Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to care for weaner pigs.
All work must be carried out to comply with workplace procedures, work health and safety, animal welfare and biosecurity legislation and codes, and sustainability practices.
This unit applies to individuals who work under general supervision and exercise limited autonomy with some accountability for own work. They undertake defined activities and work in a structured context.
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 accommodation for weaners | 1.1 Clean, disinfect and prepare appropriate accommodation for all classes of weaned pigs according to enterprise procedures and instructions 1.2 Check and adjust housing environment and conditions as required to ensure appropriate ventilation, temperature and humidity 1.3 Fill or prepare feeders and drinkers according to supervisor's instructions 1.4 Identify problems with accommodation or environmental controls and report to the supervisor for appropriate action 1.5 Conduct all work according to enterprise requirements, work health and safety, biosecurity, animal welfare and industry regulations |
2. Carry out weaner pig operations | 2.1 Group pigs from different litters to form viable groups based on body weight and sex at stocking densities to achieve optimal productivity 2.2 Monitor behaviour, health and condition of weaners regularly and take appropriate actions 2.3 Provide weaners with water and appropriate feed according to the established feed schedule to meet nutritional and growth requirements 2.4 Record or report weaner mortalities to the supervisor and remove deceased stock according to enterprise policy 2.5 Administer preventative treatments according to enterprise schedules and the supervisor's instructions |
3. Transition weaners to grower facility | 3.1 Identify pigs for transition to grower facilities 3.2 Separate pigs not fit to load and take appropriate actions according to company policy 3.3 Identify pigs that have been treated and record withholding periods (WHP) for grower facility 3.4 Complete documentation clearly, accurately and promptly |
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:
prepare accommodation for weaners
carry out weaner pig operations
transition weaners to grower facility
follow work health and safety policies
follow biosecurity policies
follow animal welfare policies
follow environmental policies
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:
types, characteristics, requirements and care of weaner pigs
types, functions, characteristics, cleaning and maintenance of relevant pig accommodation and production installations and equipment, such as feeders and drinkers
range, effects and impacts of ventilation, temperature, humidity and other environmental parameters on weaner pig health and welfare
optimal range of values for ventilation, temperature, humidity and other environmental parameters for weaner pigs and methods for measuring these values
requirements and components of enterprise work routines for weaner pigs
techniques and methods for humane handling and restraint of pigs
requirements, methods and procedures for weaning piglets
requirements, methods and procedures for formation of viable weaner groups, and the impacts of a viable group on individual pig health and production
signs of health, signs of ill health, and methods for assessing pig health, welfare and behaviour
nutritional requirements and methods and procedures for feeding and watering weaner pigs
criteria and methods of assessing optimal stocking densities of weaner pigs
criteria for assessing suitability of weaner pigs for transition to grower facilities
requirements, methods and procedures for removal and disposal of pig carcasses
types, uses and procedures of relevant veterinary and preventive treatments of weaner pigs
withholding periods of veterinary chemicals and medicines and rationale for withholding periods
types, handling, use and disposal of cleaning agents and disinfectants , work health and safety and environmental practices for these chemicals
types of documentation and records that are required for weaner pig operations
relevant work health and safety and biosecurity requirements and environmental practices
Assessment Conditions
Competency is to be assessed in the workplace OR workplace and simulated environment that accurately reflects 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
Pork (PRK)