Application
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to humanely, hygienically and safely assess, purchase and transport young (bobby) calves.
This unit is applicable to operators who pick up young calves at dairy farms and transport them to processing works and depots for consolidating orders.
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. Inspect calves available for collection from farms | 1.1 Check calves to meet specifications for transport and slaughter 1.2 Check calves to meet regulatory requirements 1.3 Identify and reject calves not suitable for transport or slaughter, where necessary 1.4 Explain reasons for rejecting calves to farmers (where necessary) |
2. Weigh and load young calves, where applicable | 2.1 Lift calves safely and humanely onto scales 2.2 Load calves safely onto truck or trailer 2.3 Record weights 2.4 Identify and minimise workplace health and safety risks when loading calves |
3. Prepare paperwork associated with purchase of young calves | 3.1 Complete National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) and National Vendor Declaration (NVD) requirements for calves to be transported 3.2 Prepare paperwork in accordance with company and regulatory requirements |
4. Transport young calves | 4.1 Plan collection trips to meet company and regulatory requirements 4.2 Transport calves in accordance with company and regulatory requirements 4.3 Monitor calves in transport in accordance with company and regulatory requirements 4.4 Take appropriate action to manage sick or injured calves |
5. Unload calves | 5.1 Unload calves safely and humanely according to company and regulatory requirements 5.2 Complete and present required paperwork |
Evidence of Performance
The candidate must humanely, hygienically and safely assess, purchase and transport young (bobby) calves.
The candidate must:
identify calves fit for transport and processing
communicate to explain reasons for refusing selection of calves
load, transport and unload bobby calves humanely, safely and hygienically
accurately complete relevant paperwork
plan pick up runs to meet regulatory and company requirements for time off feed
identify and observe workplace health and safety requirements when handling calves
read and interpret relevant workplace documents
share information
manage time and priorities
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate a basic factual, technical and procedural knowledge of:
relevant company and regulatory requirements
relevant calf behaviour
animal welfare issues associated with handling and transporting young calves
relevant paperwork for purchasing
record keeping requirements
NLIS requirements
Assessment Conditions
Competencies for handling, loading, transport and unloading of calves must be demonstrated using live animals. Assessment must be conducted under normal operating conditions.
As a minimum, the following three forms of assessment must be used:
workplace demonstration
quiz of underpinning knowledge
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.