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Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Prepare for birthing
   • Animal records are checked and anticipated birthing date confirmed where possible.
   • Condition and health status of pregnant animal is assessed and monitored prior to imminent birthing.
   • Birthing equipment, resources and materials are checked and prepared for use.
   • Females are given access to shelter to give birth in severe weather conditions.
   • Hazards in assisting with birthing are identified and safe work practices followed.
2. Assist at the birthing process
   • Environment and animals are monitored to ensure birth progresses normally.
   • Animals giving birth are handled calmly with minimal disruption to the process.
   • Animals experiencing birthing difficulties are identified and intervention is carried out within procedures.
   • Supervisor or veterinary advice is sought if birth complications cannot be resolved.
3. Provide post-birthing assistance
   • Post-birthing health and bonding of female and newborn is monitored.
   • Birthing environment, facilities and equipment are maintained in a safe, hygienic and operational state and faults are reported or fixed.
   • Record of birth is kept if required.

Required Skills

Required skills

apply contingency measures for birthing in the event of birthing difficulties or adverse weather conditions assess and calculate animal numbers feed measurement rate and frequency of feeding and animal gestation carry out animal husbandry procedures associated with birthing clean maintain and store equipment and materials monitor animal condition and recognise abnormal behaviour recognise signs of imminent birthing of animals prepare birthing environment materials and resources to industry standards provide due care and handle animals humanely provide feed and feed supplements to meet nutritional needs of pregnant animals as directed recognise abnormalities in newborn animals safely implement predator control strategies maintain a safe and secure postbirthing environment select birthing equipment and materials and check for operation demonstrate safe and environmentally responsible workplace practices identify hazards and use safe work practices in the birthing environment communicate abnormalities equipment faults and workplace hazards and report and maintain animal records use literacy skills to follow sequenced written instructions and record information accurately and legibly use oral communication skillslanguage competence to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation including questioning active listening asking for clarification and seeking advice from supervisor use numeracy skills to estimate calculate and record routine workplace measures use interpersonal skills to relate to people from a range of social cultural and ethnic backgrounds and with a range of physical and mental abilities

Required knowledge

animal behaviour and basic health and nutritional requirements as directed birthing environment requirements for animals birthing equipment and materials their components and functions birthing intervention and nonintervention strategies effects of adverse weather conditions on birthing process and newborn animals effects of inadequate nutrition on animals and newborn enterprise policies with regard to treating animals recording and reporting routines environmental impacts and minimisation measures associated with animal production hazards associated with handling animals livestock gestation and birthing and husbandry procedures personal protective clothing and equipment and when and how it should be used problems associated with birthing and remedial treatment procedures for cleaning and maintaining treatment equipment and materials predator behaviour and control procedures relevant StateTerritory legislation regulations and codes of practice with regard to workplace Occupational Health and Safety OHS and animal welfare

Evidence Required

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria required skills and knowledge range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package
Overview of assessment
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit	The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to workplace operations and satisfy holistically all of the requirements of the performance criteria and required skills and knowledge and include achievement of the following implement predator control strategies recognise signs of imminent birthing of animals apply contingency measures for birthing in the event of adverse weather conditions monitor birthing and provide assistance if required or refer on if birthing difficulties require veterinary assistance recognise abnormalities in newborn animals provide a non threatening environment and access to adequate feed and water immediately post birthing
Context of and specific resources for assessment	Competency requires the application of work practices under work conditions Selection and use of resources for some worksites may differ due to the regional or enterprise circumstances

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Range Statement

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole.
Livestock birthing may include:	pigs goats alpacas sheep.

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