Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to slaughter livestock humanely.
All work must be carried out to comply with workplace procedures, work health and safety, animal welfare and biosecurity legislation and codes of practice and sustainability practices.
This unit applies to individuals who work under broad direction and take responsibility for their own work. They work in a range of known contexts, use discretion and judgement in the selection and use of available resources and complete routine activities.
Individuals must hold firearms licences if they are using firearms to slaughter livestock.
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. Prepare for slaughter | 1.1 Identify reasons for slaughter 1.2 Identify and prepare slaughter site 1.3 Prepare equipment and transport equipment to slaughter site where required 1.4 Select and prepare livestock to be slaughtered in compliance with animal welfare requirements 1.5 Determine the slaughter method |
2. Slaughter animal | 2.1 Conduct slaughter humanely in compliance with work health and safety and animal welfare requirements 2.2 Bleed animal by severing the major blood vessels safely and hygienically 2.3 Dress, hang and protect carcase where appropriate 2.4 Comply with all relevant work health and safety, public health, hygiene, animal welfare, biosecurity and environmental sustainability requirements |
3. Complete slaughter operations | 3.1 Dispose of, or destroy offal and waste products in an environmentally responsible manner and according to State/Territory and local authority health standards 3.2 Clean and store equipment safely and appropriately 3.3 Clean slaughter site appropriately 3.4 Prepare meat for intended use where appropriate |
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:
prepare site, equipment and livestock for slaughter safely and appropriately
conduct the slaughter of livestock in compliance with relevant requirements and regulations
complete slaughter operations
dispose of, or destroy offal and waste products in an environmentally responsible manner and according to State/Territory and local authority health standards
comply with all relevant work health and safety, public health, hygiene, animal welfare, biosecurity and environmental sustainability requirements
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:
relevant work health and safety, public health, hygiene, animal welfare, biosecurity and environmental sustainability requirements
preparation, selection and use of the site, equipment and livestock for the slaughter
methods and procedures for the humane slaughter of livestock
preparation, processing and disposal of the carcass and its parts after slaughter
post-slaughter procedures for the site and equipment
anatomy and physical features of the species being slaughtered
typical signs of pathology in major organs
typical symptoms and clinical signs of notifiable diseases in the relevant species
codes of practice for the welfare and husbandry of relevant livestock species
Assessment Conditions
Competency is to be assessed in the workplace and/or a simulated environment that accurately reflects performance in a real workplace setting.
Assessments for the following performance evidence must be conducted on a live animal:
prepare for slaughter
slaughter animal
complete slaughter operations
Competency in this unit can be determined in a single species.
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
Livestock (LSK)