Elements and Performance Criteria

RANGE STATEMENT
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.
Regulatory requirements may include:
animal welfare
appropriately accredited saleyards
commercial law including fair trading, trade practices
consumer law
corporate law, including registration, licensing, financial reporting
environmental and waste management, sustainable work practices
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO), anti-discrimination and sexual harassment
Export Control Act
hygiene and sanitation requirements
industrial awards, agreements
relevant regulations and Australian Standards
state, territory and federal regulations regarding meat processing
taxation law.
Market intelligence may be local, national and international and may be provided by:
communications media (e.g. radio, TV, newspapers and internet)
government agencies:
Department of Primary Industries and Energy (DPIE)
Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ABARE)
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC)
Aus Industry/AusTrade
industry associations
research agencies and publications (e.g. MLA, Feedback)
specialist journals and press (e.g. breeder or producer, economic, agricultural and manufacturing)
standard yield analysis systems and standard costing arrangements
stock and station agents.
Selection of suitable cattle may be determined by:
age, sex, size, condition
breed or strain
chemical application history
cost
end use
feed history
health anomalies
number
pregnancy status
production records
weight, fat cover, muscling.
Enterprisespecifications may include:
availability and delivery dates
body conformation requirements
number or head
species and breeds
use of AUS-MEAT language and descriptors.
OH&S requirements may include:
animal or manual handling
confined spaces operations
enterprise OH&S policies, procedures and programs
OH&S legal requirements
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) which may include:
ear plugs or muffs
eye and facial protection
head-wear
lifting assistance
uniforms
waterproof clothing
work, safety or waterproof footwear
requirements set out in standards and codes of practice
zoonotic diseases.
Methods of purchasing livestock may include:
Computer Aided Livestock Marketing (CALM)
direct from feedlots
forward contracting
out of the paddock
saleyard.
Documentation and certification of livestock may include:
breeding
chemical residue clearance
electronic tagging or chips
exotic and notifiable diseases
feed history
Hormonal Growth Promotants (HGP) status
National Livestock Identification System (NLIS)
National Residue Survey (NRS)
tail tags
treatment and with holding periods.
Communication may:
be inclusive of the cultural, ethnic and social diversity of individuals and groups
include use of data bases, e-commerce systems, grading and scoring systems
involve use of negotiation, persuasion and assertiveness skills
occur in a variety of sensitive, conflictive, collaborative and supportive environments
be formal or informal and involve face-to-face and technological and electronic methods
require analysis and presentation of complex concepts, technical information, mathematical information and other data in simple or complex formats
require preparation of reports which may be complex, contain information from a range of technical sources and include mathematical and graphic information and data.
Mathematical skills may relate to:
complex actual and hypothetical technical and financial modelling
calculations and interpretation and analysis mathematical information such as:
product and product quality
financial operations
personnel
operations
sales and turnover
exports.
Livestock sales and transport personnel may include:
auctioneers
livestock breeders or producers
stock and station agents
transport vendors, drivers, agents.
Workplace requirements may include:
enterprise-specific requirements
OH&S requirements
QA requirements
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
the ability to perform the task to production requirements
work instructions.
Key stakeholders may include:
company owners, directors, shareholders and financiers
competitors
management and employees
suppliers, customers, consumers
unions and employer associations.
Information sources for livestock purchases may include:
electronic marketing
private consultations
rural news, rural newspapers
stock and station agents
word of mouth.
Carrier's terms of engagement may include:
cost per kilometre
number per truck or deck or selection
points (long trip)
quality of service
time for trip.
Producer QA arrangements may include:
Cattle Care
EU closed system or HGP status
Flock Care
QA Certification feedlots.

EVIDENCE GUIDE
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
The meat industry has specific and clear requirements for evidence. A minimum of three forms of evidence is required to demonstrate competency in the meat industry. This is specifically designed to provide evidence that covers the demonstration in the workplace of all aspects of competency over time.
These requirements are in addition to the requirements for valid, current, authentic and sufficient evidence.

Three forms of evidence means three different kinds of evidence - not three pieces of the same kind. In practice it will mean that most of the unit is covered twice. This increases the legitimacy of the evidence.

All assessment must be conducted against Australian meat industry standards and regulations.
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
Competency must be demonstrated through sustained performance over time, at an appropriate level of responsibility and authority under typical operating and production conditions for the enterprise.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Resources may include:
a real work environment
access to stockyards
relevant equipment and materials
relevant documentation such as:
customer and workplace specifications
electronic and online livestock data
manufacturer instructions or operations manuals
regulatory requirements
workplace policy and procedures.
Method of assessment
Recommended methods of assessment include:
a third-party referee report of sustained performance at an appropriate level of authority and responsibility
assignment focusing on the understanding and application of principles and theory to workplace operations
simulation
workplace projects with focus on company environment and conditions.

Assessment practices should take into account any relevant language or cultural issues related to Aboriginality or Torres Strait Islander, gender, or language backgrounds other than English. Language and literacy demands of the assessment task should not be higher than those of the work role.
Guidance information for assessment
A current list of resources for this unit of competency is available from MINTRAC www.mintrac.com.au or telephone 1800 817 462.