This unit provides the overall knowledge of stockfeed milling materials, equipment, processes, and common risks that a stockfeed operator requires. It is designed to complement the skills provided by more specific technical and occupational health and safety (OHS) units.

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Locate stockfeed mill departments, walkways, storage and assembly areas

1.1. Raw materials receival and storage areas are located

1.2. Control rooms and other main operator stations are located

1.3. Milling, batch and mixing, pelletising, liquid, mash and block stockfeed production areas are located

1.4. Additive storage is located

1.5. Support services, including maintenance, administration, laboratory and quality assurance, and information technology departments are located

1.6. Finished products storage and despatch areas are located

1.7. Walkways and emergency assembly areas are located

2. Describe flow of product through mill and purpose of each stage in the production process

2.1. Main raw materials and source are described

2.2. Receival processes, including weighing, volume and quality checks are described

2.3. Milling process are described

2.4. Batching and mixing processes, including recipe, micronutrients and additives are described

2.5. Post-mixing processes, including pelletising, mashing, pressing and setting are described

2.6. Labelling and packing operations are described

3. Describe range of stockfeeds, their purpose and target species

3.1. Differences in pellet, mash, liquid and block stockfeeds are identified

3.2. Identify target species and animals for stockfeed mill products are identified

3.3. Benefits of stockfeed are described to producers

4. Describe main risks to stockfeed milling operations

4.1. Explain importance of dust control and dust control procedures are explained

4.2. Additives requiring special safety and handling procedures are identified

4.3. Typical pests are described and pest control procedures explained

4.4. Main risks to quality, including contamination, incorrect recipe adherence, incorrect sequencing and product transference, incorrect labelling and packaging are described

4.5. Environmental procedures for mill operations are identified

Required skills

Ability to:

access workplace information to identify processing requirements

read diagrams and sketches

use oral communication skills/language competence to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation, including questioning, active listening, asking for clarification and seeking advice from supervisor

work cooperatively within a culturally diverse workforce

Required knowledge

Knowledge of:

purpose and basic principles of each part of the stockfeed production process, such as volumetric metering, mixing, steam conditioning, pelletising pouring, pressing, cooling, adding and mixing in micronutrient and other additives, sequencing of production to minimise transference and cross-contamination, and traceability procedures

range of raw materials and typical sourcing

stockfeed product range and target species and animals

basic operating principles of equipment and main equipment components

basic operating principles of process control, including the relationship between control rooms and panels and the physical equipment

the flow of the stockfeed production process

quality characteristics and uses of finished stockfeed

operating requirements and parameters and corrective action required where operation is outside specified operating parameters

methods used to monitor the stockfeed process, such as inspecting, measuring and testing as required by the process

contamination risks and related controls

OHS hazards and controls, including dust, contamination and materials requiring special handling procedures and emergency assembly areas

The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

Evidence is required in the ability to identify the overall process of stockfeed production, the different types of products and major departments in a stockfeed mill.

Assessment must be carried out in a manner that recognises the cultural and literacy requirements of the assessee and is appropriate to the work performed. Competence in this unit must be achieved in accordance with food safety standards and regulations.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Evidence of ability to:

identify and locate departments, major walkways and assembly areas in the stockfeed mill

describe the major steps in the stockfeed production process

describe stockfeed products and purposes, including pellets, liquid, mash and block stockfeeds, basic role of additives, typical target species and animals

identify major risk factors including dust, pests, contamination and incorrect adherence to recipes.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

The candidate is to be assessed on knowledge and skill relevant to his or her stockfeed workplace.

Method of assessment

Evidence may include direct observation, third party report, portfolio, work documentation, response to questions, and so on that address the performance criteria and critical aspects for assessment.

Guidance information for assessment

Performance against this standard must be assessed in an industry context. For valid and reliable assessment the activity should closely replicate the work environment, circumstances and equipment likely to be encountered in a workplace.

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Stockfeed mill departments

Stockfeed mill departments may include:

road and rail grain receival, including weighbridges, general inwards goods receival

bulk and packaged raw materials storage

milling, batch and mixing, pelletising, liquid, mash and block stockfeed production areas

maintenance

administration

laboratory and quality assurance

information technology

bulk and packaged finished products storage

road and rail despatch

Stockfeed products

Stockfeed products may include:

pellets

mash

liquid

block

pre-mixes

loose licks

Stockfeed production process

A stockfeed production process typically includes:

batching and blending of components, including any micronutrients and other additives

volumetric feeding

steam conditioning

pelletising

pouring of stockfeed into moulds

pressing

cooling

quality checking

labelling

packing and despatch

Target species

Target species may include:

dairy cattle

beef cattle

poultry for egg production

poultry for meat

horses

pigs

sheep

fish (aquaculture)

Target animals

Target animals may include:

target species animals by age, gender, stage of growth or production

location and intended purposes and products

Typical pests

Typical pests include:

rodents

birds

insects

Unit sector

Grain processing

This unit contains employability skills.