AHCLSK333
Monitor pen condition and ration suitability


Application

This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to monitor the suitability of rations and pen conditions for 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. Monitor ration and water levels

1.1 Source information on ration ingredients and composition from enterprise livestock production and/or feed plans

1.2 Assess ration levels, composition and consistency and identify potential production and health issues for different pens and classes of livestock

1.3 Identify strategies for removing wet, mouldy and fouled ration from bunks, and preventing livestock from access to unsuitable rations

1.4 Assess water quantity and quality to meet requirements of livestock

2. Inspect pen status and condition

2.1 Source information on pen group status from enterprise livestock production plan

2.2 Assess pen infrastructure, feed bunks, feed apron and water troughs together with animal feeding behaviour and identify performance and potential issues

2.3 Identify strategies to control leaking troughs, and prevent livestock from access to damaged pen or feeding areas

2.4 Assess pen surface conditions and behaviours of livestock in consideration of prevailing weather conditions

2.5 Identify strategies for adjusting stocking density, providing access to shade, modifying pen drainage, cleaning pen and modifying the ration

3. Assess manure condition

3.1 Assess manure consistency and colour as indicators of individual animal and herd health

3.2 Identify strategies for increasing roughage in ration, courser processing of grains and adjusting rations for sick animals

4. Check pen hygiene

4.1 Assess feed bunks, feed aprons and water troughs for fouling and unhygienic build-ups of waste

4.2 Identify strategies for resolving animal production and health issues, work health and safety concerns, and cleaning of pens to prevent odour and insect problems

5. Report and record incidents as required

5.1 Report incidents and problems to supervisor as required

5.2 Record and monitor effectiveness of strategies adopted

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 ration and water levels and respond to issues as required

inspect pen status and condition and respond to issues as required

assess manure condition and respond as required

check pen hygiene and respond to issues as required

report and record incidents

communicate with work team and supervisors

implement relevant work health and safety, biosecurity, animal welfare and environmental protection requirements and practices


Evidence of Knowledge

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:

type of information on rations, water, housing infrastructure and feeding infrastructure that can be gathered from livestock production and feeding plans

principles and elements of nutrition and the impact of nutrition on livestock production

nutritional requirements of different livestock species, classes and life stages

impacts of poor nutrition and unsuitable rations on livestock production, and strategies to mitigate these impacts

how rations can be adjusted or modified to benefit sick animals

housing requirements and housing management of different livestock species, classes and life stages

feeding and water requirements, and feeding and water management of different livestock species, classes and life stages

impacts of unsuitable housing, feeding and watering infrastructure on livestock and strategies to mitigate these impacts

effects of weather on housing and feeding infrastructure and strategies to mitigate such effects

methods for using manure as assessment of livestock health

methods for maintaining, cleaning and removing waste from housing and feeding infrastructure

documentation, record keeping and methods for monitoring effectiveness of adopted strategies

relevant work health and safety, biosecurity, animal welfare and environmental protection requirements and practices


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)