Elements and Performance Criteria

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.
Alternatives to ovariectomy (spaying) for management of heifers and cows may include:
lot feeding
alternative selling options
breeder segregation
heifer-safe paddocks
bull removal
pregnancy diagnosis of heifers by veterinarians or accredited testers, with on-selling of empty heifers
use of prostaglandins for heifers that are less than 4 months gestation prior to transport to a feedlot/live export depot
therapeutic pregnancy control when available
Pre-operative evaluation of cattle submitted for ovary dropping should include:
selection of cattle that are:
surplus wet cows and heifers
at least 4 weeks postpartum
preferably well handled
accustomed to being worked in yards and races
empty or early pregnant (less than 4 months gestation)
strong and present with a good BCS (greater than 2.5 out of 5)
generally at or above a 180kg live weight (lower limit)
not affected by heavy tick burdens
not scheduled for dehorning within 4 weeks before or after spaying
feed only curfewed for a minimum of 12 hours prior to the procedure but have continuous access to water
identifying animals showing signs of disease, weakness or emaciation which should not be spayed by any technique
Risks associated with DOT procedures may include:
fractious animals and those with poor temperaments
animals with poor BCS
extreme environmental conditions, for example: heat, cold, rain
operator limitations for example: fatigue, hand size, lack of experience
anaemia due to heavy worm or tick burdens
pneumorectum (sucking air into the rectum)
lack of feed curfew
water curfew, dehydration
poor equipment, yards and other necessary infrastructure
inadequate spelling facilities
Where such risks exist, it is recommended that the overall risks be assessed and risk mitigation put in place in the interests of animal welfare. In some cases the situation will be significant enough to be unmanageable and require deferral of the procedure.
Weather conditions
Weather conditions for operations should be a fine, mild day.
Weather conditions to be avoided include:
excessively hot conditions which can increase bleeding and stress on cattle
cold weather conditions which place additional stress on cattle
wet or dusty conditions which increase the risk of contamination
Equipment may include:
Essential equipment for performing DOT includes:
cattle crush and race
ovariotomes x 3 sizes (heifer, cow and large cow) plus spares
disinfectant and wash buckets preferably with a lid to reduce dust contamination
chlorhexidine or centrimide disinfectant
shoulder-length gloves
lubricant
overalls/aprons
safety boots and glasses
earmarking pliers
ear tagging pliers and tags
diamond sharpener
paper towelling
Extra equipment may include:
table and chair
knives
waterbottle/pannikin
counter
electric prodder (use should be kept to a minimum)
hat/sunscreen
Cattle crush must include:
a rear kick gate featuring:
a recommended average height of 800mm
the gap between the bottom of the kick gate and the floor of the crush and the bottom of the side gate and the floor of the crush should be no more than 20 mms
side gates that are sheeted or closely railed up to 1 metre
head bail
solid non-slip floor
squeeze
a wide area that is dust and mud free around the crush
effective protection for operators from cattle in same yard as crush
Animal welfareconsiderations will include:
complying with relevant legislation, regulations concerned with:
animal welfare (eg. Australian Animal Welfare Standards for Cattle (handling and management)
the prevention of cruelty to animals
adopting best practice recommendations as relevant in the Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for Cattle (handling and management) and in industry documents such as:
industry codes of practice
industry standards and protocols
WHS standards may include:
applying appropriate manual handling techniques when handling loads, including livestock and equipment
following safe operating procedures for:
cleaning, disinfecting and sharpening instruments
following personal and workplace hygiene procedures
hazard identification and risk minimisation, including handling, use, storage, transport and disposal of chemicals and handling and disposal of biological wastes
livestock catching, handling, controlling and restraining methods
using materials and equipment in accordance with manufacturers’ instructions
using infection control procedures to minimise risks associated with:
zoonotic diseases
release of infective agents (both animal and human)
chemical spillage
using personal protective equipment (PPE) including:
clothing of a protective nature
eye protection
gloves
items for sun and other protection
safety footwear and leg protection
surgical mask
A high standard of hygiene will require:
equipment to be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before initial use, between procedures and each time they are changed for cleaning and sharpening
disinfectant to be used in accordance with label instructions (MSDS)
appropriate reprocessing of reusable equipment
personal hygiene practices especially washing and drying hands (e.g. before and after animal contact)
safe handling and disposal of clinical, related and general waste
surface cleaning and management of blood and bodily fluid spills
techniques to limit contamination
use of personal protective equipment
Common DOT procedural impediments may include, but are not limited to:
excessive animal movement
the head of the ovariotome becoming caught in vaginal folds and deep vaginas
difficulty in penetrating the vaginal wall
the head of the ovariotome becoming caught in broad ligament (membrane obstructions)
pneumorectum (wind sucking, ballooning of the rectum)
difficulty locating one ovary or both ovaries after the ovariotome is in place
difficulty severing the ovary
small intestinal entanglement in the spay tool
DOT procedures include:
administration of pain relief, where available
appropriate restraint of the cow, avoiding where possible the use of electro-immobilisation as a form of restraint for the procedure (only to be used when beneficial to the health and wellbeing of the animal and/or the operator)
a gloved hand being inserted in the rectum to manipulate the reproductive tract
the ovariotome being introduced into the vagina and placed against the vaginal wall above the cervix
the vaginal wall being pierced with the spearhead end and the ovariotome passed into the abdomen
each ovary then being manipulated per rectum and placed in the oval hole of the ovariotome
each ovary then being cut off by a slow backward pull on the ovariotome which draws the ovary into the cutting slot
Identification earmarks or ear tags requirements include:
completed spay
incomplete spay
untoward event; should a mishap occur this needs to be identified that may require veterinary referral or humane euthanasia
Post-spay management requirements include:
monitoring spayed cattle for a minimum of three days after the procedure for indications of complications such as: pain, haemorrhage, rectal perforation, intestinal lacerations, sepsis
identifying situations requiring veterinary referral or humane euthanasia
providing appropriate treatment for complications which may include antibiotics, analgesia, supportive care or euthanasia
avoiding using paddocks with no shelter, little feed, or long distances to walk to water
moving spayed cattle gently and calmly and avoiding walking them long distances (more than 5km) to paddocks
familiarising cattle with a watering point
avoiding forced walks or trucking long distances for approximately 10 days after the procedure
organising/conducting post-mortems in deceased animals to determine the cause of death for continuous improvement of the technique
Documentation and records may include:

accurate animal counts
earmark and tagging system identifying spayed animal and operator
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs)

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
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to workplace operations and satisfy all of the requirements of the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge and the range statement of this unit. Assessors should ensure that candidates can:
assess alternative strategies and confirm key indicators for the use of DOT procedures in consultation with cattle manager
understand optimal conditions for carrying out DOT procedures
conduct pre-operative evaluation of cattle submitted for ovary dropping and risk assessment in consultation with cattle manager
prepare appropriate sites, facilities and equipment in line with infection control, workplace health and safety and animal welfare standards including pain management in accordance with legislative requirements
follow low-stress stock mustering, movement and handling procedures
carry out DOT procedures in accordance with industry recognised best practice DOT procedure and processing rates, impediment remedial actions and hygiene standards
communicate post-spay management requirements to cattle manager
accurately document and maintain appropriate records
The skills and knowledge required to conduct DOT procedure for spaying cattle must be transferable to a range of work environments and contexts and include the ability to deal with unplanned events.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment for this unit is to be practical in nature and will be most appropriately assessed in an on-farm workplace situation with access to appropriate female cattle, facilities and equipment to enable one to demonstrate competence.
Method of assessment
To ensure consistency of performance, competency must be demonstrated to industry recognised standards, over a number of assessment activities, taking into account appropriate processing rates, procedural impediment remedial actions and hygiene standards.
Assessment must take place over a period of time in order to cover a variety of circumstances, cases and responsibilities.
The assessment strategies must include practical skills assessment. Suggested strategies for this unit are:
written and/or oral assessment of candidate's required knowledge
observed, documented and firsthand testimonial evidence of candidate's application of practical tasks
simulation exercises that reproduce normal work conditions
portfolio records that provide evidence of practical skills
This unit may be assessed in a holistic way with other units of competency relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role.
Guidance information for assessment
Assessment methods should reflect workplace demands (e.g. literacy and numeracy demands) and the needs of particular target groups (e.g. people with disabilities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, women, people with a language background other than English, youth and people from low socioeconomic backgrounds).