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 artificial breeding options exist?
These include artificial insemination either from own stock or sourced externally, embryo transplants, acquisition of teasers, acquisition and use of donor animals or recipient animals.

What needs to be taken into consideration when choosing options for artificial breeding?
Costs involved including extra handling and feeding, reliability of method, estimated breeding values, conception rates, consideration of supplementary feeding costs, whether to use semen or embryos, purchasing/lease of teasers, use or purchase of donor animals, and intended recipients.

What might be breeding objectives?
Increase conception rates, improve quality of stock, increase diversity of stock/breed, and/or meet market specifications.

What might be included in a livestock management program?
Guidelines and stipulations concerning the improvement or maintenance of the quality and size of the herd, mob, flock and their purpose - long or short term herd improvement, resale, breeding or slaughter for export or local consumption markets, and improved fleece/wool.

What are possible resource implications?
Acquisition and use of teasers, training of sires for semen collection, injection of hormones, use of facilities and equipment (sheds, liquid nitrogen containers, collection and dilution equipment for artificial insemination, and animal handling and restraints), re-insemination, natural mating, implantation, sourcing and supply of genetic materials, need for animal preparation such as crutching, monitoring and synchronisation of oestrus cycle, and staffing requirements.

What things need to be considered when preparing program schedules?
Sourcing and supply of genetic materials, teasing, intended sire training, hormone injections, facility use, synchronisation of oestrus cycles, genetic material preparation, preparation of intended recipients, insemination and implantation, re-insemination as required, and staff and equipment resources.

What personal protective equipment and clothing might be used?
Boots, overalls, gloves, and sun protection (sun hat, sunscreen).

What OHS requirements are relevant to this standard?
Safe livestock handling systems and procedures including zoonoses control (Q Fever), identify hazards, assess and report risks, safe manual handling (including lifting) systems and procedures. Safe systems and procedures for the application and storage of hazardous substances (drenches, vaccines), and the handling of veterinary equipment (syringes, needles, vaccines). Safe systems and procedures for outdoor work including protection from solar radiation, and the appropriate use of personal protective equipment.

What could be considered to be genetic material?
Frozen semen, donor mother for embryo transfer, recipient animal, donor sires for fresh semen, and frozen embryos.

What are considered to be reliable and legitimate sources?
Industry recognised suppliers of genetic materials who meet legislative and industry requirements.

What needs to be considered when receiving, checking and storing genetic material?
Materials are received safely and without damage to genetic materials, and are checked against records and requirements and stored to ensure that viability and successful outcomes are maximised.

What animals might be the intended recipients?
Cows, ewes, sows or does.

What intended recipient preparation might need to be checked?
Synchronisation of oestrus cycle, crutching and teasing.

What might be transferred?
Semen transfer by use of pipettes, catheters or straws, or embryo implantation through arranging for a veterinarian to attend.

What selected methods might be used?
Observation of behaviour, use of a teaser and harness, or ultrasound.

How might data be recorded?
In electronic or hard copy.

What might be documented?
Stud and mating records, insemination procedures, abnormalities, and breeding management information.

What artificial breeding options exist?
These include artificial insemination either from own stock or sourced externally, embryo transplants, acquisition of teasers, acquisition and use of donor animals or recipient animals.

What needs to be taken into consideration when choosing options for artificial breeding?
Costs involved including extra handling and feeding, reliability of method, estimated breeding values, conception rates, consideration of supplementary feeding costs, whether to use semen or embryos, purchasing/lease of teasers, use or purchase of donor animals, and intended recipients.

What might be breeding objectives?
Increase conception rates, improve quality of stock, increase diversity of stock/breed, and/or meet market specifications.

What might be included in a livestock management program?
Guidelines and stipulations concerning the improvement or maintenance of the quality and size of the herd, mob, flock and their purpose - long or short term herd improvement, resale, breeding or slaughter for export or local consumption markets, and improved fleece/wool.

What are possible resource implications?
Acquisition and use of teasers, training of sires for semen collection, injection of hormones, use of facilities and equipment (sheds, liquid nitrogen containers, collection and dilution equipment for artificial insemination, and animal handling and restraints), re-insemination, natural mating, implantation, sourcing and supply of genetic materials, need for animal preparation such as crutching, monitoring and synchronisation of oestrus cycle, and staffing requirements.

What things need to be considered when preparing program schedules?
Sourcing and supply of genetic materials, teasing, intended sire training, hormone injections, facility use, synchronisation of oestrus cycles, genetic material preparation, preparation of intended recipients, insemination and implantation, re-insemination as required, and staff and equipment resources.

What personal protective equipment and clothing might be used?
Boots, overalls, gloves, and sun protection (sun hat, sunscreen).

What OHS requirements are relevant to this standard?
Safe livestock handling systems and procedures including zoonoses control (Q Fever), identify hazards, assess and report risks, safe manual handling (including lifting) systems and procedures. Safe systems and procedures for the application and storage of hazardous substances (drenches, vaccines), and the handling of veterinary equipment (syringes, needles, vaccines). Safe systems and procedures for outdoor work including protection from solar radiation, and the appropriate use of personal protective equipment.

What could be considered to be genetic material?
Frozen semen, donor mother for embryo transfer, recipient animal, donor sires for fresh semen, and frozen embryos.

What are considered to be reliable and legitimate sources?
Industry recognised suppliers of genetic materials who meet legislative and industry requirements.

What needs to be considered when receiving, checking and storing genetic material?
Materials are received safely and without damage to genetic materials, and are checked against records and requirements and stored to ensure that viability and successful outcomes are maximised.

What animals might be the intended recipients?
Cows, ewes, sows or does.

What intended recipient preparation might need to be checked?
Synchronisation of oestrus cycle, crutching and teasing.

What might be transferred?
Semen transfer by use of pipettes, catheters or straws, or embryo implantation through arranging for a veterinarian to attend.

What selected methods might be used?
Observation of behaviour, use of a teaser and harness, or ultrasound.

How might data be recorded?
In electronic or hard copy.

What might be documented?
Stud and mating records, insemination procedures, abnormalities, and breeding management information.

What evidence is required to demonstrate competence for this standard as a whole?
Competence in supervising artificial breeding and embryo transfer programs requires evidence of the ability to identify the most appropriate artificial breeding methods, examine cost effectiveness and resource requirements, organise resources and scheduling requirements, monitor the preparation, manage the genetic material transfer, identify and implement re-insemination and implantation and record data. In addition it requires the ability to handle livestock humanely and safely and to clean up work areas and equipment and record data.
The skills and knowledge required to supervise artificial breeding and embryo transfer programs must be transferable to another rural workplace. For example, this could include different breeds, enterprises and techniques.
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:

artificial breeding methods and benefits, and limitations of each method
anatomy and physiology of the reproductive organs and reproductive process in livestock
fertilisation and implantation methods
physical resource requirements and how to safely handle and transport them
ovulation stimulation and synchronisation
semen collection and dilution processes
semen thawing techniques
knowledge of enterprise's breeding programs
breeding principles
pregnancy testing
animal health and abnormalities
preparation requirements for artificial insemination
enterprise and industry identification system for livestock
relevant State/Territory legislation, regulations and codes of practice with regard to workplace OHS and animal welfare
legislative and regulatory controls with regard to artificial insemination and embryo implants
enterprise and industry policies with regard to artificial insemination, and recording and reporting requirements
identification of veterinary and non-veterinary procedures.

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:

administer Artificial Insemination (AI)
arrange for implantation of embryos by a veterinarian
prepare stock for AI and embryo implantation
determine AI and embryo implantation timing for livestock
keep records
communicate effectively with staff, veterinarians and other personnel.

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:

artificial breeding methods and benefits, and limitations of each method
anatomy and physiology of the reproductive organs and reproductive process in livestock
fertilisation and implantation methods
physical resource requirements and how to safely handle and transport them
ovulation stimulation and synchronisation
semen collection and dilution processes
semen thawing techniques
knowledge of enterprise's breeding programs
breeding principles
pregnancy testing
animal health and abnormalities
preparation requirements for artificial insemination
enterprise and industry identification system for livestock
relevant State/Territory legislation, regulations and codes of practice with regard to workplace OHS and animal welfare
legislative and regulatory controls with regard to artificial insemination and embryo implants
enterprise and industry policies with regard to artificial insemination, and recording and reporting requirements
identification of veterinary and non-veterinary procedures.

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:

administer Artificial Insemination (AI)
arrange for implantation of embryos by a veterinarian
prepare stock for AI and embryo implantation
determine AI and embryo implantation timing for livestock
keep records
communicate effectively with staff, veterinarians and other personnel.

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
Insemination and implantation procedures, livestock behaviour (such as oestrus cycles/ovulation), and abnormalities may be observed and accurately communicated to veterinarians and breeding technicians for advice. Instruction may be given to support staff. (3)

Communicating ideas and information
Insemination and implantation procedures, livestock behaviour (such as oestrus cycles/ovulation), and abnormalities may be observed and accurately communicated to veterinarians and breeding technicians for advice. Instruction may be given to support staff. (3)

Collecting analysing and organising information
Details of bloodlines, genetic principles, breeding management, resourcing and scheduling, may be collected, analysed and organised for analysis, and organised by records and reports. (3)

Collecting analysing and organising information
Details of bloodlines, genetic principles, breeding management, resourcing and scheduling, may be collected, analysed and organised for analysis, and organised by records and reports. (3)

Planning and organising activities
Insemination collection and scheduling may be planned and organised around ovulation cycles and resources through the use of breeding support teams to ensure optimum results and high conception rates. (3)

Planning and organising activities
Insemination collection and scheduling may be planned and organised around ovulation cycles and resources through the use of breeding support teams to ensure optimum results and high conception rates. (3)

Working with others and in teams
Team work may be applied in methods and procedures to collect semen and inseminate livestock, and to maximise conception rates and to limit the need for re-insemination. (3)

Working with others and in teams
Team work may be applied in methods and procedures to collect semen and inseminate livestock, and to maximise conception rates and to limit the need for re-insemination. (3)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
Mathematics may be applied to calculate oestrus cycles/ovulation and optimum time for insemination. It may also be used to calculate dosage and hormone injection levels. (3)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
Mathematics may be applied to calculate oestrus cycles/ovulation and optimum time for insemination. It may also be used to calculate dosage and hormone injection levels. (3)

Solving problems
Insemination procedures may require remedial action to ensure semen and implant viability, and when re-insemination is necessary. (3)

Solving problems
Insemination procedures may require remedial action to ensure semen and implant viability, and when re-insemination is necessary. (3)

Using technology
To communicate, calculate and record data relating to animal identification and insemination, and to achieve embryo transfer. (2)

Using technology
To communicate, calculate and record data relating to animal identification and insemination, and to achieve embryo transfer. (2)