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 livestock may be covered by this standard?
Sires may include bulls, rams, billy goats, bucks and stallions. Dams may include cows, ewes, does and mares.

What is included in a mating plan?
A mating plan may include matching sire animal to dams, either singly or in mobs/herds, time of joining and duration, identifying sire joining percentages, nutrition of sires prior to mating, breeding selection, and individual mating.

What actions could be taken to eliminate or minimise the OHS risk?
Relevant OHS hazards identification, risk assessment and risk control measures, such as:
safe operating procedures
safe manual handling systems and procedures
safe systems and procedures for outdoor work, including protection from solar radiation
safe livestock handling systems and procedures, including zoonoses control measures (Q Fever) and safe handling of sires
selection, use and maintenance of relevant personal protective equipment.
All animal handling and treatment must be carried out in line with the provisions of the Workplace Health and Safety Acts and relevant animal codes of welfare.

What personal protective equipment may be relevant to this standard?
This may include boots, helmet, overalls, gloves, protective eyewear, and sun protection (sun hat, sunscreen).

What is the critical dam weight?
Critical dam weight is the live weight below which there may be significant failure of mating/gestation and poor survival rates of newborn animals.

What health checks or treatments might be carried out before implementing the natural mating program?
Animals selected for natural mating may be treated by drenching for worms, vaccinations, lice and/or tick control, and feeding supplements. Sires physical examination may include a check of the scrotum, prepuce, feet, testes, penis, legs, and eyes.

What factors need to be considered in the sires environment?
The sires environment may be affected by overheating, competition between sires, mustering to improve contact, level of nutrition, and adequacy of water supply.

What information needs to be recorded about the mating program?
Mating records may include joining percentage, date sires joined and removed, health status of sires, paddock records, sire identification, seasonal records (rainfall, temperature), and bodyweights

What remedial action might be required?
Remedial action may include providing replacement sires, extending the joining period, providing supplementary feeds, providing shade, shelter or water, and treating for lice or other parasites.

What livestock may be covered by this standard?
Sires may include bulls, rams, billy goats, bucks and stallions. Dams may include cows, ewes, does and mares.

What is included in a mating plan?
A mating plan may include matching sire animal to dams, either singly or in mobs/herds, time of joining and duration, identifying sire joining percentages, nutrition of sires prior to mating, breeding selection, and individual mating.

What actions could be taken to eliminate or minimise the OHS risk?
Relevant OHS hazards identification, risk assessment and risk control measures, such as:
safe operating procedures
safe manual handling systems and procedures
safe systems and procedures for outdoor work, including protection from solar radiation
safe livestock handling systems and procedures, including zoonoses control measures (Q Fever) and safe handling of sires
selection, use and maintenance of relevant personal protective equipment.
All animal handling and treatment must be carried out in line with the provisions of the Workplace Health and Safety Acts and relevant animal codes of welfare.

What personal protective equipment may be relevant to this standard?
This may include boots, helmet, overalls, gloves, protective eyewear, and sun protection (sun hat, sunscreen).

What is the critical dam weight?
Critical dam weight is the live weight below which there may be significant failure of mating/gestation and poor survival rates of newborn animals.

What health checks or treatments might be carried out before implementing the natural mating program?
Animals selected for natural mating may be treated by drenching for worms, vaccinations, lice and/or tick control, and feeding supplements. Sires physical examination may include a check of the scrotum, prepuce, feet, testes, penis, legs, and eyes.

What factors need to be considered in the sires environment?
The sires environment may be affected by overheating, competition between sires, mustering to improve contact, level of nutrition, and adequacy of water supply.

What information needs to be recorded about the mating program?
Mating records may include joining percentage, date sires joined and removed, health status of sires, paddock records, sire identification, seasonal records (rainfall, temperature), and bodyweights

What remedial action might be required?
Remedial action may include providing replacement sires, extending the joining period, providing supplementary feeds, providing shade, shelter or water, and treating for lice or other parasites.

What evidence is required to demonstrate competence for this standard as a whole?
Competence in this standard requires evidence that animals and the mating environment are prepared appropriately according to the requirements of the species and the enterprise, and that the animals performance is monitored to ensure successful joining.
The skills and knowledge required to undertake the function must be transferable to a different work environment. For example, implementing natural mating program for different animals such as beef cattle or goats, or in different climatic regions.
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:

mating behaviour of sires and dams
optimum live weights and condition for mating
environmental influences on joining.

What specific skills are needed to achieve the performance criteria?

To achieve the performance criteria, some complementary skills are required. These skills are:

managing dams and sires during joining
preparing dams and sires for joining
monitoring joining activity
keeping 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 competency standard are listed below:

mating behaviour of sires and dams
optimum live weights and condition for mating
environmental influences on joining.

What specific skills are needed to achieve the performance criteria?

To achieve the performance criteria, some complementary skills are required. These skills are:

managing dams and sires during joining
preparing dams and sires for joining
monitoring joining activity
keeping 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
When communicating with livestock suppliers and other property personnel involved with the natural mating program. (1)

Communicating ideas and information
When communicating with livestock suppliers and other property personnel involved with the natural mating program. (1)

Collecting analysing and organising information
Information may be collected on previous mating and breeding performance and compared with the success of the current program (1)

Collecting analysing and organising information
Information may be collected on previous mating and breeding performance and compared with the success of the current program (1)

Planning and organising activities
Paddocks and yards are prepared and sires and dams are readied for the program. (2)

Planning and organising activities
Paddocks and yards are prepared and sires and dams are readied for the program. (2)

Working with others and in teams
Team work will be required to ensure mating targets are reached. (2)

Working with others and in teams
Team work will be required to ensure mating targets are reached. (2)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
Mathematical ideas can be applied when calculating mating percentages, selection indices, etc. (1)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
Mathematical ideas can be applied when calculating mating percentages, selection indices, etc. (1)

Solving problems
Typical problems that may need to be resolved include poor conception rates or nutrition, and difficulties with paddock or yard selected. (2)

Solving problems
Typical problems that may need to be resolved include poor conception rates or nutrition, and difficulties with paddock or yard selected. (2)

Using technology
Technology can be used to observe, communicate and keep records of the mating program. (1)

Using technology
Technology can be used to observe, communicate and keep records of the mating program. (1)