Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to plan and monitor intensive production systems.
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. Source information for input to production system planning | 1.1 Consult livestock production plan for details of current period planning, enterprise requirements and market expectations 1.2 Analyse key production data to establish unit performance 1.3 Access and analyse information regarding the characteristics of the herd/flock under production 1.4 Access and analyse regulatory, industry and enterprise requirements that impact on the production system 1.5 Access and analyse market information regarding quality, standards and trends for input to the planning process |
2. Plan for production | 2.1 Determine target unit performance through a comparison with industry and enterprise standards 2.2 Establish and confirm production targets using data and information from unit’s livestock production 2.3 Determine resources required to achieve production targets in terms of personnel, equipment and materials 2.4 Organise and engage staff and contractors to suit the production plan and its targets 2.5 Select and order other resources according to enterprise guidelines |
3. Plan for animals’ needs, environmental and effluent management to ensure welfare of animals and achieve production targets | 3.1 Assess and calculate housing, effluent management, environmental management and biosecurity requirements from livestock numbers, market requirements and regulatory requirements 3.2 Evaluate construction and equipment system options and select the best option 3.3 Select materials chosen for construction according to animal welfare needs, cost and efficiency 3.4 Determine aspects of the production environment according to animals’ welfare needs, efficiency of systems and market expectations 3.5 Select animal feed based on animal production, the size of the herd/flock, and the suitability of available feed products |
4. Determine scheduling and key responsibilities | 4.1 Determine scheduling for the production plan taking the range of seasonal, geographic and resourcing factors into consideration 4.2 Determine key responsibilities for specific implementation processes 4.3 Determine documentation and record keeping requirements and put procedures in place to ensure compliance with the range of applicable regulations 4.4 Ensure the production plan, including scheduling and key responsibilities, is clearly documented 4.5 Ensure the production plan includes the type, format, frequency and detail of all reporting requirements by managers and operators |
5. Monitor and adjust production plan strategies | 5.1 Evaluate the effectiveness of the production plan at key points and make adjustments as necessary 5.2 Identify, monitor and assess environmental impacts and work health and safety hazards relating to the production plan throughout the implementation process 5.3 Make modifications to the production plan as and when necessary |
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:
analyse key production data, herd/flock information and market requirements
set production targets and identify resources needed to achieve them
plan accommodation that meets animal welfare and production requirements
develop feeding plans and evaluate alternatives for feed purchasing, milling and distribution
determine work responsibilities and staffing requirements
handle waste and effluent in line with environmental requirements and legislation
monitor, review and adjust intensive production plans
implement relevant work health and safety requirements
implement relevant biosecurity, animal welfare and environmental management requirements and practices
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:
functions, parameters and scope of production plans
type and use of information from enterprise production plans and enterprise production data that can be used to formulate production system planning and production unit performance targets
type and use of information on herd/flock characteristics; regulatory, industry and enterprise requirements; industry and enterprise standards and benchmarks; market specifications for product qualities, product standards and market trends; production unit’s history and data, for the formulation of the production system plan and performance targets
types, quantities, assessment and calculation, procurement and selection of manpower, material, equipment and other resources required for the production plan
types and functions of, and methods for assessing and calculating requirements of, housing, effluent management and environmental management infrastructure
efficiency and cost benefit ratios of different types of housing, effluent management and environmental effluent infrastructure and systems, taking into account animal welfare requirements and enterprise production targets
types, functions and cost benefit ratios of livestock feeds
relevant aspects and impacts of production cycles and staff job roles on production planning
relevant regulatory, industry and enterprise documentation, records and reporting requirements for implementation of production plans
methods for assessing and evaluating production plans
relevant work health and safety requirements
relevant environmental requirements and sustainability practices
relevant biosecurity requirements
relevant animal welfare 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)