Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit covers the process of monitoring livestock production growing environments and defines the standard required to: monitor livestock health and welfare; monitor the environment; monitor feed systems and water supplies; perform routine maintenance checks.

Application of the unit 

This unit applies to workers on livestock grazing enterprises and involves responsibility for the welfare of livestock, reporting to management.

Prerequisite units 

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Monitor livestock health and welfare

1.1. Workplace information is interpreted and clarified with the supervisor.

1.2. Slow growing livestock are identified and reported per enterprise requirements.

1.3. Animals are assessed for overall health and welfare according to enterprise procedures.

2. Monitor the growing environment

2.1. Environmental parameters are monitored according to the production plan and adjustments made as required.

2.2. Hygiene and welfare procedures are monitored and adjusted according to enterprise guidelines.

2.3. Disposal of waste and debris is monitored to ensure it follows enterprise guidelines, and with due consideration of the environmental implications.

3. Monitor feed

3.1. Feed is monitored to ensure the correct diet is offered to livestock for optimum growing conditions according to enterprise procedures.

3.2. Feed is monitored to ensure fresh palatable feed is available to livestock according to enterprise procedures.

4. Perform routine maintenance checks

4.1. All buildings, structures and production areas are inspected and checked for wear and tear.

4.2. Equipment for delivering water and feed is checked according to enterprise guidelines.

4.3. Equipment controlling the atmospheric environment is checked according to enterprise guidelines.

4.4. Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) hazards are identified, risk assessed and suitable controls implemented according to enterprise guidelines.

5. Complete monitoring activities

5.1. Any significant problems are reported to the manager and/or owner operator.

5.2. All checks are recorded according to enterprise requirements.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

This section describes the skills and knowledge required for this unit.

Required skills 

• identify hazards and implement safe work practices
• monitor livestock health and welfare
• monitor the environment
• monitor feed systems and water supplies
• perform routine maintenance checks
• carry out routine repairs and maintenance
• use of hand held and electrical tools such as welders, grinders and drills
• sampling techniques
• complete monitoring activities
• use literacy skills to read, interpret and follow organisational policies and procedures, follow sequenced written instructions, record accurately and legible information collected and select and apply procedures for a range of tasks
• use oral communication skills/language competence to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation, including questioning techniques, active listening, clarifying information and consulting with supervisors as required
• use numeracy skills to estimate, calculate and record routine workplace measures
• use interpersonal skills to work with and relate to people from a range of cultural, social and religious backgrounds and with a range of physical and mental abilities.

Required knowledge 

• code of practices for industry sectors and animal welfare
• equipment used in intensive growing systems
• environmental control mechanisms and ventilation and heating systems
• light programs
• feeding programs for different sexes, classes and types of livestock
• basic animal anatomy
• methods to analyse results of feed and water sampling
• hygiene practices and awareness
• normal behaviour of animals and symptoms of distress
• enterprise industry and animal welfare codes of practice
• environmental implications of the disposal of chemicals or chemical containers and animal wastes.

EVIDENCE GUIDE 

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.

Overview of assessment 

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 holistically all of the requirements of the performance criteria and required skills and knowledge and include achievement of the following:

• monitor livestock health and welfare
• monitor the environment.
• monitor feed systems and water supplies
• perform routine maintenance checks.

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

Competency requires the application of work practices under work conditions. Selection and use of resources for some worksites may differ due to the regional or enterprise circumstances.

RANGE STATEMENT 

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole.

Production environments may include:

• intensive and free range growing environments including feed and water supply for pigs and poultry.

Unit sector 

Livestock

Co-requisite units 

Competency field