Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to supervise the natural mating of livestock.
This unit applies to livestock producers and those with supervisory responsibilities within pastoral production enterprises.
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. Prepare animals for breeding | 1.1 Access and confirm requirements of enterprise breeding program and relevant animal data 1.2 Identify work health and safety hazards, assess risks, and implement, monitor and review risk controls in line with enterprise policies 1.3 Identify and prepare joining areas using a range of selection factors 1.4 Handle animals safely and humanely to minimise stress and discomfort and in line with industry and enterprise animal welfare requirements 1.5 Draft animals according to mating plan and in appropriate ratios to encourage optimum mating 1.6 Determine and meet sire requirements in advance of mating 1.7 Prepare and examine animals for mating |
2. Implement breeding program and monitor mating | 2.1 Access veterinary advice according to animal’s needs, enterprise requirements and industry practice 2.2 Identify and schedule dates and timing of breeding 2.3 Carry out physical examination of animals to evaluate health and welfare status of animals 2.4 Observe behaviour of animals during joining to identify necessity of intervention and assistance 2.5 Provide assistance as required |
3. Complete breeding program | 3.1 Remove sires from herd, mob or flock where required 3.2 Monitor mating activity to ensure successful joinings have occurred, to identify problems and to effect remedial action as required 3.3 Arrange for pregnancy testing to determine the effectiveness of joining 3.4 Record and document data to develop history of mating performance and outcomes 3.5 Research industry information of emerging and prevailing practices and compare with enterprise practice to recommend future improvements |
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 of safe operating procedures
carry out physical examination of sires and females for health and breeding soundness
prepare animals for joining
monitor joining activity and returns to oestrus
access, interpret and record data associated with mating program
implement relevant animal welfare practices
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:
mating behaviour
anatomy and physiology of the reproductive organs and reproductive process in animals
required live weights and conditions for mating
environmental influences and their effects on joining
ovulation stimulation and synchronisation
enterprise's breeding programs and selection criteria (EBV & ASBV)
pregnancy testing/ scanning procedures
animal health and abnormalities
relevant State/Territory legislation, regulations and Codes of Practice with regard to work health and safety and animal welfare
enterprise and industry policies with regard to recording and reporting requirements
identification of veterinary and non-veterinary procedures
Assessment Conditions
Competency is to be assessed in the work place or workplace and 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)