RGRPSG303A
Determine nutritional requirements for racing greyhounds

This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to prepare rations for racing greyhounds and assess the range of feed, additives and supplements in relation to quality industry regulations.This unit also requires the ability to apply nutritional principles, formulate basic rations, assess and select feed, monitor individual greyhound feeding programs and comply with the rules of racing.This unit of competency operates in work environments of racing kennels, racecourses and public areas.Licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements may apply to this unit. Check with your State Principal Racing Authority for current license or registration requirements.

Application

This unit of competency supports supervisors, trainers and others in the greyhound racing industry responsible for determining nutritional requirements for racing greyhounds.

This unit can be contextualised for other industries while also maintaining the integrity of the unit.


Elements and Performance Criteria

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Prepare rations for racing greyhounds.

1. Nutritional principles to be applied to formulation of individual rations for a range of greyhounds in care are established.

2. Individual rations appropriate to greyhound's condition, workload and stage of training are formulated.

Assess range of feed, additives and supplements for greyhounds.

3. Feed is selected for a particular animal on the basis of quality, and nutritional and economic value .

4. Supplements and feed additives are assessed on the basis of active ingredients, price and nutritional needs of specific greyhounds.

5. Supplements andfeed additives selected are checked for rules of racing and animal welfare compliance.

Monitor kennel feeding practices.

6. Individual greyhounds are assessed for condition and nutritional needs.

7. Individual greyhound's eating behaviour, feed intake and work level are monitored and recorded .

Required Skills

Required skills

applying safe work practices when determining nutritional requirements of greyhounds

applying nutritional principles

assessing quality feed

communicating with employer, supervisor, co-workers, feed merchants and others using assertive communication techniques to gather and relay information related to nutritional requirements of racing greyhounds

completing duties in accordance with safe operating procedures and nominated time frame

complying with animal welfare policies in the care, management and feeding of greyhounds

following instructions

identifying and correctly using different feed components and feed supplements

identifying behaviour traits and eating patterns of individual greyhounds

identifying changes to greyhound behaviour

identifying individual greyhounds

identifying quality, type and value of feed

identifying spoiled or contaminated feed

monitoring and maintaining feed records

preparing feed rations

reading and interpreting workplace documentation, including relevant rules of racing

recognising changes in greyhounds' condition

relating to people from a range of social, cultural and ethnic backgrounds and with varying physical and mental abilities

reporting problems promptly

supporting others in handling and providing rations to greyhounds in the appropriate manner

weighing feed items and greyhounds

written communication skills to complete workplace documentation and reports.

Required knowledge

greyhound digestive system

communication procedures within kennel and wider racing industry

common greyhound behaviour, social traits and vices

economic value of various feeds

feed and feed supplements

industry terminology related to handling, caring and feeding greyhounds

interaction between feed and supplements that may result in contravention of industry regulations

methods used to measure feed value, including weighing feeds

methods used to measure greyhound weight and condition

monitoring systems

nutritional principles in respect to greyhounds' age, condition and needs while in training and racing

nutritional value of various feeds

quality of feed

racing industry animal welfare requirements

racing industry safety requirements, including safe operating procedures

relevant rules of racing

sources and importance of energy, protein, fibre, minerals, trace elements and vitamins in a feed ration.

Evidence Required

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to workplace operations and satisfy all of the requirements of the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge and the range statement of this unit and include evidence of the following:

knowledge of the requirements, procedures and instructions that apply to determine nutritional requirements for racing greyhounds

implementation of procedures and timely techniques for the safe, effective and efficient application and monitoring of greyhound nutritional requirements

working with others to undertake and complete feeding regime procedures that meet required outcomes.

Evidence should be collected over a period of time using a range of greyhounds of different ages, sexes and temperaments, and at different stages of preparation in racing kennel and track environments.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Competency must be assessed in a racing workplace that provides access to the required resources or simulated environment approved by the relevant State Principal Racing Authority. Assessment is to occur under standard and authorised work practices, safety requirements and environmental constraints. It is to comply with relevant regulatory requirements or Australian Standards requirements.

Assessment of the practical components of this unit will be by observation of relevant skills.

The following resources must be available:

a variety of greyhounds

materials and equipment relevant to assessing candidate's ability to determine and monitor nutritional requirements of racing greyhounds

safe handling areas, such as commercial kennels, and training and racetracks

work instructions and related documentation.

Method of assessment

Assessment methods must satisfy the endorsed Assessment Guidelines of the Racing Training Package.

The suggested strategies for the assessment of this unit are:

written and/or oral assessment of candidate's required knowledge

observed, documented and firsthand testimonial evidence of candidate's application of practical tasks

simulation exercises conducted in a State Principal Racing Authority approved simulated environment.

Evidence is required to be demonstrated over a period of time, therefore where performance is not directly observed any evidence should be authenticated by supervisors or other appropriate persons.

This unit may be assessed in a holistic way with other units of competency relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role, for example:

RGRPSG401A Relate anatomical and physiological features to the care and treatment of greyhounds

RGRPSG402A Manage greyhound health and welfare

RGRPSG403A Plan and implement education and training of greyhounds for racing.

Guidance information for assessment

Assessment methods should reflect workplace demands (e.g. literacy and numeracy demands) and the needs of particular target groups (e.g. people with disabilities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, women, people with a language background other than English, youth and people from low socioeconomic backgrounds).


Range Statement

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording in the performance criteria is detailed below.

The range statement provides details of how this competency can be used in the workplaces of the racing industry to determine nutritional requirements for racing greyhounds. Workplaces include greyhound kennels and racecourses, training tracks and public areas.

Nutritional principles may include:

digestive system features:

mouth and teeth

stomach

small intestine

large intestine

digestive problems

feeding habits:

effect of temperature

normal eating patterns

kennel eating patterns

social influences

nutrients:

carbohydrates

fat

fibre

minerals

protein

vitamins

water

weight of feeds.

Rations may include:

bones

fresh meat

kibble

pre-packaged food or bulk base food

variety of grains and energy sources

vegetables.

Workload and stage of training may include:

age and gender of greyhound

body condition

exercise schedule

trial and racing schedule

weight.

Quality, and nutritional and economic value may include:

age of material

alternative feed options

contaminants, for example:

presence or absence of mould or rot

rodent or other spoilage

cost compared to benefit gained

food value.

Supplements and feed additives may include:

appetite stimulants

electrolytes

minerals

oils

trace elements

vitamins.

Supplements and feed additives are selected and checked to avoid:

accidental introduction of banned substances that contravene the rules of racing.

Greyhound feeding behaviour may be monitored and recorded to include:

age, gender, weight and body condition of greyhound

feeding regime plan, including:

individual greyhound's changes in feeding due to training, racing or distractions

individual greyhound taste and eating pattern

ingredients of the ration and alternatives

quantity of each ingredient

supplements to be included

when variation to ration may be offered

recording and monitoring feeding patterns and body condition to identify:

circumstances that may require adjustments to daily rations

dietary disturbances that require appropriate treatment

injuries that may be aggravated or caused by feeding regime

training program and racing schedule.


Sectors

Unit Sector

Greyhound racing code


Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.


Licensing Information

Refer to Unit Descriptor