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 may be relevant to this standard?
Livestock may include sheep, goats, beef cattle, dairy cattle and pigs.

How might livestock condition be assessed?
Assessment may be by direct observation of general health and soundness, checks of performance, and inspection of livestock records.

What health problems may be identified?
This may include bloat, worms, external parasites, infertility, leptospirosis, vibriosis, poisonings, oedemas, ketosis, lumpy jaw, tick fever, white scours, pinkeye and grass tetany.

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 range of preventative health supplies may be arranged?
This may include drenches, vaccines and other health treatments.

What procedures and operations may be included in a treatment program?
Routine operations and procedures may include mulesing, jetting and dipping, crutching and shearing, vaccinating, foot paring and bathing. It may also include drenching, teeth grinding, grass-seed removal, lice control, horn trimming, pinkeye control, and mastitis treatment (strategic and preventative).

What legislative requirements may be relevant to this standard?
This may include relevant legislation, regulations and codes of practice for the export of livestock, for the land transport of livestock, and for the welfare of animals.

What procedures may be included in a health strategy?
A livestock health program may include breeding objectives, livestock operations, worm counts, the use of professional advice, pasture grazing plan, health treatments, observing livestock health and symptoms, and fly traps. It may also include quarantine/isolation plans for new or sick livestock, and implementation of an annual program of health treatments.

What OHS requirements may be applicable to this standard?
Safe systems and procedures for:
livestock handling including zoonoses control
manual handling including lifting and carrying
outdoor work including protection from solar radiation
handling and storage of hazardous substances for internal and external parasite control
use of personal protective equipment
wool/fibre harvesting (crutching).

What control measures may be carried out?
This may include quarantine, livestock disposal, preparation of clean paddocks, livestock proof fencing, and the administering of appropriate treatments.

What notifiable diseases may be identified?
This may include anthrax, brucellosis, foot and mouth, Johnes disease, liver fluke and tuberculosis.

What breeds of livestock may be relevant to this standard?
Livestock may include sheep, goats, beef cattle, dairy cattle and pigs.

How might livestock condition be assessed?
Assessment may be by direct observation of general health and soundness, checks of performance, and inspection of livestock records.

What health problems may be identified?
This may include bloat, worms, external parasites, infertility, leptospirosis, vibriosis, poisonings, oedemas, ketosis, lumpy jaw, tick fever, white scours, pinkeye and grass tetany.

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 range of preventative health supplies may be arranged?
This may include drenches, vaccines and other health treatments.

What procedures and operations may be included in a treatment program?
Routine operations and procedures may include mulesing, jetting and dipping, crutching and shearing, vaccinating, foot paring and bathing. It may also include drenching, teeth grinding, grass-seed removal, lice control, horn trimming, pinkeye control, and mastitis treatment (strategic and preventative).

What legislative requirements may be relevant to this standard?
This may include relevant legislation, regulations and codes of practice for the export of livestock, for the land transport of livestock, and for the welfare of animals.

What procedures may be included in a health strategy?
A livestock health program may include breeding objectives, livestock operations, worm counts, the use of professional advice, pasture grazing plan, health treatments, observing livestock health and symptoms, and fly traps. It may also include quarantine/isolation plans for new or sick livestock, and implementation of an annual program of health treatments.

What OHS requirements may be applicable to this standard?
Safe systems and procedures for:
livestock handling including zoonoses control
manual handling including lifting and carrying
outdoor work including protection from solar radiation
handling and storage of hazardous substances for internal and external parasite control
use of personal protective equipment
wool/fibre harvesting (crutching).

What control measures may be carried out?
This may include quarantine, livestock disposal, preparation of clean paddocks, livestock proof fencing, and the administering of appropriate treatments.

What notifiable diseases may be identified?
This may include anthrax, brucellosis, foot and mouth, Johnes disease, liver fluke and tuberculosis.

What evidence is required to demonstrate competence for this standard as a whole?
Competence in this standard requires evidence of the ability to design and develop the implementation of strategies to enhance the health, condition and wellbeing of livestock. It also requires an understanding of contemporary animal welfare issues and the appropriate treatments and handling of disease and injury, the ability to recognise and remedy livestock sickness within veterinarian guidelines, devise an annual program of preventative health treatments, and seek specialist advice as required.
The skills and knowledge required must be transferable to a different work environment. For example, if evidence is evident in the development and implementation of health and welfare strategies for beef cattle, it must also be evident that these skills may be adapted to devising a health program 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:

livestock health and abnormalities
preventative health practices
contingency planning
animal welfare codes of practice
environmental protection codes of practice
veterinary medicines and their use
quarantine procedures
vaccine types and their administration
OHS legislative requirements.

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:

plan and co-ordinate livestock health and welfare strategies
develop a routine for health control and disease prevention
diagnose health problems in livestock
read and interpret veterinary procedures and guidelines
write and prepare reports and plans
communicate in written and oral form for the understanding of staff and management
measure preventative health treatment dosage and calculate rates and schedule for treatment effectiveness.

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:

livestock health and abnormalities
preventative health practices
contingency planning
animal welfare codes of practice
environmental protection codes of practice
veterinary medicines and their use
quarantine procedures
vaccine types and their administration
OHS legislative requirements.

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:

plan and co-ordinate livestock health and welfare strategies
develop a routine for health control and disease prevention
diagnose health problems in livestock
read and interpret veterinary procedures and guidelines
write and prepare reports and plans
communicate in written and oral form for the understanding of staff and management
measure preventative health treatment dosage and calculate rates and schedule for treatment effectiveness.

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
Communication with regard to complex livestock problems or disease may be discussed with veterinarian personnel. (1)

Communicating ideas and information
Communication with regard to complex livestock problems or disease may be discussed with veterinarian personnel. (1)

Collecting analysing and organising information
Information with regard to diagnosis and administered treatment may be documented and organised by reports for analysis. (1)

Collecting analysing and organising information
Information with regard to diagnosis and administered treatment may be documented and organised by reports for analysis. (1)

Planning and organising activities
Vaccines and drenches may be planned and arranged at regular scheduled intervals. (2)

Planning and organising activities
Vaccines and drenches may be planned and arranged at regular scheduled intervals. (2)

Working with others and in teams
In the application of methods and procedures to develop and implement a livestock treatment program to meet enterprise objectives. (1)

Working with others and in teams
In the application of methods and procedures to develop and implement a livestock treatment program to meet enterprise objectives. (1)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
Mathematical techniques may be used to estimate dosage and frequency of health treatment applications. (2)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
Mathematical techniques may be used to estimate dosage and frequency of health treatment applications. (2)

Solving problems
Livestock health problems may be accurately diagnosed and appropriately treated. (2)

Solving problems
Livestock health problems may be accurately diagnosed and appropriately treated. (2)

Using technology
Technology may be used to communicate, record, and estimate and calculate quantities and volumes. (1)

Using technology
Technology may be used to communicate, record, and estimate and calculate quantities and volumes. (1)