Elements and Performance Criteria

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

Which animal welfare requirements may be relevant to this unit?
Animal welfare requirements can include:
housing and accommodation for livestock
space allowances and/or stocking densities
equipment including feeders and waterers, environmental control equipment and back-up systems and alarms in case of equipment failure.
lighting
ventilation including fresh air, dust filters, humidity, and noxious gases.
temperature including cooling and heating, extreme weather conditions
protection from predators, vermin, fires and floods.
food with diet containing adequate nutrients
water including sufficient drinkable water to meet livestock physiological requirements, provision of cool water in summer and checking it is not contaminated or deleterious to health.
monitoring for signs of ill health or distress, such as reduced food and water intake, reduced production, changes in the nature and level of their activity, abnormal condition or changed physical features or behaviour
transport of growing and adult livestock
procedures for the humane destruction of livestock
proper animal handling techniques.

What hazards may be relevant to this competency standard?
These may include:
physical hazards where foreign objects are present in animals
chemical hazards resulting from residues such as antibiotics, pesticides, alkaloids and other substances used in animal production
biological hazards where contamination from other animals (eg mice, rats, cats), poor housing/transport conditions and dirty water affects animal health and food quality
animal health hazards resulting from poor handling of animals, unhealthy or diseased animals, extreme weather conditions, poor loading and transport conditions, and time off feed.

What may be included to implement and monitor enterprise procedures?
Supervision of the application of animal welfare principles and compliance with relevant legislation and codes of practice in each state, regular inspections, training records, record analysis including the duties and responsibilities of all parties.

Which animal welfare requirements may be relevant to this unit?
Animal welfare requirements can include:
housing and accommodation for livestock
space allowances and/or stocking densities
equipment including feeders and waterers, environmental control equipment and back-up systems and alarms in case of equipment failure.
lighting
ventilation including fresh air, dust filters, humidity, and noxious gases.
temperature including cooling and heating, extreme weather conditions
protection from predators, vermin, fires and floods.
food with diet containing adequate nutrients
water including sufficient drinkable water to meet livestock physiological requirements, provision of cool water in summer and checking it is not contaminated or deleterious to health.
monitoring for signs of ill health or distress, such as reduced food and water intake, reduced production, changes in the nature and level of their activity, abnormal condition or changed physical features or behaviour
transport of growing and adult livestock
procedures for the humane destruction of livestock
proper animal handling techniques.

What hazards may be relevant to this competency standard?
These may include:
physical hazards where foreign objects are present in animals
chemical hazards resulting from residues such as antibiotics, pesticides, alkaloids and other substances used in animal production
biological hazards where contamination from other animals (eg mice, rats, cats), poor housing/transport conditions and dirty water affects animal health and food quality
animal health hazards resulting from poor handling of animals, unhealthy or diseased animals, extreme weather conditions, poor loading and transport conditions, and time off feed.

What may be included to implement and monitor enterprise procedures?
Supervision of the application of animal welfare principles and compliance with relevant legislation and codes of practice in each state, regular inspections, training records, record analysis including the duties and responsibilities of all parties.

What evidence is required to demonstrate competence for this standard as a whole?
Competence in implementing and monitoring the enterprise animal welfare program requires evidence that knowledge and skills has been applied in the implementation and monitoring of an enterprises animal welfare program as set out in the element and performance criteria of this competency standard and according to enterprise guidelines and relevant acts. The skills and knowledge required to implement and monitor the enterprise animal welfare program must be transferable to a range of work environments and contexts. For example, this could include different workplaces, work teams, livestock types/classes and production systems.
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 unit are listed below:

animal health and welfare requirements, practices and procedures.
animal physiology.
relevant animal welfare legislation and codes of practice.
industry animal health requirements
animal production processes
enterprise policies, guidelines and standard operating procedures relating to animal welfare.

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:

provide information to the work group about animal welfare.
facilitate the participation of workers in animal welfare compliance
implement and monitor enterprise animal welfare procedures
implement workplace procedures for dealing with animal welfare emergencies
implement and monitor enterprise procedures for providing animal welfare training
implement and monitor enterprise procedures for maintaining animal welfare records.

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 unit are listed below:

animal health and welfare requirements, practices and procedures.
animal physiology.
relevant animal welfare legislation and codes of practice.
industry animal health requirements
animal production processes
enterprise policies, guidelines and standard operating procedures relating to animal welfare.

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:

provide information to the work group about animal welfare.
facilitate the participation of workers in animal welfare compliance
implement and monitor enterprise animal welfare procedures
implement workplace procedures for dealing with animal welfare emergencies
implement and monitor enterprise procedures for providing animal welfare training
implement and monitor enterprise procedures for maintaining animal welfare records.

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
Provide regular updates on animal welfare compliance. (2)

Communicating ideas and information
Provide regular updates on animal welfare compliance. (2)

Collecting analysing and organising information
With completion of records in the workplace, implementing relevant animal welfare procedures, and providing accessible information on enterprise animal welfare policies, procedures and programs. (2)

Collecting analysing and organising information
With completion of records in the workplace, implementing relevant animal welfare procedures, and providing accessible information on enterprise animal welfare policies, procedures and programs. (2)

Planning and organising activities
By organising meetings to provide updates and provide information on animal welfare to staff. (2)

Planning and organising activities
By organising meetings to provide updates and provide information on animal welfare to staff. (2)

Working with others and in teams
By consulting with staff on animal welfare compliance issues. (2)

Working with others and in teams
By consulting with staff on animal welfare compliance issues. (2)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
By collecting and recording animal welfare related data/statistics. (2)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
By collecting and recording animal welfare related data/statistics. (2)

Solving problems
By determining best possible options to address animal welfare problems as they arise. (2)

Solving problems
By determining best possible options to address animal welfare problems as they arise. (2)

Using technology
By using word processor/email for communications. (2)

Using technology
By using word processor/email for communications. (2)