This unit applies to those whose job role includes testing animals for pregnancy. Veterinary advice may need to be sought in some cases where pregnancy symptoms are difficult to detect, or animals are to be identified as pregnant for sale.

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Prepare for pregnancy diagnosis procedures

1.1. Pregnancy testing preparations including the preparation of relevant documentation are completed according to organisation requirements and procedures.

1.2. Animals are mustered, yarded and safely restrained in line with organisation policy.

1.3. Animals to be tested are drafted according to breeding or management program requirements.

1.4. Physical and human resources for pregnancy testing are assembled according to organisation policy.

2. Arrange support for pregnancy testing procedures

2.1. Pregnancy testing supplies and equipment are assembled for the pregnancy testers use.

2.2. Individual animals are separated and restrained for veterinary treatment or examination.

2.3. All handling and testing of animals is undertaken with strict adherence to the Code of Animal Welfare.

2.4. Records of pregnancy testing operations are completed in line with established procedures and outcomes reported to management as required.

3. Carry out manual pregnancy diagnosis procedures

3.1. Individual animals are humanely restrained for testing and individual breeding records checked.

3.2. Personal protective equipment, including appropriate hand protection, is fitted and used according to organisation policy.

3.3. While working with animals, Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) hazards are continually identified, risks assessed and suitable controls implemented.

3.4. Rectal area of animal is cleaned as required prior to examination.

3.5. Rectal examination/palpation is humanely carried out to establish pregnancy or non-pregnancy from a range of key indicators.

3.6. Strict hygiene procedures are implemented between individual animals in line with organisation and industry requirements.

3.7. Records are kept and non pregnant animals identified according to organisation requirements.

3.8. Other indicators of animal health are observed and noted for input to herd health management.

4. Carry out post pregnancy testing clean up procedure

4.1. Animals diagnosed as pregnant or not pregnant are accurately identified according to the requirements of the organisation.

4.2. All animals are consigned to their destination or returned to paddocks/pens in line with organisation needs.

4.3. Debris and veterinary medicine containers from pregnancy testing operations are disposed of in full consideration of environmental considerations and controls.

4.4. Regular monitoring of animals post testing is carried out to ensure that no evidence of physical damage or injury is evident.

Required skills

identify hazards and implement safe operating procedures

provide empathic care for animals during husbandry operations

report clearly, accurately and in a timely fashion on the health and welfare of the animals

accept advice and instruction

work effectively and safely to accurately carry out manual pregnancy diagnosis with safety and nil damage to animals or personnel

use literacy skills to read, interpret and follow organisational policies and procedures, develop sequenced written instructions, record accurately and legibly information collected and select and apply procedures to a range of tasks

use oral communication skills/language competence to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation including questioning, active listening, asking for clarification, negotiating solutions and responding to a range of views

use numeracy skills to estimate, calculate and record routine and more complex workplace measures and data

use interpersonal skills to work with others and relate to people from a range of cultural, social and religious backgrounds and with a range of physical and mental abilities.

Required knowledge

the physiology of reproduction of the animal

the stages of parturition in animals

basic animal reproductive physiology

animal reproductive systems

animal embryological development

relevant zoonoses

OHS and animal welfare legislation, codes of practice and enterprise procedures

recording and reporting systems used in conjunction with pregnancy diagnosis and animal breeding programs.

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to workplace operations and satisfy holistically all of the requirements of the performance criteria and required skills and knowledge and include achievement of the following:

draft animals and source information on joining to assist in pregnancy testing

restrain each animal for pregnancy testing using humane methods and facilities

detect pregnancy through several manually determined key indicators

maintain records of pregnancy testing

monitor animals after pregnancy testing.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Competency requires the application of work practices under work conditions. Selection and use of resources for some worksites may differ due to the regional or enterprise circumstances.

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole.

Pregnancy testing may include:

the manual pregnancy testing of cattle and horses. This standard does not cover pregnancy scanning.

Unit sector

Livestock

This unit contains employability skills.