Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to rear newborn and young 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 for care of newborn and young | 1.1 Identify, select and prepare facilities, equipment and supplies needed to provide care 1.2 Assess and prepare for the needs of newborn and young animals 1.3 Implement and observe feeding routines 1.4 Identify and maintain hygiene, health and environmental requirements 1.5 Handle newborn and young animals humanely in line with enterprise animal welfare policies |
2. Provide care for newborn and young | 2.1 Provide feed and feed supplements as required 2.2 Monitor relationship between mother and young and implement strategies to address any problems where appropriate 2.3 Maintain and monitor feeding, water and shelter areas for correct operation, cleanliness and hygiene 2.4 Treat routine health and feeding problems, including digestive upsets and infections |
3. Monitor health of newborn and young | 3.1 Monitor newborn and young against benchmarks for growth, health and development 3.2 Take appropriate action for sick, weak, orphaned and injured, newborn and young 3.3 Seek assistance for more complex health and feeding problems 3.4 Separate newborn and young requiring routine husbandry and health procedures treat and return 3.5 Carry out treatments and checks appropriately |
4. Meet ongoing requirements | 4.1 Identify young animals ready for weaning and wean according to weaning programs 4.2 Identify and meet feeding requirements 4.3 Handle animals regularly as required 4.4 Keep and maintain records 4.5 Ensure all work is conducted safely and in accordance with enterprise requirements, work health and safety and animal welfare legislation and regulations |
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 procedures
weigh and assess condition of newborn and young animals
work within animal welfare legislative requirements and enterprise and industry guidelines
identify abnormal conditions and report or react promptly
safely and humanely handle and care for newborn and young animals
recognise signs of stress or ill health in newborn and young animals
communicate with other personnel
provide support as needed to veterinarians attending to sick newborn and young animals
collect samples
identify the young and their parent
use feed, shelter and ventilation equipment
calculate feed and dose rates
apply relevant work health and safety requirements
apply relevant biosecurity and animal welfare practices
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:
newborn and young animals development and growth
newborn and young animals feed, shelter and environmental requirements
common deformities
infection controls and treatment programs
significance of colostrum to livestock
feeding systems and weaning strategies
husbandry procedures
hygiene and cleanliness requirements
enterprise requirements for rearing of newborn and young animals and recording and reporting requirements
relevant legislative animal welfare health and work health and safety requirements especially as they relate to safe animal handling techniques, feeding, animal treatments, and rearing and caring for newborn and young animals
Assessment Conditions
Competency is to be assessed in the workplace or simulated environment that accurately reflects 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)