Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to monitor livestock in an intensive production system.
All work must be carried out to comply with workplace procedures, work health and safety, animal welfare and biosecurity legislation and codes or practice and sustainability practices.
This unit applies to beef cattle, dairy cattle, sheep, goats and pigs.
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. Monitor animal health status | 1.1 Source information on animal health programs from the livestock production plans 1.2 Assess animal health status by routinely inspecting each animal from induction to despatch by having unimpeded access and opportunity to observe behavioural characteristics, signs of ill-health and freedom of movement 1.3 Source information on past treatment(s) from the individual animal's identification tag or identification marking and enterprise records 1.4 Identify husbandry practices appropriate for the health status of the individual animal: follow-up observation, isolation from other livestock and/ or treatment |
2. Identify animals requiring treatment | 2.1 Identify individual animals with potential health issues or in ill health 2.2 Determine the type and severity of infection or injury and identify and/or isolate affected animals requiring treatment |
3. Determine the type and scope of treatment | 3.1 Determine the need for, type and scope of treatment by seeking expert or veterinary advice 3.2 Prepare equipment, materials and treatment site 3.4 Identify work health and safety hazards, assess risks and implement control measures in relation to the treatment 3.5 Record withholding periods and other details of treatment |
4. Administer treatment | 4.1 Check, select and use suitable personal protective equipment (PPE) 4.1 Handle and restrain animals safely and humanely 4.2 Administer treatment appropriately according to chemical label or veterinary advice 4.3 Identify treated animals from non-treated animals to ensure compliance with the required Withholding Period (WHP) 4.4 Prepare and move treated animals as planned |
5. Carry out post-treatment procedures | 5.1 Monitor animal health and condition post-treatment and report on animal’s progress 5.2 Identify, environmental impacts associated with the administration of treatment, assess likely outcomes and take responsive action 5.3 Clean equipment and worksite, and dispose of organic and non-organic waste appropriately 5.4 Store unused medications appropriately 5.5 Complete documentation and records accurately and promptly 5.6 Comply with enterprise biosecurity policies |
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 animal health status
identify animals requiring treatment
determine the type and scope of treatment
identify work health and safety hazards, assess risks and implement control measures associated with administering treatments to animals
handle, restrain and treat animals without compromising animal welfare
monitor animals post treatment and complete workplace recording requirements
implement relevant animal welfare and biosecurity policies
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:
type of information to be gathered from livestock production plans, animal health plans and individual animal records
signs of health, signs of ill health and methods of assessing livestock health
biosecurity requirements, husbandry and management strategies and procedures for ill or injured animals
methods for humane and safe handling and restrain of animals
common diseases of the livestock species, and strategies for treatment and management of such diseases
typical and common medications, vaccines, the routes of administration in animals and keeping/storage of such medications
work health and safety requirements associated with administering treatments to animals
principles and regulations for veterinary medicines treatment and Withholding Periods in animals
environmental impacts of administering treatments to animals and strategies to mitigate these impacts
enterprise heat load management plans
types of and disposal methods for organic and non-organic waste
documentation and type of records that need to be completed for animal treatments
Assessment Conditions
Competency is to be assessed in the workplace and/or simulated environment that accurately reflects performance in a real workplace setting.
Assessors must satisfy current conditions 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)