Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to supervise animal health programs.
This unit applies to managers of animal production enterprises and covers the process of implementing and monitoring animal health programs.
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.
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 and assess animal health | 1.1 Conduct regular observations to assess animals' health 1.2 Recognise and report symptoms of ill health and common diseases or parasite infestations 1.3 Carry out sampling and arrange testing for internal parasites or diseases where required 1.4 Refer unusual or suspected exotic disease outbreaks for veterinary advice in line with biosecurity legislation and enterprise policies 1.5 Report notifiable diseases and comply with all restrictions and treatment requirements 1.6 Record animal health status 1.7 Identify work health and safety hazards, assess risks and implement and monitor suitable controls 1.8 Select, use and maintain appropriate hygiene measures and suitable personal protective equipment (PPE) 1.9 Monitor and record animal welfare status in line with enterprise and legislative requirements 1.10 Dispose of deceased animals according to environmental policies |
2. Implement preventative health strategies | 2.1 Identify risks to animal health, and source strategies, from the production plan, relevant expert or specialist consultant where applicable 2.2 Develop and implement a vaccination program to control clostridial and other diseases 2.3 Identify livestock prone to internal parasite build up and plan out the timing of treatments 2.4 Implement or research pest and disease control strategies based around pasture spelling and rotations of different classes of livestock 2.5 Plan the health treatments for animals using an integrated approach 2.6 Use drenches, vaccines and other stock medications according to manufacturer instructions and comply with withholding periods 2.7 Rotate drench groups to minimise the risk of parasite resistance |
3. Record and review the animal health program | 3.1 Record all treatments and maintain an inventory of stock medicines 3.2 Record health issues and record the results of tissue, organ and blood samples if applicable 3.3 Use records of health tests and animal health treatments, including animal production records, to review the animal health plan |
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:
identify hazards, assess risks and implement and monitor safe work practices and appropriate hygiene procedures
monitor the health and wellbeing of animals
detect possibility of disease through parameters such as loss of bodyweight behaviour or length of time required to eat food
recognise clinical symptoms (normal vs. abnormal)
recognise abnormal physiological and behavioural signs in livestock
collect samples for testing for internal parasites and diseases
implement preventative health strategies
administer vaccines and medications to animals
maintain records associated with animal health programs
implement relevant biosecurity and animal welfare practices
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:
symptoms of common livestock diseases and parasite infestations
storage conditions for a range of chemicals, including veterinary chemicals
types of vaccines and how they work
zoonotic diseases and their mode of transmission
animal anatomy and physiology relevant to the collection of tissue, organ, blood and other biological samples in live and dead animals and the conduct of post-mortems
relevant biosecurity requirements
management practices and processes to minimise noise, odours, and debris from the livestock operations
relevant legislation, regulations and codes of practice relating to the use of veterinary medicines, animal diseases, animal welfare and waste and environmental management,
relevant work health and safety legislation, regulations and codes of practice
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)