Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to manage the collection, monitoring and reporting of animal health data from a meat processing premises. Data may be collected in the lairage or on the slaughter floor. The data may be recorded manually on paper forms or by using electronic technological aids such as touch screens or voice recognition.
The data collected can be provided as feedback to livestock owners and producers, as well as monitored and reported by the meat processor. In some cases, the data will be supplied in part or whole to a third party such as a state government Department of Primary Industries or a national database for further analysis to support extension, research or market access needs.
This unit applies to individuals who:
have a working knowledge of the major animal pathological diseases and conditions that impact livestock production
manage the collection of animal health data
organise uploading animal health data to a database, and monitor it
interpret animal health data in terms of the impact of the relevant pathological diseases on yield.
No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Elements | Performance Criteria |
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Identify the relevant animal diseases for data collection | 1.1 Identify endemic diseases and conditions to be recorded relevant to the enterprise and species 1.2 Identify the standard to be applied to the recording of diseases and conditions at ante- and/or post-mortem 1.3 Identify the impact of the relevant diseases and conditions on yield and potential impact on carcase weights 1.4 Identify sources of information, including veterinary advice, available to producers on strategies to reduce the incidence of diseases and conditions |
2. Manage the collection and recording of animal health data | 2.1 Identify the livestock diseases and conditions to be monitored at a specific plant 2.2 Maintain and validate ante- and post-mortem data collection and recording procedures for the plant 2.3 Oversee and verify the collection and recording of animal health data according to plant requirements 2.4 Establish and implement the procedures for verifying the accuracy of the data collected |
3. Oversee the uploading of records to a database | 3.1 Establish the fields to be recorded in the database 3.2 List the sources of information to populate the database 3.3 Document the procedures for the uploading and verifying of the animal health data into the database 3.4 Check the uploading of animal health data to a database to ensure compliance with database requirements |
4. Monitor and analyse animal health data | 4.1 Establish the purpose of monitoring animal health data at a plant and national level 4.2 Monitor the animal health data relevant to the plant and individual producers with a view to improving the quality of incoming livestock 4.3 Monitor the animal health data against individual Property Identification Codes, local government areas and methods of livestock purchase with a view to improving the quality of incoming livestock and informing livestock purchasing strategies 4.4 Investigate anomalies in data to establish the cause and consult with relevant parties 4.5 Establish the relevant parameters for assessing animal health data including plant and supplier averages 4.6 Estimate the impact of individual diseases and conditions on the processor |
5. Report animal health data to relevant parties | 5.1 Identify national standards for reporting animal health data 5.2 Establish a format for the reporting of animal health data to relevant plant personnel, producers and other third parties 5.3 Manage the reporting of animal health data to ensure reporting and data standards are complied with 5.4 Provide feedback to enquires from relevant individuals and parties |
Foundation Skills
This section describes those language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills that are essential for performance in this unit of competency but are not explicit in the performance criteria.
Skill | Description |
Reading | Interprets and analyses data |
Writing | Produces reports using structure, format and language appropriate for purpose |
Numeracy | Interprets numbers and statistics as part of collecting and reporting data |
Sectors
Abattoirs