Google Links

Follow the links below to find material targeted to the unit's elements, performance criteria, required skills and knowledge

Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Monitor and assess poultry health and welfare
   • Maintain biosecurity protocols and quarantine procedures at all times
   • Follow enterprise work health and safety policies
   • Check poultry health and welfare regularly
   • Recognise and report signs of ill health, common diseases, parasite infestations and physical abnormalities
   • Identify cull birds using criteria established by the enterprise or industry quality assurance program
   • Record flock health status
2. Provide an optimal environment for poultry
   • Check bird housing conditions to ensure that protection is provided from external factors that compromise poultry health and welfare
   • Monitor, maintain and operate temperature and humidity control equipment
   • Install equipment and housing infrastructure appropriately
   • Monitor welfare of poultry and report non-compliance with animal welfare codes promptly
   • Record information which is relevant to the welfare and health of stock
3. Administer medicines or other chemicals
   • Store labelled veterinary chemicals or other medicines appropriately
   • Carry out routine prevention procedures for disease agents and parasites
   • Handle and measure medicines and chemicals safely and appropriately for administration
   • Medicate poultry appropriately as instructed or under supervision where required
   • Complete required documentation and records for administration of medicines and chemicals
4. Collect samples for analysis
   • Take swabs from surfaces and work areas regularly and prepare swabs for laboratory testing
   • Label and pack swabs and samples for dispatch appropriately
5. Remove non-viable poultry
   • Identify and remove sick, injured or unthrifty poultry in line with enterprise animal welfare policies
   • Treat sick poultry
   • Provide post-mortem assistance where necessary
6. Report and complete records
   • Report individual bird and flock health status promptly so that prevention strategies can be planned and implemented
   • Complete all required documentation and records clearly, promptly and accurately, and store appropriately

Range Statement

---

Performance Evidence

The candidate must be assessed on their ability to integrate and apply the performance requirements of this unit in a workplace setting. Performance must be demonstrated consistently over time and in a suitable range of contexts.

The candidate must provide evidence that they can:

monitor and assess poultry health and welfare

provide an optimal environment for poultry

administer medicines or other chemicals

collect samples for analysis

remove non-viable poultry

report and complete records

follow enterprise work health and safety policies

follow biosecurity protocols

follow enterprise animal welfare polices

---

Knowledge Evidence

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:

relevant regulatory requirements, codes of practice, industry standards and enterprise procedures for biosecurity and quarantine

relevant regulatory requirements, codes of practice, industry standards and enterprise procedures for animal welfare of poultry

signs of health, signs of ill health, and methods for assessing poultry health and welfare

common diseases of poultry, treatment regimes, prevention and management strategies

criteria for determining birds to be culled

relevant documentation, records and reports that are required

types, functions and characteristics of housing, housing infrastructure and housing equipment for poultry, and the criteria and methods for determining that they are in working condition

types, uses, handling, storage and routes of administration of commonly used veterinary medicines and chemicals

procedures for taking, handling, labelling, packing and transporting swab samples

procedures for assisting a post-mortem examination

effects and impacts of individual bird health and welfare on flock health status and vice versa

relevant work health and safety requirements and environmental policies

---