Home - RTE03 - RTE3115B

Range Statement

These may include crushes, mulesing shears, foot clipping secateurs, hand shears, machine shearing handpieces, livestock cradles, foot baths, dehorning equipment, livestock handling equipment, drench guns, vaccinating guns, dips, jetting plant, jetting guns, syringe and scales.

Livestock covered by this unit of competency include beef cattle, alpaca, sheep and goats.

A work plan may include tasks (including type and application of treatments), equipment, resources and materials for use, equipment checks and maintenance procedures, supervisor instructions, timeframes for work completion, and reporting requirements.

Standard operating procedures, industry standards, production schedules, Material Safety Data Sheets, work notes, product labels, manufacturers specifications, operators manuals, enterprise policies and procedures (including waste disposal, recycling and re-use guidelines), OHS procedures, supervisors oral or written instructions, work and routine maintenance plans, may be included in enterprise requirements.

Preventative health treatments may include, pizzle dropping, foot paring, clipping/grinding teeth, trimming horns, administering trace elements, giving injections, applying disinfectants, checking eyes and removing grass seeds, shearing dead livestock, collecting faecal samples, dipping, jetting, treating fly strike, caustic treatment of horn buds, mulesing/marking, administering hormonal treatments/agents, inspecting testicles, checking vulvas, checking ears, checking teeth, checking udders, drenching, weaning young, removing horns, and castration.

These may include identifying hazards and assessing and reporting risks, and implementing safe systems and procedures for:

• handling of livestock aimed to prevent injury and illness including zoonoses control (Q Fever)

• manual handling, application and storage of hazardous substances (drenches, vaccines)

• outdoor work including protection from solar radiation, and dust

• appropriate use of personal protective clothing and equipment.

Workplace hazards may include moving and handling livestock and machinery, solar radiation, dust, and other hazardous substances (i.e. veterinary chemicals).

This may include the application of controlled and calming techniques (including the restraint of working dogs) to minimise stress to livestock and prevent risks to young livestock of smothering.

For example, safely caught and restrained (with or without use of animal handling equipment).

Lesions, abscesses, parasites, cancers, abnormal growths, lice/ticks, and footrot.

Eartags, earmarks, raddle, sprays, silicon chips, tattoos, collar tags, and leg bands.

Negative environmental impacts may result from the unsafe use and disposal of veterinarian chemicals (dipping, jetting, internal and external parasite control), and any consequent residual chemicals. Impacts may also result from high concentrations of livestock on ground cover causing run-off flows, loss of ground cover, soil disturbance, pugging, dust problems, weed seeds in animal manure, contamination of ground and surface water supplies, and odours.

This may include giving livestock time to settle post-treatment, conducting the move in a controlled and quiet manner to correct paddock, and ensure the closure of gates.

Residues may include skin, testes, teeth and horn clippings, and carcasses, and may be disposed of by burning, burying, or removal to safe site.

Evidence Guide

Competence in implementing livestock husbandry practices requires evidence of the ability to assess livestock health status, and prepare and administer appropriate preventative health treatments according to work plan. It involves selecting, using and maintaining specialised equipment, the ability to muster, move and handle livestock, prepare treatment site, facilities and equipment to industry standards, determine treatment methods, monitor treatment effectiveness, report and treat abnormalities, and maintain records. Evidence must also be demonstrated in the employment of safe workplace and environmentally responsible practices associated with livestock husbandry. The skills and knowledge required must be transferable to a different work environment. For example, if competence is evident in the practise of livestock husbandry in the goat production industry, it must also be evident in performing livestock husbandry practices in other sectors of the rural industry.

There are a number of processes that are learnt throughout work and life, which are required in all jobs. They are fundamental processes and generally transferable to other work functions. Some of these are covered by the key competencies, although others may be added. The questions below highlight how these processes are applied in this unit of competency. Following each question a number in brackets indicates the level to which the key competency needs to be demonstrated where 0 = not required, 1 = perform the process, 2 = perform and administer the process and 3 = perform, administer and design the process.

• How can communication of ideas and information (1) be applied?

  • Information and ideas with regard to treatment and equipment application methods, and identification of any complications or abnormalities in livestock may be discussed with the supervisor and work team.

• How can information be collected, analysed and organised (1)?

  • Information with regard to applied treatments and effectiveness may be observed and monitored for analysis, and organised by records and reports.

• How are activities planned and organised (2)?

  • Activities involving mustering and moving livestock may be planned and coordinated around treatment schedules, or sequenced as required.

• How can team work (1) be applied?

  • Team work may be applied in mustering, moving and yarding livestock to treatment site, and during the treatment process.

• How can the use of mathematical ideas and techniques (2) be applied?

  • Mathematics may be applied in the calculation and measurement of treatment dosage and dosage/treatment frequency.

• How can problem-solving skills (2) be applied?

  • Contingencies for adverse weather conditions may be planned and prepared to minimise disruption to treatment schedules, and alternative plans may be needed if complications occur when moving, yarding or treating livestock.

• How can the use of technology (1) be applied?

  • To communicate, record and calculate information with regard to the administering of preventative health treatments.

This unit of competency could be assessed on its own or in combination with other competencies relevant to the job function.

There is essential information about assessing this unit of competency for consistent performance and where and how it may be assessed, in the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package. All users of these units of competency must have access to the Assessment Guidelines. Further advice may also be sought from the relevant sector booklet.