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Manage the care of the sow and litter from farrowing to weaning
Level
4
Credits
20
Purpose
People credited with this unit standard are able to: manage sows’ and gilts’
pre-farrowing; manage sow and litter during farrowing and post-farrowing;
plan, implement, and monitor feeding and health programmes for lactating
sows and litter; monitor lactating sow and litter performance; wean piglets;
and maintain the farrowing facility environment.
Subfield
Pork Production
Domain
Pork Production Unit Management
Status
Registered
Status date
19 March 2010
Date version published
19 March 2010
Planned review date
31 December 2014
Entry information
Open.
Replacement information
This unit standard replaced unit standard 15589 and unit
standard 15590.
Accreditation
Evaluation of documentation and visit by NZQA, industry
and teaching professional in the same field from another
provider.
Standard setting body (SSB)
Primary Industry Training Organisation
Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP) reference
0052
This AMAP can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
Special notes
1
Legislation relevant to this unit standard includes but is not limited to the Animal
Welfare Act 1999, and Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992.
2
Performance of all aspects of this unit standard should comply with the New Zealand
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Animal Welfare (Pigs) Code of Welfare 2005,
Wellington, available at http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/animalwelfare/codes/pigs/index.htm.
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3
Definitions
Veterinary guidelines – advice received directly from veterinarians, or literature
recommended by veterinarians or providers accredited to assess against this unit
standard.
On-farm procedures – the verbal or written instructions to staff on procedures for pig
health, welfare, and management.
Elements and performance criteria
Element 1
Manage sows’ and gilts’ pre-farrowing.
Performance criteria
1.1
Farrowing facility is cleaned and sanitised in accordance with on-farm
procedures.
1.2
Equipment and fittings are checked and remedial action taken in accordance
with on-farm procedures.
1.3
Sows due to farrow are identified and moved to the farrowing facility in
accordance with on-farm procedures.
1.4
Sows are treated in accordance with veterinary guidelines and on-farm
procedures.
1.5
Sows and gilts due to farrow are monitored for signs of imminent farrowing in
accordance with on-farm procedures.
Range
physical signs, behavioural signs.
Element 2
Manage sow and litter during farrowing.
Performance criteria
2.1
Sows and gilts are monitored during farrowing, and sows and gilts showing
signs of farrowing difficulty are identified, in accordance with veterinary
guidelines and on-farm procedures.
2.2
Interval between births is monitored and remedial action is taken in accordance
with veterinary guidelines and on-farm procedures.
2.3
Sow is assisted to farrow and procedures are followed in accordance with
veterinary guidelines and on-farm procedures.
Range
internal examination, antibiotic, oxytocin.
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2.4
Husbandry techniques aimed at maximising piglet survival are implemented in
accordance with veterinary guidelines and on-farm procedures.
2.5
Farrowing information is recorded in accordance with on-farm procedures.
Element 3
Manage sow and litter post-farrowing.
Performance criteria
3.1
Sow milk supply and udder health are monitored to ensure piglet growth,
weight, and survival targets are achieved, in accordance with veterinary
guidelines and on-farm procedures.
3.2
Piglet fostering programme is carried out in accordance with on-farm
procedures.
3.3
Routine piglet husbandry operations are managed in accordance with veterinary
guidelines and on-farm procedures.
Range
3.4
may include –
clip – teeth, tails, navel cord;
injection.
Hygiene standards are maintained consistent with achieving piglet growth,
weight, and survival targets in accordance with veterinary guidelines and onfarm procedures.
Element 4
Plan, implement, and monitor the feeding programme for lactating sows and litter.
Performance criteria
4.1
Feeding programme is planned to match feed levels and diet specifications with
class of stock, stage of production, body condition, and predetermined
productivity targets, and implemented in accordance with veterinary guidelines
and on-farm procedures.
4.2
Lactating sow and litter feeding and drinking behaviour are monitored, problems
are identified, and remedial action is implemented in accordance with on-farm
procedures.
4.3
Body condition of lactating sows is monitored, breeding stock with body
condition outside target levels are identified, and remedial action is
implemented, in accordance with on-farm procedures.
Range
nutrition, health, environment.
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4.4
Feeding and watering systems are monitored, problems are identified, and
adjustments are made to meet lactating sow requirements, in accordance with
the planned feeding programme.
Element 5
Plan, implement, and manage health programmes for lactating sows and litter.
Performance criteria
5.1
Health programmes are planned and implemented with an emphasis on
preventative measures in accordance with veterinary guidelines and on-farm
procedures.
Range
5.2
may include but is not limited to – vaccination, parasite control,
medication, vermin control, hygiene, biosecurity.
Health programmes are monitored for effectiveness, problems are identified,
and remedial action is taken to optimise herd performance in accordance with
veterinary guidelines and on-farm procedures.
Range
may include but is not limited to – vaccination, parasite control,
medication, vermin control, hygiene, biosecurity.
5.3
Health problems and adverse trends are identified in terms of analysis of
lactating sow performance records.
5.4
Health problems in lactating sows and litter are managed with reference to all
symptoms and signs in accordance with veterinary guidelines.
5.5
Lactating sows and litter are treated using medication appropriate to the
diagnosis in accordance with veterinary guidelines and medication
manufacturer’s specifications.
5.6
Contingency plans are carried out in the event of health breakdown or disease
outbreak in accordance with veterinary guidelines and on-farm procedures.
5.7
Records are maintained in accordance with veterinary guidelines and on-farm
procedures.
Element 6
Monitor lactating sow and litter performance.
Performance criteria
6.1
Suckling piglet health and survival rates are monitored, and remedial action is
taken for identified problems, in accordance with on-farm procedures.
6.2
Performance problems and adverse trends are identified in terms of analysis of
lactating sow performance records.
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6.3
Causes of below target performance are identified, and remedial action is taken,
in accordance with veterinary guidelines and on-farm procedures.
Element 7
Wean piglets.
Performance criteria
7.1
Weaner accommodation is prepared for new batches of weaners in accordance
with on-farm procedures.
7.2
Piglets are weaned at specified target weight and age in accordance with onfarm procedures.
7.3
Newly weaned piglets are penned in groups in accordance with on-farm
procedures.
7.4
Newly weaned piglets are managed to reduce effects of weaning stress in
accordance with on-farm procedures.
7.5
Piglets and weaning details are recorded in accordance with on-farm
procedures.
Element 8
Maintain the farrowing facility environment.
Performance criteria
8.1
Farrowing facility environment is monitored in accordance with on-farm
procedures.
8.2
Problems are identified at earliest sign and remedial action taken in accordance
with on-farm procedures.
8.3
Environmental temperature is controlled to assist the achievement of
predetermined targets in accordance with on-farm procedures.
Range
targets for suckling piglets – growth, weight;
targets for lactating sows – productivity, body condition, weight.
Please note
Providers must be accredited by NZQA, or an inter-institutional body with delegated
authority for quality assurance, before they can report credits from assessment against
unit standards or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be accredited by NZQA before they can register
credits from assessment against unit standards.
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Accredited providers and Industry Training Organisations assessing against unit standards
must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards.
Accreditation requirements and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this
standard are outlined in the Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP). The
AMAP also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations
wishing to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for
tutors and assessors, and special resource requirements.
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact the Primary Industry Training Organisation standards@primaryito.ac.nz if
you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016