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 actions could be taken to eliminate or minimise OHS risk?
The range of actions are both systematic and at an operational level. These are listed below:

What personal protective clothing and equipment may be relevant to this standard?
Boots, hats/hard hat, overalls, gloves, protective eyewear, hearing protections, respirator or face mask, and sun protection (sun hat, sun screen).

What tools and equipment may be used in preparing feed mixes?
Stockfeed mills and associated equipment may include truck, feedout truck, front end loader, tractor, fork lift, silage stack extractor, skid steer loader, boiler operation, stem roller mill, dry roll mill, hammer mill, computer, mill intake equipment, mill product transfer equipment, and fire control equipment. Feed mills may include roller, grinder or hammer mills.

What are the ingredients of a feed mix?
The mix might consist of prepared and formulated proprietary rations, whole grains, protein additives, and/or vitamins and minerals.

A feed mill operation is considered to be a food manufacturing facility, and should be operated under the same hygiene expectancy as human facilities. What will this require?
This will require rodent control, dust management, no rat or bird faecal contamination of feeds or raw ingredients, and feed not being wet.

When feeding, what factors must be taken into account?
Calculating rates on skip-days, applying feed evenly through sheds, and recording feeding times.

What livestock may be the subject of the unit?
Beef cattle are the most commonly feed-lotted animals, but the unit may cover shedded sheep or goats.
The categories and classes of cattle may include breed or breed cross, age, sex, condition, or lactation. Also included might be finishing steer calves, yearling steers, two-year-olds, growing steers, dry/pregnant mature cows, and cows nursing calves.

What is required to be done prior to the cleaning activities?
Identifying cleaning agents/chemicals/equipment, mixing chemicals and cleaning agents.

What should be cleaned in the and around the shed?
Equipment with which chemicals have been applied should be cleaned, complex equipment should be dismantled and re-assembled to assess areas to be cleaned, routine cleaning programs should be performed such as sweeping, dusting and vacuuming, washing amenities and facilities, including protective clothing, hand basins, toilets, showers, offices, dusting superstructure, and cleaning air filters and ducts.

What actions could be taken to eliminate or minimise OHS risk?
The range of actions are both systematic and at an operational level. These are listed below:

What personal protective clothing and equipment may be relevant to this standard?
Boots, hats/hard hat, overalls, gloves, protective eyewear, hearing protections, respirator or face mask, and sun protection (sun hat, sun screen).

What tools and equipment may be used in preparing feed mixes?
Stockfeed mills and associated equipment may include truck, feedout truck, front end loader, tractor, fork lift, silage stack extractor, skid steer loader, boiler operation, stem roller mill, dry roll mill, hammer mill, computer, mill intake equipment, mill product transfer equipment, and fire control equipment. Feed mills may include roller, grinder or hammer mills.

What are the ingredients of a feed mix?
The mix might consist of prepared and formulated proprietary rations, whole grains, protein additives, and/or vitamins and minerals.

A feed mill operation is considered to be a food manufacturing facility, and should be operated under the same hygiene expectancy as human facilities. What will this require?
This will require rodent control, dust management, no rat or bird faecal contamination of feeds or raw ingredients, and feed not being wet.

When feeding, what factors must be taken into account?
Calculating rates on skip-days, applying feed evenly through sheds, and recording feeding times.

What livestock may be the subject of the unit?
Beef cattle are the most commonly feed-lotted animals, but the unit may cover shedded sheep or goats.
The categories and classes of cattle may include breed or breed cross, age, sex, condition, or lactation. Also included might be finishing steer calves, yearling steers, two-year-olds, growing steers, dry/pregnant mature cows, and cows nursing calves.

What is required to be done prior to the cleaning activities?
Identifying cleaning agents/chemicals/equipment, mixing chemicals and cleaning agents.

What should be cleaned in the and around the shed?
Equipment with which chemicals have been applied should be cleaned, complex equipment should be dismantled and re-assembled to assess areas to be cleaned, routine cleaning programs should be performed such as sweeping, dusting and vacuuming, washing amenities and facilities, including protective clothing, hand basins, toilets, showers, offices, dusting superstructure, and cleaning air filters and ducts.

What evidence is required to demonstrate competence for this standard as a whole?
Competence in carrying out feedlot operations requires evidence that livestock remain at optimum health, and that outbreaks of disease are minimised through the effective use of hygiene procedures.
The skills and knowledge required to carry out feedlot operations must be transferable to a different work environment. For example, across a range of breeds and classes, as well as in a variety of shed types and feeding 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 competency standard are listed below:

environmental controls and codes of practice applicable to the organisation
the organisations livestock production and management plans
sound management practices and processes to minimise noise, odours and debris from the livestock operations
relevant legislation and regulations relating to waste and environment management, and animal health and welfare
relevant OHS legislation, regulations and codes of practice
organisation and industry guidelines for the preparation of feed and mixes
raw ingredients - grains, meals
vitamins, minerals and premix formulations.

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:

detect possibility of disease through parameters such as behaviour, length of time required to eat food
recognise clinical symptoms (normal vs. abnormal)
identify a range of grain and feed types and qualities
identify grain contaminants
identify premixes and weigh out
mix feeds and ingredients and identify basic mixing problems
relate herd performance data to ration consistency
interpret and apply task instructions, communicate with work team and supervisor, and record and report faults, workplace hazards and accidents
measure and calculate volumes and consumption requirements.

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:

environmental controls and codes of practice applicable to the organisation
the organisations livestock production and management plans
sound management practices and processes to minimise noise, odours and debris from the livestock operations
relevant legislation and regulations relating to waste and environment management, and animal health and welfare
relevant OHS legislation, regulations and codes of practice
organisation and industry guidelines for the preparation of feed and mixes
raw ingredients - grains, meals
vitamins, minerals and premix formulations.

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:

detect possibility of disease through parameters such as behaviour, length of time required to eat food
recognise clinical symptoms (normal vs. abnormal)
identify a range of grain and feed types and qualities
identify grain contaminants
identify premixes and weigh out
mix feeds and ingredients and identify basic mixing problems
relate herd performance data to ration consistency
interpret and apply task instructions, communicate with work team and supervisor, and record and report faults, workplace hazards and accidents
measure and calculate volumes and consumption requirements.

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
Communicating with employer and grain merchants regarding performance of nutrition of livestock. (1)

Communicating ideas and information
Communicating with employer and grain merchants regarding performance of nutrition of livestock. (1)

Collecting analysing and organising information
Collecting, analysing and organising information in preparing to measure, weigh and mix feed. (2)

Collecting analysing and organising information
Collecting, analysing and organising information in preparing to measure, weigh and mix feed. (2)

Planning and organising activities
In preparing to administer medications according to the schedules provided. (1)

Planning and organising activities
In preparing to administer medications according to the schedules provided. (1)

Working with others and in teams
When working alongside other operators to ensure that required team outcomes are achieved. (1)

Working with others and in teams
When working alongside other operators to ensure that required team outcomes are achieved. (1)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
Using mathematical ideas and techniques in calculating premix weights or medications. (2)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
Using mathematical ideas and techniques in calculating premix weights or medications. (2)

Solving problems
In assessing and reporting ill health of cattle in the feedlot. (2)

Solving problems
In assessing and reporting ill health of cattle in the feedlot. (2)

Using technology
In measuring and calculating amounts required when dealing with either medications or cleaning compounds. (1)

Using technology
In measuring and calculating amounts required when dealing with either medications or cleaning compounds. (1)