Elements and Performance Criteria

The range of variables places the competency in context and allows for differences between enterprises and workplaces, including practices, knowledge and requirements. The range of variables also provides a focus for assessment and relates to the unit as a whole. The following variables may be present.

Feeding schedule:
· culture stock and structure to be fed
· feed types and location of stores
· nutriment and natural sources of nutriments and food
· quantities (weight, volume)
· feeding method and equipment requirements
· time at which feeding is to be carried out
· frequency (times per day, per hour)
· period over which feeding is to be carried out
· any specific requirements, such as:
special care or feeding techniques
feeding trays
observations to be made.

Nutriments:
· nutrients, fertilisers or other chemicals
· feeds (microalgae, pellets, powders, emulsions)
· enrichment formulae
· green water.

Equipment:
· feed trays
· mechanised:
blower
clock
belt
demand
spinner
smart
· hoppers, buckets or bags
· scoops
· transport:
vessels
vehicles
motor bikes
forklifts.

Feed:
· natural or formulated (artificial, man-made)
· live:
algae
rotifers
brine shrimp
copepods
zooplankton
polychaetes
nematodes
insects, etc.
· powders
· plants:
aquatic
microalgae
seaweed
· pellets or crumbles or granules
· emulsions or broths
· flakes
· sinking or floating
· brand
· size and shape.

Culture structure:
· dams, ponds and pools, tanks and raceways, glass aquaria
· cages, pontoons, enclosures and pens
· long lines, rafts, racks and trays, fences, baskets
· grow out facilities, hatcheries and nurseries.

Culture stock:
· finfish, crustaceans, molluscs, aquatic reptiles, amphibians, miscellaneous aquatic invertebrates, microalgae, seaweeds, aquatic plants
· adults, larvae, seed, spat, hatchlings, broodstock, juveniles, fry, fingerlings, sporophytes, seedlings.

Ecologically sustainable development principles (ESD):
· minimising waste
· disposing of poor quality food
· managing and controlling effluent waste, reducing contaminants
· preventing live culture organisms from being introduced into environment
· disposing of dead plant or animal matter.

Occupational Health and Safety requirements may include:
· codes of practice, regulations and/or guidance notes which may apply in a jurisdiction
· enterprise-specific Occupational Health and Safety procedures, policies or standards.

Records:
· amount of feed required
· amount of feed actually provided
· % in feed trays at start
· % in feed trays at end
· time between feedings
· number of feeds undertaken
· daily consumption
· feed quality measures, such as presence/level of dust, pests and contaminants.

Each unit of competency has an evidence guide that relates directly to the performance criteria and the range of variables. Its purpose is to guide assessment of the unit in the workplace and/or training program. The following components provide information to assist this purpose.

Underpinning knowledge
The essential knowledge and understanding a person needs to perform work to the required standard include:
· basic stock feeding behaviour
· types of feeds required
· safety considerations and hazards associated with feeding equipment options and limitations
· meanings of ratios, metric units and the concept of percentages
· handling equipment calibration and operating methods
· feeding equipment, maintenance and basic repairs
· effects of feeding on stock
· effects of water and atmospheric conditions on stock feeding behaviour and Occupational Health and Safety of employees
· storage of feed to maintain quality and minimise pest infestation including rotation of feed bags, climate control and pest proofing storage.

Practical skills
The essential skills a person needs to perform work to the required standards include:
· feeding stock
· operating basic feeding equipment
· maintaining and repairing basic feeding equipment
· recognising normal and abnormal stock behaviour and environmental conditions.

Licences may be required for operating:
· vessels
· vehicles
· load shifting equipment, including forklifts.

Literacy skills used for:
· reading and interpreting a feeding schedule
· reading feed labels
· recording feeding information.

Numeracy skills used for:
· measuring feed
· estimating percentage of feed consumed
· calculating time between feedings
· counting the number of feeds taken.

Critical aspects of competence
Assessment must confirm the ability to:
· interpret and follow instructions for feeding stock by hand or using mechanical devices and to make and record observations about stock behaviour during feeding.

Assessment must confirm knowledge of:
· factors affecting feed quality of formulated feeds
· feeding methods
· feed types
· specific feeding requirements of stock
· conditions affecting feeds
· feeding equipment.

Interdependent assessment of units
This unit may be assessed after/with:
· No recommendations.

Context of assessment
Assessment is to be conducted at the workplace or in a simulated work environment, which reflects the range of conditions that may influence feeding activities in a workplace typical of the local area.

Method of assessment
The following assessment methods are suggested:
· written or oral short-answer testing
· practical exercises
· observation of practical demonstration.

Resources required for assessment
Resources may include:
· feeding schedule
· range of stock and culture structures relevant to the local area
· range of feed products and appropriate feeding equipment
· feed record data sheets
· SOPs for feeding formulated diets or increasing access to natural feeds.