Elements and Performance Criteria

The Range of Variables explains the range of contexts within which the performance and knowledge requirements of this standard may be assessed. The scope of variables chosen in training and assessment may depend on the work contexts.

What guidelines may be outlined in enterprise objectives?
This may be a broad and general outline including the identity and numbers of animals to be marked, marketing and production plans, timeframes and budgetary constraints and parameters.

What animals may be relevant to this standard?
This may include sheep, goats, pigs, horses, and beef and dairy cattle.

What marking operations may be carried out?
Marking includes castrating, tagging, tailing, mulesing, pizzle dropping, notching, vaccinating, tattooing, micro-chipping, branding, dehorning, and trimming eye teeth. It may also include identifying abnormalities or faults and marking animals for culling.

What resources may be arranged to carry out marking operations?
Resources may include staff, equipment, materials and health treatments.
Equipment and materials: First aid kit, marking knives, marking cradles, drench guns, methylated spirits, portable yards/gates, ear tags, ring applicator and rings, ear marking pliers, grinding stones, vaccinating guns and needles, gas fired docking knife, mulesing shears, portable yards, disbudding equipment, tattooing equipment, and protective clothing.
Health treatments: Health treatments may include antiseptics (liquid and powder), drenches, vaccines, disinfectants and blowfly powders.

What information may be included in a marking plan?
This may include details of arranged resource allocations including equipment, staff and/or contractors, materials and health treatments. It may also include staff roles and responsibilities, schedules, time frames for completion of the operations, animal groupings and sequencing, marking procedures to be carried out, and details of operational costings.

What features may be considered when determining a suitable marking site for animals?
This may include assessing the disease status of site, vegetation status and drainage, proximity to animals, hygienic nature of site, and available weather protection for animals.

How might staff be sourced to marking operations?
Staffing arrangements may include casual or permanent staff and be sources through family labour, contractors or neighbours (time trade).

What OHS requirements may be relevant to this standard?
Safe systems and procedures for:
animal handling systems and procedure including zoonoses control
manual handling including lifting and carrying
outdoor work including protection from solar radiation
the use and handling of veterinary chemicals
the use of personal protective equipment.

What enterprise requirements may be applicable to this standard?
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), industry standards, production schedules, Material Safety Data Sheets, work notes and plans, product labels, manufacturers specifications, operators manuals, enterprise policies and procedures (including quality manuals, waste disposal, recycling and re-use guidelines), and reporting procedures.

What guidelines may be outlined in enterprise objectives?
This may be a broad and general outline including the identity and numbers of animals to be marked, marketing and production plans, timeframes and budgetary constraints and parameters.

What animals may be relevant to this standard?
This may include sheep, goats, pigs, horses, and beef and dairy cattle.

What marking operations may be carried out?
Marking includes castrating, tagging, tailing, mulesing, pizzle dropping, notching, vaccinating, tattooing, micro-chipping, branding, dehorning, and trimming eye teeth. It may also include identifying abnormalities or faults and marking animals for culling.

What resources may be arranged to carry out marking operations?
Resources may include staff, equipment, materials and health treatments.
Equipment and materials: First aid kit, marking knives, marking cradles, drench guns, methylated spirits, portable yards/gates, ear tags, ring applicator and rings, ear marking pliers, grinding stones, vaccinating guns and needles, gas fired docking knife, mulesing shears, portable yards, disbudding equipment, tattooing equipment, and protective clothing.
Health treatments: Health treatments may include antiseptics (liquid and powder), drenches, vaccines, disinfectants and blowfly powders.

What information may be included in a marking plan?
This may include details of arranged resource allocations including equipment, staff and/or contractors, materials and health treatments. It may also include staff roles and responsibilities, schedules, time frames for completion of the operations, animal groupings and sequencing, marking procedures to be carried out, and details of operational costings.

What features may be considered when determining a suitable marking site for animals?
This may include assessing the disease status of site, vegetation status and drainage, proximity to animals, hygienic nature of site, and available weather protection for animals.

How might staff be sourced to marking operations?
Staffing arrangements may include casual or permanent staff and be sources through family labour, contractors or neighbours (time trade).

What OHS requirements may be relevant to this standard?
Safe systems and procedures for:
animal handling systems and procedure including zoonoses control
manual handling including lifting and carrying
outdoor work including protection from solar radiation
the use and handling of veterinary chemicals
the use of personal protective equipment.

What enterprise requirements may be applicable to this standard?
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), industry standards, production schedules, Material Safety Data Sheets, work notes and plans, product labels, manufacturers specifications, operators manuals, enterprise policies and procedures (including quality manuals, waste disposal, recycling and re-use guidelines), and reporting procedures.

What evidence is required to demonstrate competence for this standard as a whole?
Competence in this standard requires evidence of the ability to co-ordinate staff, equipment and resources to carry out animal marking operations within budgetary constraints. It also requires the ability to determine efficient animal grouping and sequencing of operations, prepare and implement a work plan, maintain effective communication strategies including the conduct of detailed staff briefings with regard to tasks and safety issues, monitor the health and well-being of animals, and maintain accurate data records. Evidence must be demonstrated in the implementation of safe workplace and positive environmental practices.
The skills and knowledge required to mark animals must be transferable to a different work environment. For example, if competence is evident in managing beef cattle marking operations, it must also be evident that those skills may be adapted to the management of sheep and goat marking operations.
What specific knowledge is needed to achieve the performance criteria?

Knowledge and understanding are essential to apply this standard in the workplace, to transfer the skills to other contexts, and to deal with unplanned events. The knowledge requirements for this competency standard are listed below:

management processes and procedures
cost analysis techniques
systems and procedures for planning and developing
marketing and production plans
codes of practice with regard to animal marking and animal health and welfare
veterinary medicines and administration
animal marking methods and procedures
legislative requirements with regard to OHS
animal behaviour and nutritional requirements
environmental codes of practice associated with animal production.

What specific skills are needed to achieve the performance criteria?

To achieve the performance criteria, appropriate literacy and numeracy levels as well as some complementary skills are required. These include the ability to:

plan, cost and schedule resource requirements
develop and implement an operational strategy
prioritise and schedule marking operations
determine and allocate staff roles and responsibilities
manage staff and operations
manage costs within budgetary constraints
establish and monitor performance targets
maintain accurate data documentation
implement safe and positive environmental workplace policies
communicate effectively with staff, contractors and suppliers
document and prepare written plans and reports for the understanding of staff and management
estimate and calculate resources and operational costings.

Are there other competency standards that could be assessed with this one?
This competency standard

Essential Assessment Information
There is essential information about

What specific knowledge is needed to achieve the performance criteria?

Knowledge and understanding are essential to apply this standard in the workplace, to transfer the skills to other contexts, and to deal with unplanned events. The knowledge requirements for this competency standard are listed below:

management processes and procedures
cost analysis techniques
systems and procedures for planning and developing
marketing and production plans
codes of practice with regard to animal marking and animal health and welfare
veterinary medicines and administration
animal marking methods and procedures
legislative requirements with regard to OHS
animal behaviour and nutritional requirements
environmental codes of practice associated with animal production.

What specific skills are needed to achieve the performance criteria?

To achieve the performance criteria, appropriate literacy and numeracy levels as well as some complementary skills are required. These include the ability to:

plan, cost and schedule resource requirements
develop and implement an operational strategy
prioritise and schedule marking operations
determine and allocate staff roles and responsibilities
manage staff and operations
manage costs within budgetary constraints
establish and monitor performance targets
maintain accurate data documentation
implement safe and positive environmental workplace policies
communicate effectively with staff, contractors and suppliers
document and prepare written plans and reports for the understanding of staff and management
estimate and calculate resources and operational costings.

Are there other competency standards that could be assessed with this one?
This competency standard

Essential Assessment Information
There is essential information about

There are a number of processes that are learnt throughout work and life, which are required in all jobs. They are fundamental processes and generally transferable to other work functions. Some of these are covered by the key competencies, although others may be added. The questions below highlight how these processes are applied in this competency standard. Following each question a number in brackets indicates the level to which the key competency needs to be demonstrated where 0 = not required, 1 = perform the process, 2 = perform and administer the process and 3 = perform, administer and design the process.
Communicating ideas and information
Information with regard to the scheduling of marking operations may be communicated to other property personnel. (2)

Communicating ideas and information
Information with regard to the scheduling of marking operations may be communicated to other property personnel. (2)

Collecting analysing and organising information
Details of animal health including details of administered health treatments may be detailed and organised by reports for future reference. (2)

Collecting analysing and organising information
Details of animal health including details of administered health treatments may be detailed and organised by reports for future reference. (2)

Planning and organising activities
Arrangements for the delivery of equipment, materials and health treatments may be planned and organised with the marking team. (2)

Planning and organising activities
Arrangements for the delivery of equipment, materials and health treatments may be planned and organised with the marking team. (2)

Working with others and in teams
In the application of methods and procedures to complete marking operations within timeframes and deadlines. (2)

Working with others and in teams
In the application of methods and procedures to complete marking operations within timeframes and deadlines. (2)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
Mathematical techniques may be used to calculate volume and percentages. (2)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
Mathematical techniques may be used to calculate volume and percentages. (2)

Solving problems
Problems of animal mismothering may be resolved with appropriate settling time post-treatment prior to movement. (2)

Solving problems
Problems of animal mismothering may be resolved with appropriate settling time post-treatment prior to movement. (2)

Using technology
Technology may be used to source information, communicate, calculate and monitor weather conditions. (2)

Using technology
Technology may be used to source information, communicate, calculate and monitor weather conditions. (2)