Qualification details
Title
New Zealand Certificate in Artificial Insemination of Livestock (Level 4)
Version
1
Qualification type
Certificate
Level
4
Credits
45
NZSCED
050105
Agriculture, Environmental and Related Studies >Agriculture>
Animal Husbandry
Qualification developer
Primary ITO
Next review
December 2018
Approval date
22 August 2014
Strategic purpose statement
The purpose of this qualification is to provide the livestock
industry with individuals who have the skills and knowledge to
successfully artificially inseminate livestock.
Learners will benefit from gaining a set of skills which are highly
valued in the livestock industry.
The agriculture industry will benefit from having qualified
technicians to carry out artificial insemination of livestock. There
is an economic benefit to individual farmers and the national
economy from increased livestock production as a result of faster
genetic gain through selectively using superior sires.
The community may benefit from the availability of part-time and
supplementary employment in rural areas.
Graduates will be capable of operating independently within a
broad framework of best practice.
Outcome Statement
Graduate profile
Graduates of the qualification will be able to:

Apply knowledge of animal physiology and oestrus to plan for
and to artificially inseminate livestock.

Handle and prepare semen.

Prepare, use and maintain equipment for artificial
insemination.

Prepare, handle and restrain livestock for artificial
insemination.

Maintain livestock breeding records.
Education pathway
This is a stand-alone qualification but may lead on to other
agricultural or rural servicing qualifications.
Employment pathway
Holders of this certificate will have the skills and knowledge to
safely and successfully artificially inseminate livestock. They
Qualification Reference 2467
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2014
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may be self-employed, work part-time or be employed as an
artificial breeding technician with companies specialising in
artificial insemination.
Qualification specifications
Qualification award
This qualification may be awarded by the Primary ITO as the
qualification developer and the industry training organisation
arranging training leading to the qualification under section 5
of the Industry Training Act and Apprenticeships Act 1992.
This qualification may also be awarded by an education
organisation who has, under section 249 of the Education
Act 1989, had a programme approved by the New Zealand
Qualifications Authority (NZQA) or who has been accredited,
under section 250, to provide an approved programme.
The formal document certifying the award of this qualification
will display the NZQF logo and may also include the name
and/or logo of the awarding education organisation.
Evidence requirements for managing
consistency
All education organisations offering programmes leading to
the qualification must engage with arrangements for
managing consistency, including covering actual and
reasonable related costs.
Each education organisation is responsible for deciding what
specific evidence it will provide to demonstrate how well its
graduates meet the graduate profile outcomes of the
qualification.
Evidence of the following must be provided:
• Student feedback on course delivery and qualification
achievement, their perception of the value of the training,
and suggestions for improvements
• Feedback from employers on the level of skills, knowledge
and behaviour demonstrated by graduates of the
qualification
• Evidence of effective internal quality assurance systems
• Portfolios of work and/or assessment samples
demonstrating the range of student performance within a
programme
TEOs can also provide any other relevant evidence that
supports the consistency review.
Credit transfer and recognition of
prior learning arrangements
Qualification Reference 2467
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2014
Education organisations must have policies and procedures
in place for managing credit transfer, and assessing
recognition of prior learning and recognition of current
competency. These policies and procedures, and
information about associated fees, must be available to the
candidate prior to enrolment.
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To facilitate credit transfer, education organisations must
clearly demonstrate the equivalency or comparability
between each of the outcomes in the graduate profile, and
the assessment components of their programmes.
Minimum standard of achievement
and standards for grade
endorsements
The minimum standard of achievement required for award of
the qualification will be the achievement of all graduate
outcomes in the graduate profile through successful
completion of an NZQA approved programme.
Entry requirements (including
prerequisites to meet regulatory body
or legislative requirements)
There are no mandatory prerequisites to meet regulatory
body, or legislative requirements for this qualification.
Qualification conditions
Overarching conditions relating to the qualification
Conditions for programme
structure
AI technicians must be able to complete the training and assessment
under the supervision of an experienced operator.
Conditions for programme
context
Programmes leading to the award of this qualification may include any
commercial livestock, including equine.
Other conditions
All outcomes in this qualification require aspects of record keeping
and communication which should be considered as part of the
assessment process.
Compliance with workplace health and safety requirements,
sustainable practices and animal welfare standards applies across
all outcomes.
The Animal Welfare (Records and Statistics) Regulations 1999
require that any institution, organisation or individual who uses live
animals for the purpose of research, testing and teaching, must
have an approved Code of Ethical Conduct relating to the welfare
and humane treatment of the animals involved. For information
relating to approval for a Code of Ethical Conduct, contact the
secretary of the National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee
(NAEAC) PO Box 2526, Wellington 6140.
Specific conditions relating to the Graduate profile
Qualification outcomes
Conditions
Mandatory
or
Optional
1
Programmes may include the following topics:
Optional
Apply knowledge of animal
physiology and oestrus to plan for
and to artificially inseminate
livestock.
Credits 15
Qualification Reference 2467
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2014

livestock reproductive organs and
reproductive cycles

factors influencing conception rates and
parturition patterns
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
insemination equipment and techniques

hygiene and welfare standards.
Programmes may include the following unit
standards:
2
Handle and prepare semen.
Credits 10

25714

17467

7411
Programmes should include the following
topics:

sourcing, preparation and transportation
of different types of semen for AI including
frozen, fresh, Long Live Liquid (LLL),
sexed both fresh and frozen

equipment for preservation and transport

factors influencing semen viability.
Programmes may include the following unit
standard:

3
Mandatory
Optional
7411
Prepare, use and maintain
equipment for artificial
insemination.
Programmes may include the following topics:

standards and procedures for storing,
handling and transporting equipment
Credits 5

care and maintenance of equipment.
Optional
Programmes may include the following unit
standards:
4

17467

7411
Prepare, handle and restrain
livestock for artificial insemination.
Programmes may include the following topics:

livestock handling
Credits 10

animal welfare standards.
Optional
Programmes may include the following unit
standards:
Qualification Reference 2467
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2014

17467

21757
Page 4 of 5
5
Maintain livestock breeding
records.
Credits 5
Programmes should include procedures for
documenting matings including, but not limited
to, submission rates, non-return dates and
parturition dates.
Mandatory
Programmes may include the following unit
standards:
Optional

17467

7411
Transition information
Replacement information
This qualification replaces the National Certificate in Dairy Farming
(Artificial Insemination) with strands in Site Technician, and Industry
Technician [Ref: 0967]
Trainees currently enrolled in programmes leading to the replaced qualification may either complete the
requirements as specified below, or transfer their results to this replacement qualification.
The last date for entry into programmes leading to the replaced qualification is 31 December 2016. The
last date for award of the replaced qualification is 31 December 2018 at which time it will be designated
as discontinued.
It is the intention of Primary ITO that no existing trainee should be disadvantaged by these transition
arrangements. Any person who considers they have been disadvantaged may appeal to the Primary
ITO, PO Box 10383, The Terrace, Wellington 6143. Email standards@primaryito.ac.nz.
Republication information
Version 1 of this qualification was republished In February 2015 to update the Evidence requirements for
managing consistency
Qualification Reference 2467
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2014
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