agricultural feeds
factors that affect feed supply and demand for a grazing operation
grazing practices which maximise pasture growth and quality to best match herd/flock feed requirements
purpose of feed conservation in relation to enterprise feed supply and livestock requirements
different types of pasture grazing systems, including rotation, strip and set stocked grazing
ways of determining a feed surplus
role of spelling subdivision in effective pasture and animal management
different supplementary feeding options for livestock
environmental controls and codes of practice applicable to the enterprise
nutrient values of pasture and supplementary feedstuffs
codes of practice with regard to animal welfare and environmental protection
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)