Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to develop livestock feeding plans.
This unit applies to managers of grazing operations who design and develop feeding plans 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 take responsibility for their own work and for the quality of the work of others within known parameters. They use discretion and judgement in the selection, allocation and use of available resources and provide and communicate solutions to a range of predictable and sometimes unpredictable problems.
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 nutritional requirements for livestock | 1.1 Determine nutritional value of pasture and feedstuffs 1.2 Identify and assess livestock production status according to enterprise requirements 1.3 Determine essential requirements for livestock nutrition according to assessed livestock condition |
2. Assess pasture feed | 2.1 Determine grazing management strategy to ensure the sustainable stocking capacity of pasture 2.2 Monitor pasture for quantity and quality to ensure continual and consistent supply of nutrients to livestock 2.3 Monitor and assess pasture intake according to identified nutritional requirements of livestock |
3. Determine supplementary feeding program | 3.1 Determine economic basis to supplementary feeding according to enterprise requirements 3.2 Identify and determine types of supplementary feed for all classes of livestock 3.3 Determine supplementary feeding program to fill the pasture shortfall for predicted pasture growth |
4. Develop livestock feeding plan | 4.1 Develop and review feeding plan to ensure it remains responsive to changing conditions 4.2 Identify and carry out suitable feed conservation methods or fodder sources in preparation for abnormal conditions 4.3 Select a system of feeding that supplies the appropriate amount of feed to the herd/flock to meet condition and growth needs, and that meets production requirements of the business 4.4 Prepare a feed budget according to the selected system of feeding 4.5 Document data for continual assessment and effective management planning |
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:
research predicted seasonal pasture production for the area
estimate the feed value of a standing pasture at different times of the year
calculate the feed demand for different types of livestock and production phases
match feed supply and demand
assess feeding plan alternatives
develop and document a feeding plan
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:
nutritional and daily energy requirements of livestock
water quality and livestock tolerances
nutritional value of different feedstuffs
assessment procedures to ascertain livestock condition
methods of assessing pastures quality and quantity
pasture livestock carrying capacity
supplementary feeding strategies
change in nutritional requirements during late pregnancy and lactation
Assessment Conditions
Competency is to be assessed in the work place or 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)