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 situations available.

What breeds of livestock are relevant to this standard?
This may include sheep, goats and beef cattle.

What factors may be included in an assessment of production status?
This may include stage of pregnancy, lactation, newborn growth and weaner growth.

What enterprise requirements may be applicable?
SOP, industry standards, production schedules, MSDS, work notes and plans, product labels, manufacturers specifications, operators manuals, enterprise policies and procedures (including waste disposal, recycling and re-use guidelines), and managers oral or written instructions.

What essential requirements for livestock may be determined?
Essential requirements may include energy, protein, vitamins, water and minerals. An assessment of livestock nutrient requirements may also involve consideration of the use of livestock as an integral part of weed control and land management. Essential requirements may vary due to live weight and body condition, mating, lactation and milking, growth, weather conditions/wind chill, sex and age of livestock, energy concentration of feeds, distance walked for feed, water or shade, pasture digestibility, and disease/health status.

How might livestock condition be assessed?
Livestock condition may be assessed by weighing, condition scoring, body condition, lactation stage, milk yield, and Livestock Market Reporting System (LMRS).

What factors may affect pasture quantity?
Pasture quantity may vary according to pasture yield, type of livestock, time of year, and the stage of production.

What may cause variations in livestock pasture intake?
Pasture intake may vary due to pasture quantity and quality, presence of weeds, weather conditions, pasture height, and the seasonal nature of production cycle.

What determinants may be involved in supplementary feeding systems?
Supplementary feeding may be required to cover seasonal, drought or other feed shortages, and trace element deficiencies of livestock.

What information may be included in feeding plans?
Feeding plans may include target weights, method of feeding, problems associated with purchasing feeds, matching feed supply and demand, and weed control strategy.

What conditions may be identified as abnormal?
Abnormal conditions may include destruction of fodder caused by fire, flood, drought, frost, insects, cyclones, hail and snow.

When a feed budget is prepared, what is taken into consideration?
Aspects of the local area and of the enterprise, including birthing patterns, area of operation (climate, geography, etc.), pasture growth rates, and seasonal influences.

What breeds of livestock are relevant to this standard?
This may include sheep, goats and beef cattle.

What factors may be included in an assessment of production status?
This may include stage of pregnancy, lactation, newborn growth and weaner growth.

What enterprise requirements may be applicable?
SOP, industry standards, production schedules, MSDS, work notes and plans, product labels, manufacturers specifications, operators manuals, enterprise policies and procedures (including waste disposal, recycling and re-use guidelines), and managers oral or written instructions.

What essential requirements for livestock may be determined?
Essential requirements may include energy, protein, vitamins, water and minerals. An assessment of livestock nutrient requirements may also involve consideration of the use of livestock as an integral part of weed control and land management. Essential requirements may vary due to live weight and body condition, mating, lactation and milking, growth, weather conditions/wind chill, sex and age of livestock, energy concentration of feeds, distance walked for feed, water or shade, pasture digestibility, and disease/health status.

How might livestock condition be assessed?
Livestock condition may be assessed by weighing, condition scoring, body condition, lactation stage, milk yield, and Livestock Market Reporting System (LMRS).

What factors may affect pasture quantity?
Pasture quantity may vary according to pasture yield, type of livestock, time of year, and the stage of production.

What may cause variations in livestock pasture intake?
Pasture intake may vary due to pasture quantity and quality, presence of weeds, weather conditions, pasture height, and the seasonal nature of production cycle.

What determinants may be involved in supplementary feeding systems?
Supplementary feeding may be required to cover seasonal, drought or other feed shortages, and trace element deficiencies of livestock.

What information may be included in feeding plans?
Feeding plans may include target weights, method of feeding, problems associated with purchasing feeds, matching feed supply and demand, and weed control strategy.

What conditions may be identified as abnormal?
Abnormal conditions may include destruction of fodder caused by fire, flood, drought, frost, insects, cyclones, hail and snow.

When a feed budget is prepared, what is taken into consideration?
Aspects of the local area and of the enterprise, including birthing patterns, area of operation (climate, geography, etc.), pasture growth rates, and seasonal influences.

What evidence is required to demonstrate competence for this standard as a whole?
Competence in developing livestock feeding plans requires evidence of the ability to develop feeding plans for all classes of livestock to ensure the continual supply of nutrition in normal and abnormal conditions. It also requires an awareness of the nutritional values of pasture and supplementary feeds, the ability to determine an effective and sustainable grazing management strategy, identify situations where supplementary feeding is justified in terms of benefit cost, determine suitable feed conservation methods, and develop a plan that is sufficiently flexible to adapt to changing conditions. Evidence must also be demonstrated in the application of safe workplace and environmentally responsible practices.
The skills and knowledge required to develop livestock feeding plans must be transferable to a different work environment. For example, if competence is evident in the development of feeding plans for beef cattle, it must also be evident that these skills may be adapted in a feeding plan for sheep and goats.
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:

nutrient and daily energy requirements of livestock
water quality and livestock tolerances
nutritive levels of different feedstuffs
assessment procedures to ascertain livestock condition
methods of assessing pastures quality and quantity
pasture livestock carrying capacity
relationship between lactation and body reserves, udder development and secretion of milk.

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:

match feed supply and demand
collect data and analysis to assess feeding plan alternatives
communicate written and oral information, and prepare reports for the understanding of staff and management
estimate feed quantity to meet livestock requirements, and calculate data and manage budgets.

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:

nutrient and daily energy requirements of livestock
water quality and livestock tolerances
nutritive levels of different feedstuffs
assessment procedures to ascertain livestock condition
methods of assessing pastures quality and quantity
pasture livestock carrying capacity
relationship between lactation and body reserves, udder development and secretion of milk.

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:

match feed supply and demand
collect data and analysis to assess feeding plan alternatives
communicate written and oral information, and prepare reports for the understanding of staff and management
estimate feed quantity to meet livestock requirements, and calculate data and manage budgets.

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 pasture availability and supplementary feeding requirements may be discussed with feed suppliers. (2)

Communicating ideas and information
Information with regard to pasture availability and supplementary feeding requirements may be discussed with feed suppliers. (2)

Collecting analysing and organising information
Information with regard to livestock condition and feeding patterns may be sourced and organised by reports for reference. (2)

Collecting analysing and organising information
Information with regard to livestock condition and feeding patterns may be sourced and organised by reports for reference. (2)

Planning and organising activities
Supplementary feeding is planned and introduced to livestock feeding routines as required. (2)

Planning and organising activities
Supplementary feeding is planned and introduced to livestock feeding routines as required. (2)

Working with others and in teams
In the application of methods and procedures to develop effective feeding plans according to enterprise objectives. (2)

Working with others and in teams
In the application of methods and procedures to develop effective feeding plans according to enterprise objectives. (2)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
Mathematical techniques to estimate supplementary feed costs within enterprise budgetary parameters. (2)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
Mathematical techniques to estimate supplementary feed costs within enterprise budgetary parameters. (2)

Solving problems
Abnormal conditions may require feed conservation strategies to ensure continual supply of nutrition to livestock. (2)

Solving problems
Abnormal conditions may require feed conservation strategies to ensure continual supply of nutrition to livestock. (2)

Using technology
Technology to communicate, calculate costings and source analysis. (2)

Using technology
Technology to communicate, calculate costings and source analysis. (2)