Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to manage the mating of pigs and monitor dry sow performance.
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 broad direction and use discretion and judgement in the selection and use of available resources.
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. Determine condition of pigs and adjust nutrition for mating | 1.1 Determine and record condition scores of pigs 1.2 Rank pigs according to scores and adjust nutritional requirements to ensure pigs are in optimum condition at mating 1.3 Ensure feeding strategies are appropriate for the housing environment and seasonal conditions 1.4 Monitor and assess condition of pigs regularly |
2. Facilitate mating | 2.1 Apply knowledge of relevant animal anatomy and physiology 2.2 Carry out oestrus inducement and detection procedures 2.3 Follow enterprise work health and safety and biosecurity policies 2.4 Ensure mating areas are secure and provide for access during joining 2.5 Use mating procedures and handling techniques that maximise welfare of pigs 2.6 Supervise mating and intervene when required to maximise conception rates |
3. Complete mating procedures | 3.1 Carry out regular post-mating heat detection to identify sows returning to oestrus 3.2 Complete mating records promptly and accurately |
4. Determine and provide adequate nutrition for pregnant sows | 4.1 Determine nutritional needs of pregnant sows using the enterprise feeding plan 4.2 Provide adequate and suitable feed and feed supplements in accordance with the feeding plan and sow condition |
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:
determine condition of pigs and adjust nutrition for mating
facilitate mating
complete mating procedures
determine and provide adequate nutrition for pregnant sows
follow work health and safety policies
follow biosecurity policies
follow animal welfare policies
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:
criteria and methods for body condition scoring of pigs
nutritional requirements, types of feed and feeding methods for pregnant and non-pregnant sows
methods and procedures for determining nutritional requirements of pregnant and non-pregnant sows
relevant husbandry and management practices for pregnant and non-pregnant sows
relevant anatomy and physiology of sows
reproductive physiology and pregnancy development of sows
methods and procedures for oestrus detection in sows
requirements, methods, procedures and management of mating in pigs
methods and management of conception rates in pigs
relevant animal welfare practices for mating of pigs
methods and procedures for pregnancy diagnosis in sows
relevant documentation and records that are required
relevant work health and safety and biosecurity requirements
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)