Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to develop feeding plans for a production system.
This unit applies to supervisors and unit managers who are responsible for nutrition and feeding in an intensive livestock production facility.
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 take responsibility for their own work and for the quality of the work of others within known parameters. They use discretion and judgement in the selection, allocation and use of available resources and provide and communicate solutions to a range of predictable and sometimes unpredictable problems.
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. Select ingredients for feed | 1.1 Identify nutritional needs of livestock from information available and class of livestock 1.2 Source nutritional advice from the appropriate industry or organisational sources 1.3 Select ingredients that provide for the identified nutritional need of livestock 1.4 Select suppliers of ingredients on the basis of quality and cost of feed 1.5 Determine quantities of individual ingredients required, in conjunction with advice from other available information and expert/supplier advice |
2. Determine feed rations and schedules | 2.1 Determine quantities of total feeds required for livestock from the production program, in conjunction with advice from other available information and expert advice 2.2 Take into consideration the results of any available laboratory testing when determining the quantities of each ingredient used 2.3 Schedule feeding and allocate responsibility for feeding in line with the production program and other operations occurring within the site 2.4 Identify the method(s) of providing feed to livestock identified in the production plan and confirm with supplier of ingredients and other expert advice |
3. Supervise mixing and storage of feed | 3.1 Organise secure and hygienic storage of feed and ingredients to eliminate contamination and infestation 3.2 Select storage location to ensure safe access 3.3 Organise rotation of feedstocks and replacements to arrive at the appropriate time to ensure optimum freshness 3.4 Organise mixing of feed to suit the needs of the livestock, the identified nutritional requirements and the equipment available within the organisation 3.5 Add medications to feeds according to enterprise procedures if required 3.6 Take, package and label samples of feed and forward them to the laboratory for testing according to the schedules described in the production program 3.7 Check calibration of measuring equipment and calculation of quantities at regular intervals 3.8 Identify work health and safety hazards, assess risks, and implement, monitor and review risk controls for feed preparation and feeding operations 3.9 Comply with enterprise biosecurity policies |
4. Supervise feeding | 4.1 Supply rations to the livestock according to the production program and schedules devised 4.2 Make potable water available continuously to the livestock 4.3 Monitor the health and wellbeing of the livestock in line with enterprise requirements and animal welfare policies 4.4 Monitor and report any change in production levels as a direct result of changes to feed types, ingredients or schedules 4.5 Give advice to operational staff during the feeding operation when requested, or when the need is observed 4.6 Remove all waste materials and substances from the site and store, or disposed of, according to legislation, environmental policies and enterprise procedures 4.7 Collate and store documentation according to the requirements of the organisation |
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 work practices
discuss feed and nutritional content with nutritionist and managers
identify a range of raw ingredients
operate a range of feeding equipment
perform basic trouble shooting of the feeding operation
monitor animal intake and performance
read and interpret manufacturers specifications, work and maintenance plans, and Safety Data Sheets (SDSs)
interpret and apply task instructions, communicate with work team and supervisor, and record and report faults, workplace hazards and accidents
accurately measure and calculate volumes, consumption and storage requirements
complete the required records of feed use and livestock performance
comply with enterprise biosecurity, environmental and animal welfare procedures and policies
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:
control of common livestock diseases and preventative measures including the placement of medications in feed
growth and development in livestock
milling systems
dietary needs and analysis of feed samples
organisations sampling requirements and techniques
where to access appropriate legislative requirements, manufacturers instructions and enterprise procedures/instructions
silo operations and configuration, machinery and operating practices
codes of practice and enterprise policies with regard to work health and safety, biosecurity, environment and animal welfare
cleaning and storage of machinery, equipment and materials
enterprise recording and reporting procedures
Assessment Conditions
Competency is to be assessed in the work place or simulated environments that accurately reflect 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
Livestock (LSK)