Elements and Performance Criteria
- Prepare for pregnancy diagnosis procedures
- Pregnancy testing preparations including the preparation of relevant documentation are completed according to organisation requirements and procedures.
- Animals are mustered, yarded and safely restrained in line with organisation policy.
- Animals to be tested are drafted according to breeding or management program requirements.
- Physical and human resources for pregnancy testing are assembled according to organisation policy.
- Arrange support for pregnancy testing procedures
- Pregnancy testing supplies and equipment are assembled for the pregnancy testers use.
- Individual animals are separated and restrained for veterinary treatment or examination.
- All handling and testing of animals is undertaken with strict adherence to the Code of Animal Welfare.
- Records of pregnancy testing operations are completed in line with established procedures and outcomes reported to management as required.
- Carry out manual pregnancy diagnosis procedures
- Individual animals are humanely restrained for testing and individual breeding records checked.
- Personal protective equipment, including appropriate hand protection, is fitted and used according to organisation policy.
- While working with animals, Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) hazards are continually identified, risks assessed and suitable controls implemented.
- Rectal area of animal is cleaned as required prior to examination.
- Rectal examination/palpation is humanely carried out to establish pregnancy or non-pregnancy from a range of key indicators.
- Strict hygiene procedures are implemented between individual animals in line with organisation and industry requirements.
- Records are kept and non pregnant animals identified according to organisation requirements.
- Other indicators of animal health are observed and noted for input to herd health management.
- Carry out post pregnancy testing clean up procedure
- Animals diagnosed as pregnant or not pregnant are accurately identified according to the requirements of the organisation.
- All animals are consigned to their destination or returned to paddocks/pens in line with organisation needs.
- Debris and veterinary medicine containers from pregnancy testing operations are disposed of in full consideration of environmental considerations and controls.
- Regular monitoring of animals post testing is carried out to ensure that no evidence of physical damage or injury is evident.