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.

What elements of the industry animal welfare requirements should be considered?
These include Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) charts, mission statement, work instructions, corrective action and monitoring procedures, standard operating procedures, and enterprise and industry policies and welfare code of practice.

What animal welfare requirements may be relevant to this competency standard?
These 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, and extreme weather conditions.
Protection from predators, vermin, fires and floods.
Food with diet containing adequate nutrients.
Water, provision of cool water in summer and checking it is not contaminated or deleterious to health.
Health and distress. Signs of ill health in livestock may include reduced food and water intake, reduced production, changes in the nature and level of their activity, abnormal condition, or changed physical features. Evidence of behavioural changes may indicate ill health or distress, or both.
Transport of livestock.
Handling of livestock by stock people.

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 is from other animals (e.g. 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 elements of the industry animal welfare requirements should be considered?
These include Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) charts, mission statement, work instructions, corrective action and monitoring procedures, standard operating procedures, and enterprise and industry policies and welfare code of practice.

What animal welfare requirements may be relevant to this competency standard?
These 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, and extreme weather conditions.
Protection from predators, vermin, fires and floods.
Food with diet containing adequate nutrients.
Water, provision of cool water in summer and checking it is not contaminated or deleterious to health.
Health and distress. Signs of ill health in livestock may include reduced food and water intake, reduced production, changes in the nature and level of their activity, abnormal condition, or changed physical features. Evidence of behavioural changes may indicate ill health or distress, or both.
Transport of livestock.
Handling of livestock by stock people.

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 is from other animals (e.g. 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 evidence is required to demonstrate competence for this standard as a whole?
Competence in complying with industry animal health requirements requires evidence that industry animal welfare requirements have been successfully understood and complied with.
The skills and knowledge required to comply with industry animal welfare requirements must be transferable to a range of work environments and contexts. For example, this could include different animals, production systems, and industry animal health requirements.
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:

industry animal health requirements
animal production processes
enterprise policies, guidelines and standard operating procedures relating to animal welfare
enterprise OHS requirements
animal health and welfare
animal handling techniques
codes of practice for welfare.

What specific skills are needed to achieve the performance criteria?

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

implement animal welfare practices
implement standard operating procedures
report problems that affect animal welfare
handle livestock in a humane and caring manner.

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:

industry animal health requirements
animal production processes
enterprise policies, guidelines and standard operating procedures relating to animal welfare
enterprise OHS requirements
animal health and welfare
animal handling techniques
codes of practice for welfare.

What specific skills are needed to achieve the performance criteria?

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

implement animal welfare practices
implement standard operating procedures
report problems that affect animal welfare
handle livestock in a humane and caring manner.

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
Through record keeping and reporting to management as required. (0)

Communicating ideas and information
Through record keeping and reporting to management as required. (0)

Collecting analysing and organising information
Through complying with standard operating procedures. (0)

Collecting analysing and organising information
Through complying with standard operating procedures. (0)

Planning and organising activities
According to industry approaches to animal welfare. (2)

Planning and organising activities
According to industry approaches to animal welfare. (2)

Working with others and in teams
Through teamwork in implementation of the animal welfare. (2)

Working with others and in teams
Through teamwork in implementation of the animal welfare. (2)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
Through recording of data according to SOPs. (1)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
Through recording of data according to SOPs. (1)

Solving problems
Through recognising variation and non-compliances, and undertaking corrective work and/or reporting to supervisors. (2)

Solving problems
Through recognising variation and non-compliances, and undertaking corrective work and/or reporting to supervisors. (2)

Using technology
Through use of computers and communication systems. (1)

Using technology
Through use of computers and communication systems. (1)