Livestock Unit Technician

The Livestock Unit Technician apprenticeship has been designed to develop the skills, knowledge and behaviours to allow an employee to operationally manage the livestock related tasks on a farm such as animal health and welfare from conception and birth through to the customer; and to support business productivity.

The individual will make key decisions on a day-to-day basis to ensure the protection of their own and health and safety of others. This includes ensuring the standards of cross compliance, farm assurance, biosecurity and infrastructure security are met. The Livestock Unit Technician will usually only work with one species. The role will include the safe use and maintenance of farm vehicles, including the equipment used for transporting or producing feed. The individual will be required to understand, record and meet the business Key Performance Indicators that are set out by the employer.

What all apprentices will learn Health and Safety processes and practices relevant to livestock management The digestive process of commonly farmed livestock  The legal and operational aspects of livestock record keeping Breeding and production cycles for commonly farmed livestock The different types of technology and systems used in livestock production and how to use the most appropriate e.g robotic milking, EID tagging, GPS tracking legislation applicable to working with farm equipment How to prepare and implement health and welfare plans and schedules, identifying priorities, resources required and critical activities to achieve desired KPI’s Plan, implement, monitor and review health and safety of self, others and livestock; including risk assessments and biosecurity policy. 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 Implement breeding plan, monitor and manage the physical condition and check that selected stock are in the correct condition for breeding. 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 Prepare, maintain and operate farm vehicles, and attachments, in different environmental and ground conditions Select and prepare livestock for sale or transfer in accordance with health and safety requirements 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 the importance and practice of safely and effectively selecting and preparing livestock for sale or transfer the five welfare needs of animals Impact of farm working practices on social, economic and environmental sustainability, including a basic understanding of how to contribute to government-led sustainability targets For more information on the skills, knowledge and behaviours associated and learnt on this apprenticeship, please download the file attached to this link: Livestock Unit Technician Level 3 Qualifications Apprenticeship Certificate Level 2 in Principles of Safe Handling and Application of Pesticides Guidance Level 2 in Safe Use of Veterinary Medicines Level 3 Award in Emergency First Aid at Work Delivery Model

Regular learning, skills and knowledge assessment and research work at Plumpton College alongside blended online learning. Attendance at college on a fortnightly basis (term time only) with quarterly workplace competency and efficiency observation, assessments and reviews.