Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to conduct outdoor pig operations.
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 housing | 1.1 Follow enterprise work health and safety and biosecurity policies 1.2 Clean, disinfect and prepare housing for pigs 1.3 Prepare and fill feeders and drinkers 1.4 Prepare appropriate outdoor environment amenities as required 1.5 Report problems with housing |
2. Provide for care and welfare of pigs | 2.1 Identify and check that care and welfare needs of pigs are met in compliance with the relevant legislation, codes of practice and industry standards and guidelines 2.2 Provide appropriate feed and water supplies for pigs 2.3 Carry out handling, husbandry and enterprise procedures safely and appropriately |
3. Carry out operational tasks | 3.1 Wean litter according to established enterprise schedules if required 3.2 Select pigs from different litters to form viable groups based on body weight and sex at optimal stocking densities for maximum productivity, if required 3.3 Check behaviour and condition of pigs regularly and report as required 3.4 Administer preventative treatments according to enterprise schedules and supervisor instructions 3.5 Carry out maintenance of production environment as required |
4. Check pigs | 4.1 Check pig condition and health as part of regular routine 4.2 Check feeders and drinkers as part of regular routine 4.3 Check infrastructure and amenities, and carry out maintenance as required 4.4 Move pig groups as required in line with growth and condition 4.5 Remove poor performing pigs from existing groups and regroup 4.6 Isolate sick, injured or unhealthy pigs or identify for euthanasia 4.7 Apply health treatments when required 4.8 Remove dead pigs and report and record as required. 4.9 Check production environmental conditions, report and carry out maintenance as required |
5. Complete records | 5.1 Complete required documentation and records accurately and promptly 5.2 Report to supervisor and management as required |
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 housing
provide for care and welfare of pigs
carry out operational tasks
check pigs
complete records
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:
relevant legislation, codes of practice, industry standards and guidelines for outdoor pig production
types, functions, characteristics, cleaning and maintenance of outdoor pigs
requirements and components of enterprise work routines for outdoor pigs
types, functions, characteristics, cleaning and maintenance of relevant outdoor pig housing and production installations and equipment, such as feeders and drinkers
techniques and methods for humane handling and restraint of pigs in outdoor production environments
requirements, methods and procedures for weaning piglets
requirements, methods and procedures for formation of viable 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 outdoor pigs
criteria and methods of assessing optimal stocking densities of pigs
requirements, methods and procedures for removal and disposal of pig carcasses
types, uses and procedures of relevant veterinary and preventive treatments of pigs
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 pig operations
requirements and maintenance of outdoor pig production environment
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)