Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to coordinate the milking operations of an enterprise.
All work must be carried out to comply with workplace procedures, work health and safety, animal welfare and biosecurity legislation and codes, and sustainability practices.
This unit applies to individuals who work under broad direction and take responsibility for their own work. They complete routine activities and work in a range of known contexts.
No occupational licensing, legislative or certification requirements are known to apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Element | Performance criteria |
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Determine requirements for milking operations | 1.1 Identify and clarify production requirements according to enterprise objectives 1.2 Identify and comply with requirements for the maintenance of milk quality 1.3 Determine and maintain resources and equipment requirements 1.4 Identify work health and safety hazards, assess risks and implement control measures |
2. Determine milking procedures | 2.1 Determine milking routines and procedures for milking operations, with consideration to the range of variable conditions 2.2 Check water supplies for availability and check and adjust milking equipment to ensure good operational condition 2.3 Implement milking procedures with minimum stress to livestock and maximum yield within reasonable timeframes 2.4 Rectify minor malfunctions of equipment or milking systems to manufacturer's specifications and report more complex repairs for specialist attention |
3. Implement livestock health treatment program | 3.1 Monitor livestock health and condition 3.2 Carry out livestock testing according to enterprise plan and seek advice from supervisors and experts for potential health issues 3.3 Carry out livestock health treatments during drying off with minimal stress and weight loss according to veterinary or expert advice 3.4 Implement hygiene practices to prevent cross-infection during milking operations 3.5 Take milk samples and label appropriately 3.6 Complete and maintain livestock health records 3.7 Carry out all livestock handling and husbandry in line with enterprise animal welfare policies |
4. Coordinate and monitor milking operations | 4.1 Monitor milking procedures for efficiency, effectiveness and compliance with relevant requirements 4.2 Monitor and maintain milk quality 4.3 Monitor costs to ensure operations are completed and maintained within budget 4.4 Clean work areas and equipment, and dispose of organic and non-organic waste in an environmentally responsible manner 4.5 Complete documentation and records accurately and promptly |
Evidence of Performance
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:
identify hazards and implement safe operating procedures
determine requirements for milking operations
schedule, coordinate and monitor milking operations
implement livestock health treatment program
conduct milk sampling and testing
implement drying off programs according to livestock health strategy
recognise and rectify machinery malfunctions
participate in livestock recording programs
clean work areas and milking equipment.
apply enterprise work health and safety policies
apply enterprise animal welfare policies
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:
types, functions, cleaning, monitoring and maintenance of milking facilities, machinery and equipment
enterprise and industry requirements for milking operations such as production targets, finances, required resources, manpower and equipment
criteria, methods and industry standards for determining milk quality
factors affecting milk quality, and their effects and impacts on enterprise production targets and enterprise viability
work routines, procedures and impacts of bad practices for milking operations
anatomy, physiology, reproduction cycle, lactation and behaviour of the animal species applicable to milking operations
relevant hygiene and biosecurity practices and requirements for milking operations
relevant animal welfare practices and requirements for milking operations
relevant livestock testing, health treatment and preventive medicine applicable to milking operations
types, characteristics, signs of ill health, prevention and treatment of relevant diseases in the livestock species
types and maintenance of required documentation and records
types, handling, use and disposal of detergents and cleaning agents, Work Health and Safety and environmental practices for these agents
relevant requirements, methods and methods for waste and debris storage and disposal
relevant work health and safety legislation, regulations and codes of practice
Assessment Conditions
Competency is to be assessed in the workplace OR workplace and simulated environment that accurately reflects performance in a real workplace setting.
Assessors must satisfy current standards for RTOs.
Foundation Skills
Foundation Skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.
Range Statement
Sectors
Dairy (DRY)