Apprenticeship training course

Livestock unit technician (level 3)

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Information about Livestock unit technician (level 3)

Manage the livestock related tasks on the farm.

• Knowledge, skills and behaviours:
  View knowledge, skills and behaviours

  Knowledge

  • Health and Safety processes and practices relevant to livestock management. This includes development and implementation of health and safety plans and risk assessments; health and safety for self and visitors, biosecurity and infrastructure requirements.
  • The digestive process of commonly farmed livestock (cattle (beef and dairy), pigs, sheep and goats) and how this can be managed by nutritional support.
  • The legal and operational aspects of livestock record keeping and the importance of maintaining and reporting on such systems (both written and digitally).
  • Breeding and production cycles for commonly farmed livestock and how to correctly manage livestock pre, during and post parturition to meet animal welfare and operational requirements.
  • The different types of technology and systems used in livestock production, their benefits and how to prepare, maintain (for example, cleaning, repairing minor faults) and use them. For example, Robotic milking, EID tagging, GPS tracking
  • The legislation applicable to working with farm equipment. This must include provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) legislation
  • How to prepare and implement health and welfare plans and schedules, identifying priorities, resources required and critical activities to achieve desired KPI’s, including identification of Zoonotic, non-zoonotic and notifiable diseases (for example BSE) and their impact on human health
  • How to establish current health status of stock, to prepare livestock health & welfare plan.
  • The different types of grasses, forage crops and bought in feed used to support livestock nutrition and how to assess and manage them for optimum performance.
  • The importance and methods of ensuring that the movement of livestock is planned and communicated clearly to all relevant parties.
  • Welfare requirements of livestock in accommodation at different stages of production cycle and how they can be achieved, including management of manure
  • The market factors such as price, supply chain requirements, new legislation and relevant industry welfare codes, and the impact these have on the business
  • Range of stakeholders relevant to farm business and their potential impact on business success
  • The importance and practice of safely and effectively selecting and preparing livestock for sale or transfer
  • Operating instructions and legal requirements for operating commonly used farm vehicles with a range of attachments. For example, tractor, ATV, quad bike.
  • The 5 welfare needs of animals: a. its need for a suitable environment b. its need for a suitable diet (and water) c. Its need to exhibit normal behaviour patterns d. any need to be housed with, or apart from, other animals in appropriate social groupings e. its need to be protected from fear, pain, suffering, injury and disease (including the different methods of euthanasia depending on livestock species)
  • Impact of farm working practices on social, economic and environmental sustainability, including a basic understanding of how to contribute to government-led sustainability targets.

  Skills

  • Plan, implement, monitor and review health and safety of self, others and livestock; including risk assessments and biosecurity policy.
  • Manage, monitor and evaluate the financial viability of delivered diets, using relevant resources
  • Maintain, analyse and utilize production records (both written and digital) to improve productivity and aid compliance
  • Implement breeding plan, monitor and manage the physical condition and check that selected stock are in the correct condition for breeding.
  • Use the most appropriate technology or digital system (for example, robotic milking, EID tagging, GPS tracking) to ensure that livestock performance is optimised, and its health and welfare is maintained.
  • Prepare, maintain and operate farm vehicles, and attachments, in different environmental and ground conditions
  • Carry out day-to-day management of unit conforming to current welfare legislation and current industry welfare codes, including planning for personnel and undertake key activities, to meet KPI’s
  • Implement, monitor, manage and review livestock health & welfare plan.
  • Ensure that grass and forage crops are of the appropriate quality and quantity in accordance with farm KPIs
  • Plan, implement, monitor and review movement of livestock at different stages of production cycle, including preparation of movement documents and allocating resource
  • Plan and implement cleaning procedures across the livestock unit, including management of manure and manage livestock in accommodation
  • Implement changes to policy and working practice, based on market factors such as price, supply chain requirements and new legislation
  • Establish and maintain relationships with stakeholders to support business operation and development
  • Select and prepare livestock for sale or transfer in accordance with health and safety requirements.
  • Identify need for euthanasia, contact relevant professionals and complete necessary paperwork

  Behaviours

  • Acts responsibly to provide a high standard of welfare and biosecurity to livestock, self and others under their care
  • Have a team-based work ethic
  • Is customer focused
  • Proactively undertakes continuous professional development
  • Able to adapt to change in conditions, technologies, situations and working environments.
  • A clear and effective communicator
  • Able to give/receive information accurately, timely and in a positive manner
  • Ability to use own initiative and know when to seek help
  • Work proactively with internal and external people to achieve positive outcomes
• Apprenticeship category (sector): Agriculture, environmental and animal care
• Qualification level: 3; Equal to A level
• Course duration: 18 months
• Maximum funding: £5,000 ; Maximum government funding for ; apprenticeship training and assessment costs.
• Job titles include:
  • Flock manager
  • Head shepherd
  • Head stockperson
  • Herd manager
  • Unit manager

View more information about Livestock unit technician (level 3) from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.