Application
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to manage and handle animals in lairage prior to slaughter.
This unit is applicable to stock handlers in a slaughtering establishment.
All work should be carried out to comply with workplace and hygiene requirements.
This unit applies to individuals who work under general supervision, exercise limited autonomy and have some accountability for their own work.
No occupational licensing, legislative or certification requirements are known to apply to this unit at the time of publication.
This unit must be delivered and assessed in the context of Australian meat processing standards and regulations.
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. Manage animals in lairage | 1.1 Receive animals into lairage according to workplace requirements 1.2 Handle animals in lairage to minimise stress and according to workplace requirements 1.3 Deal with animal welfare issues in relation to the handling of animals in lairage according to regulatory and workplace requirements 1.4 Provide food and water according to workplace requirements 1.5 Maintain records of all livestock movements on plant according to workplace requirements 1.6 Handle animals according to workplace health and safety requirements 1.7 Maintain good housekeeping in yards 1.8 Report maintenance issues according to workplace requirements |
2. Present animals for slaughter | 2.1 Select animals for slaughter according to product specifications and workplace requirements 2.2 Prepare animals for slaughter at a rate to maintain productivity according to workplace requirements 2.3 Present animals for slaughter in a suitable condition to maintain the standards of product 2.4 Present animals for slaughter according to workplace, animal welfare, regulatory and workplace health and safety requirements |
3. Maintain flow and order of animals | 3.1 Make animals available to meet start-up times and chain speed requirements 3.2 Maintain flow and order of animals according to start-up times and chain speed requirements |
Evidence of Performance
The candidate must manage and handle animals in lairage prior to slaughter.
The candidate must:
plan and maintain the flow and order of animals to meet production requirements
ensure mob or lot separation and comply with regulatory or importing country's requirements
utilise stock identification systems accurately and comply with regulatory requirements related to the identification of stock
follow workplace recordkeeping procedures for receival of animals
keep accurate stock receival records
move stock around pens and lairage in accordance with workplace requirements
comply with animal welfare requirements for animals kept in lairage
deal with sick and injured stock in accordance with workplace and regulatory requirements
check condition of yards and report maintenance requirements
work cooperatively with other stock handlers
apply communication skills relevant to work instructions and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
fulfil workplace health and safety requirements for handling stock in lairage
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate a basic factual, technical and procedural knowledge of:
workplace Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and work instructions for animal handling
animal welfare requirements
regulatory and workplace requirements
Assessment Conditions
Competency must be demonstrated when meeting the demands of moving stock to supply normal production requirements. Assessment must be undertaken in an operating abattoir.
As a minimum, the following three forms of assessment must be used:
quiz of underpinning knowledge
workplace demonstration
workplace referee or third-party report of performance over time
Assessors must satisfy the current standards for RTOs.
Foundation Skills
Foundation Skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.