Application
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to perform ante-mortem and post-mortem inspection duties on calves in accordance with the Australian Standard.
This unit is applicable to those who seek employment and registration as a meat inspector in either the domestic or export processing sectors.
All work should be carried out to comply with workplace procedures, customer requirements and product specifications.
This unit applies to individuals who work under broad direction and take responsibility for their own work including limited responsibility for the work of others. They provide and communicate solutions to a range of predictable problems.
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. Identify regulatory requirements for calves | 1.1 Explain sources of calves for slaughter 1.2 Identify regulatory requirements for the handling and processing of calves |
2. Identify the main reasons for ante-mortem inspection | 2.1 Explain reasons for ante-mortem inspection 2.2 Identify regulatory requirements associated with ante-mortem inspection |
3. Perform ante-mortem inspection on cattle and/or buffalo | 3.1 Identify and explain procedures and principles of humane handling of calves 3.2 Detect and identify signs of common conditions responsible for abnormalities at ante-mortem 3.3 Identify procedures for humane destruction 3.4 Identify procedures for emergency and suspect slaughter 3.5 Perform ante-mortem inspection on calves according to relevant workplace health and safety and regulatory requirements 3.6 Identify Quality Assurance aspects of ante-mortem inspection |
4. Make disposition as a result of inspection and take appropriate action | 4.1 Identify and describe common diseases and conditions responsible for abnormalities in calves 4.2 Segregate suspect stock according to regulatory and workplace requirements 4.3 Identify signs of emergency or notifiable diseases that could be seen at ante-mortem 4.4 Describe emergency or notifiable disease procedures as set out in the relevant regulations |
5. Identify base anatomical structure systems of cattle or buffalo | 5.1 Identify organs of calves 5.2 Identify and explain lymphatic, circulatory, digestive, urinary, nervous and respiratory systems 5.3 Identify basic skeletal structure of cattle and/or buffalo |
6. Identify the main reasons for post-mortem inspection | 6.1 Identify reasons for post-mortem inspection 6.2 Identify regulatory requirements associated with post-mortem inspection |
7. Perform post-mortem inspection of cattle or buffalo | 7.1 Follow procedures for post-mortem inspection 7.2 Identify and detect abnormalities 7.3 Perform post-mortem inspection on calves in accordance with regulatory requirements, hygiene and sanitation requirements and workplace health and safety requirements, in a work environment and under normal production conditions 7.4 Identify Quality Assurance (QA) requirements of post-mortem inspection |
8. Make disposition | 8.1 Detect and identify common diseases and conditions responsible for abnormalities for calves 8.2 Identify and explain symptoms of notifiable diseases |
9. Treat affected carcase appropriately | 9.1 Treat carcase in accordance with regulatory, hygiene and sanitation, and workplace health and safety requirements 9.2 Demonstrate anatomical knowledge of carcase in the disposition process |
10. Monitor stunning and slaughter of animals | 10.1 Identify requirements for effective stunning and slaughter 10.2 Ensure animals are stunned and bled according to workplace and regulatory requirements 10.3 Take corrective action in the event of ineffective stunning or bleeding |
11. Describe the procedures followed for retained carcase on the slaughter floor | 11.1 Identify and describe procedures for retained carcase in accordance with workplace and regulatory requirements |
12. Identify and use Personal and Protective Equipment (PPE) required to perform post-mortem inspection | 12.1 Identify and explain the purpose of the PPE equipment required for post-mortem inspection 12.2 Use equipment in accordance with QA and workplace requirements 12.3 Use, maintain and store Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in accordance with workplace health and safety requirements |
13. Take pathological and residue samples to assist in determining disposition | 13.1 Identify tissue necessary for determining dispositions and/or routine testing 13.2 Collect and submit specimens according to workplace procedures 13.3 Interpret results 13.4 Retain carcases awaiting results according to workplace procedures |
Evidence of Performance
Candidates must perform the ante-mortem and post-mortem inspection of calves to Australian Standards and other relevant regulatory requirements in a workplace environment under normal operating conditions.
The candidate must:
perform ante-mortem inspection in accordance with the Australian Standard and where relevant other importing country requirements
describe principles and procedures for humane handling
identify common diseases and conditions found at ante-mortem
describe symptoms of emergency or notifiable diseases
make correct dispositions for the emergency, notifiable and common diseases and conditions found at ante mortem in accordance with the Australian Standard
segregate suspect animals in accordance with the Australian Standard and / or importing country requirements
identify the steps and procedures for humane destruction, emergency and suspect kills
identify the organs, skeletal structure and elements of the lymphatic, circulatory, digestive, urinary, nervous and respiratory systems relevant to meat inspection duties
perform post-mortem inspection in accordance with the Australian Standard and, where relevant, other importing country requirements
identify common diseases and conditions found at post-mortem
describe the symptoms of emergency and notifiable diseases found at post mortem
make correct dispositions for the common, emergency and notifiable diseases and conditions in accordance with the Australian Standard
treat carcases and offal in accordance with the Australian Standard and/or importing country requirements
monitor restraint, stunning and bleeding in order to detect, assess and report animal welfare issues
take and dispatch samples for mandated testing
treat carcases being held for test results in accordance with regulatory or importing country requirements
perform inspection duties in accordance with workplace health and safety requirements
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate a factual, technical, procedural and theoretical knowledge of:
the physiology and anatomy of cattle and/or buffalo
the Australian Standard procedures for the ante and post mortem inspection of calves
additional inspection procedures relevant to the plant where assessment of the trainee is taking place
humane and efficient slaughtering techniques including restraint, stunning and bleeding
procedures for retaining carcases
carcase sampling and testing
workplace health and safety hazards and work place requirements
role of equipment for meeting hygiene and sanitation and workplace requirements
correct technique for incision of parts and organs
procedures for disposal of condemned carcase
procedures for identifying, collecting and submitting specimens
segregation requirements for suspect animals
steps and procedures for humane destruction, emergency and suspect kills
steps in ante-mortem inspection and recognise abnormal conditions
symptoms of common diseases and conditions
symptoms of major emergency or notifiable diseases
regulatory requirements associated with emergency or notifiable diseases
the relevant registration processes and procedures for meat inspectors at their specific plant
Assessment Conditions
Assessment of ante and post mortem inspection must be conducted in a slaughtering establishment and assessment of post mortem inspection must be at chain speed.
As a minimum, assessment must consist of the following three forms of assessment:
a workplace referee report which documents at least 10 practice ante-mortem inspections and 100 hours of post-mortem inspection practice on the chain under the supervision of a qualified meat inspector or on plant veterinary officer (note that this may be reduced to 50 hours if this is the second post-mortem inspection unit selected) The candidate must diarise the practice including the number of livestock / carcases inspected and conditions detected and this has to be verified by a workplace supervisor or mentor
knowledge test which must include an assessment of the candidates knowledge of common diseases and conditions as well as emergency and notifiable diseases
on-the-job assessment with assessor observation
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.