Plan and monitor animal diets
Overview
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
work professionally and ethically and within the limits of your authority, expertise, training, competence and experience
carry out your work in accordance with the relevant environmental and health and safety legislation, risk assessment requirements, associated codes of practice and organisational policies
carry out your work in accordance with the relevant animal health and welfare and animal-related legislation, associated codes of practice and organisational policies
select and implement the required hygiene and bio-security measures and confirm that they are maintained
specify arrangements for the recycling or disposal of waste in accordance with the relevant legal procedures and organisational policies
plan diets to meet the dietary requirements of the animals in your care, considering relevant factors
maintain communication with colleagues and all those involved in, or affected by, your work and seek professional advice when necessary
produce feeding plans in a level of detail that is clear enough to allow all those involved to implement them
select and source relevant nutritional foodstuffs to meet the requirements of the feeding plans
implement and monitor procedures for storage and stock rotation of foodstuffs
confirm that facilities, supplies, equipment and any other resources required, including staffing, are available
confirm that all those involved in the implementation of the feeding plans have the skills and knowledge required to carry out the activities
monitor and review the suitability of the diet content and feeding plans on animal health, well-being and performance
where required, make modifications to the feeding plans that are consistent with the feedback received and the needs of the animals concerned
confirm that records are maintained and stored as required by the relevant legislation and organisational policy
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
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your professional responsibilities when planning and monitoring animal diets and the limits of your authority, expertise, training, competence and experience
your responsibilities under the relevant environmental and health and safety legislation, risk assessment requirements, associated codes of practice and organisational policies
your responsibilities under the relevant animal health and welfare and animal-related legislation, associated codes of practice and organisational policies
the importance of implementing the correct hygiene and bio-security measures and how these can be achieved
the relevant legal and organisational practices for the handling, storage and disposal of waste
the factors that should be taken into consideration when planning animal diets
the main sources of information available to establish dietary requirements
the sources of nutrients suitable for the animals in your care and their impact on animal health and welfare
where and when to seek advice and guidance on the planning of animal diets
how to formulate a diet for different animal species, life stages, animal conditions and levels of activity
the effect of malnutrition on animal health and welfare and the importance of using a recognised method for evaluating body condition when managing animal nutrition
the importance of managing the weight of animals in relation to their health and welfare
the different forms, characteristics and function of animal foodstuffs suitable for the animals in your care and their acceptability under the relevant legislation
the role of supplements and nutraceuticals in animal diets
the types of supplements relevant to the animals in your care, the reasons for including them in their diet and the relevant legislation that relates to such inclusion
the types of commercial substitute foods and vitamin or mineral supplements available, the quantities required, their common side effects and the adverse effects of inaccurately calculated levels
how to develop feeding plans based on the animals’ requirements and available resources, including the behavioural requirements of the animals, and the role of different feeding methods as enrichment and its use in training
the importance of maintaining communication with all those involved in, or affected by, your work and how this should be done in order to monitor the implementation of the feeding plans
the factors to be monitored including animal behaviour and condition, quantities being eaten, and costs of feeding
how to assess the suitability of a feeding plan and its ability to improve animal growth, development and performance
the importance of reviewing and revising the feeding plan to confirm it continues to meet the requirements of the animals in your care
the records that need to be kept in relation to planning and monitoring animal diets and the importance of completing these in accordance with the relevant legislation and organisational policy
Scope/range
Relevant factors to consider when planning diets:
- species feeding behaviours and dietary needs
- purpose for which the animal is being kept
- life stages
- levels of activity
- condition score or weight
- health
- prevention/management of disease
- enrichment and use in training
Scope Performance
Scope Knowledge
Values
Behaviours
Skills
Glossary
Current animal welfare legislation:
England and Wales, Animal Welfare Act
Scotland, Animal Health and Welfare Act
Northern Ireland, Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland)
Food and Environment Protection Act
- Protein
- Carbs
- Fat