Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to prepare for and implement natural mating 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 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. Prepare paddocks or yards | 1.1 Confirm particular livestock mating plan with supervisor 1.2 Select paddocks or yards and stock to appropriate levels 1.3 Plan predator control program and implement where appropriate 1.4 Identify hazards, assess risks, implement controls and report safety concerns to the supervisor 1.5 Select and use safety and personal protective equipment |
2. Prepare dams for joining | 2.1 Monitor live weight of dams through weighing and condition scoring 2.2 Adjust nutrition levels to achieve targeted joining weights in line with feeding strategy 2.3 Implement dam health and husbandry operations 2.4 Draft mobs for joining |
3. Prepare sires for joining | 3.1 Carry out physical examination of sires prior to joining 3.2 Seek veterinary advice where appropriate 3.3 Determine mating ratios 3.4 Select replacement sires in time to allow adjustment to new environment 3.5 Carry out sire health, handling and husbandry operations in line with individual requirements and enterprise animal welfare policies 3.6 Test mate sires to assess libido and serving capability if required 3.7 Monitor sires environment for optimum mating performance |
4. Join sires to dam mobs | 4.1 Select dates for joining where appropriate according to the mating plan 4.2 Organise test joinings for new sires if appropriate 4.3 Introduce sires to herds or individual dams to ensure good contact 4.4 Remove sires from herds at the scheduled time |
5. Monitor mating activity | 5.1 Observe and record mating activity 5.2 Observe distribution of sires within each mob 5.3 Take remedial action if 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 dams and sires for joining
manage dams and sires during joining
appraise breeding soundness in animals
estimate live weights
monitor joining activity
prepare joining paddocks
assess the serving capacity and fertility of males pre joining
ensure females are above minimum body weights to exhibit oestrus
use sufficient males for the number of females to be mated in the group
use back up sires where single sire mating is practised
record mating details
apply relevant work health and safety requirements
apply relevant biosecurity and animal welfare practices
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:
mating behaviour of sires and dams
optimum live weights and condition for mating
physical abnormalities and mating problems in males and females
environmental influences on joining
work health and safety and animal welfare legislation, codes of practice and enterprise procedures
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)