Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to care for grower 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 growers | 1.1 Clean and prepare accommodation for new grower stock according to enterprise procedures 1.2 Follow enterprise work health and safety policies 1.3 Control and monitor environment in line with established enterprise biosecurity and environmental policies 1.4 Fill or prepare feeders and drinkers according to instructions 1.5 Identify problems with accommodation and/or environmental controls and report to supervisor for appropriate action |
2. Carry out grower and finisher pig operations | 2.1 Monitor pig condition and health regularly as an integral part of daily routines 2.2 Check feeders and drinkers regularly as part of daily routines 2.3 Move pig groups as required in line with growth, condition and stocking density 2.4 Remove poor performing pigs from groups and reassign in line with enterprise policy 2.5 Isolate sick, injured or unhealthy pigs in a quarantine area or identify for euthanasia according to enterprise animal welfare policies 2.6 Apply health treatments when required and according to supervisor's instructions and enterprise policy 2.7 Record or report grower mortalities to the supervisor and remove deceased stock according to enterprise policy. |
3. Identify and select sale pigs | 3.1 Identify pig according to enterprise market requirements 3.2 Assess pigs for transportation prior to loading 3.3 Complete or verify property banding for every sale animal 3.4 Separate pigs not fit to load and take appropriate action according to enterprise policy 3.5 Complete pig pass and other documentation for accurately and consistently |
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 growers
carry out grower and finisher pig operations
identify and select sale pigs
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 grower and finisher 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 grower pig health and welfare
optimal range of values for ventilation, temperature, humidity and other environmental parameters for grower pigs and methods for measuring these values
requirements and components of enterprise work routines for grower pigs
techniques and methods for humane handling and restraint of pigs
requirements, methods and procedures for formation of viable grower 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 grower pigs
criteria and methods of assessing optimal stocking densities of grower pigs
requirements, methods and procedures for removal and disposal of pig carcasses
types, uses and procedures of relevant veterinary and preventive treatments of grower 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
criteria, methods and procedures for assessing suitability of pigs for transport and loading
features and requirements of property banding and PigPass
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)