Mid Green occupationAgriculture, environmental and animal care
Livestock unit technician
Manage the livestock related tasks on the farm.
Summary
This occupation is found in medium sized agricultural businesses, in primary production.
The broad purpose of the occupation is to operationally manage the livestock related tasks on the 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.
In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts internally with team members including line manager, business owner (principal) /manager and other departments (if applicable) on the farm. They may have the opportunity to manage people internally and manage external relationships. The individual will work alongside allied industry, to make formative decisions to assist the productivity of the livestock including breeding, nutrition and health plan. In addition to this, they will provide factual data to third parties involved in the farm such as assurance auditors and vets.
An employee in this occupation will be responsible for making decisions about daily management of livestock such as changes in diet based on nutritional values in feed. They will manage livestock before, during and after parturition, providing accommodation that meets the animal’s requirements for optimal health and performance. They also select and prepare livestock for sale or transfer. The individual will be responsible for completing daily records and reporting to senior management, assisting with overall strategic decisions to help drive productivity, livestock welfare and farm health and safety in line with industry standards. Depending on the business structure, they may supervise junior members of staff. Typical working hours will depend on farm type and labour structure (for example, dairy farms require early start due to milking). A Livestock Unit Technician will be expected to do long hours, only as permitted within UK employment law.
Typical job titles include
- Flock manager | Head shepherd | Head stockperson | Herd manager | Unit manager
Knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs)
K1:
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.
K2:
The digestive process of commonly farmed livestock (cattle (beef and dairy), pigs, sheep and goats) and how this can be managed by nutritional support.
K3:
The legal and operational aspects of livestock record keeping and the importance of maintaining and reporting on such systems (both written and digitally).
K4:
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.
K5:
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
K6:
The legislation applicable to working with farm equipment. This must include provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) legislation
K7:
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
K8:
How to establish current health status of stock, to prepare livestock health & welfare plan.
K9:
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.
K10:
The importance and methods of ensuring that the movement of livestock is planned and communicated clearly to all relevant parties.
K11:
Welfare requirements of livestock in accommodation at different stages of production cycle and how they can be achieved, including management of manure
K12:
The market factors such as price, supply chain requirements, new legislation and relevant industry welfare codes, and the impact these have on the business
K13:
Range of stakeholders relevant to farm business and their potential impact on business success
K14:
The importance and practice of safely and effectively selecting and preparing livestock for sale or transfer
K15:
Operating instructions and legal requirements for operating commonly used farm vehicles with a range of attachments. For example, tractor, ATV, quad bike.
K16:
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)
K17:
Impact of farm working practices on social, economic and environmental sustainability, including a basic understanding of how to contribute to government-led sustainability targets.
Technical Educational Products
- ST0938: Livestock unit technician (Level 3) Approved for delivery
- Reference:
- OCC0938
- Status:
Approved occupation
- Average (median) salary:
- £29,783 per year
- SOC 2020 code:
- 5111 Farmers
- SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 5111/05 Livestock farmers
- 5111/99 Farmers n.e.c.
- 9111/00 Farm labourers
S1:
Plan, implement, monitor and review health and safety of self, others and livestock; including risk assessments and biosecurity policy.
S2:
Manage, monitor and evaluate the financial viability of delivered diets, using relevant resources
S3:
Maintain, analyse and utilize production records (both written and digital) to improve productivity and aid compliance
S4:
Implement breeding plan, monitor and manage the physical condition and check that selected stock are in the correct condition for breeding.
S5:
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.
S6:
Prepare, maintain and operate farm vehicles, and attachments, in different environmental and ground conditions
S7:
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
S8:
Implement, monitor, manage and review livestock health & welfare plan.
S9:
Ensure that grass and forage crops are of the appropriate quality and quantity in accordance with farm KPIs
S10:
Plan, implement, monitor and review movement of livestock at different stages of production cycle, including preparation of movement documents and allocating resource
S11:
Plan and implement cleaning procedures across the livestock unit, including management of manure and manage livestock in accommodation
S12:
Implement changes to policy and working practice, based on market factors such as price, supply chain requirements and new legislation
S13:
Establish and maintain relationships with stakeholders to support business operation and development
S14:
Select and prepare livestock for sale or transfer in accordance with health and safety requirements.
S15:
Identify need for euthanasia, contact relevant professionals and complete necessary paperwork
Technical Educational Products
- ST0938: Livestock unit technician (Level 3) Approved for delivery
- Reference:
- OCC0938
- Status:
- Approved occupation
- Average (median) salary:
- £29,783 per year
- SOC 2020 code:
- 5111 Farmers
- SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 5111/05 Livestock farmers
- 5111/99 Farmers n.e.c.
- 9111/00 Farm labourers
B1:
Acts responsibly to provide a high standard of welfare and biosecurity to livestock, self and others under their care
B2:
Have a team-based work ethic
B3:
Is customer focused
B4:
Proactively undertakes continuous professional development
B5:
Able to adapt to change in conditions, technologies, situations and working environments.
B6:
A clear and effective communicator
B7:
Able to give/receive information accurately, timely and in a positive manner
B8:
Ability to use own initiative and know when to seek help
B9:
Work proactively with internal and external people to achieve positive outcomes
Technical Educational Products
- ST0938: Livestock unit technician (Level 3) Approved for delivery
- Reference:
- OCC0938
- Status:
- Approved occupation
- Average (median) salary:
- £29,783 per year
- SOC 2020 code:
- 5111 Farmers
- SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 5111/05 Livestock farmers
- 5111/99 Farmers n.e.c.
- 9111/00 Farm labourers