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Monitor and maintain livestock during pregnancy

URN: LANLP4
Business Sectors (Suites): Crofting and Smallholding,Livestock Production
Developed by: Lantra
Approved on: 2022

Overview

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This standard covers monitoring and maintaining livestock during pregnancy. You are expected to care for livestock during pregnancy; this will include monitoring their health, welfare and condition and taking the relevant action where you have concerns. 
   
When working with livestock or machinery you need to be appropriately trained, and hold a relevant certificate where required, in accordance with the relevant legislation.
 
When carrying out your work you must consider the impact it will have on the environment, and work towards preserving and improving habitats and biodiversity and responding to and mitigating the effects of climate change.
 
This standard is suitable for those who monitor and maintain livestock during pregnancy.

Performance criteria

You must be able to:

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  1. assess the risks associated with the activity to be carried out
  2. wear suitable clothing and personal protective equipment (PPE)
  3. maintain hygiene and bio-security in accordance with business practices
  4. maintain the correct environment for the livestock throughout pregnancy
  5. monitor and maintain the health, welfare and condition of the pregnant livestock and take the required action where there are problems, in accordance with business practices
  6. provide feed, water and supplements, where required, in accordance with livestock requirements during pregnancy
  7. carry out routine treatments, in accordance with production requirements and the health and welfare plan
  8. make the necessary preparation for birth in good time to allow for a possible early delivery 
  9. maintain communication with colleagues and others involved in, or affected by, your work
  10. carry out all work in accordance with the relevant environmental and health and safety legislation, animal health and welfare legislation, risk assessment requirements, codes of practice and business policies
  11. complete records as required by the relevant legislation and the business

Knowledge and Understanding

You need to know and understand:

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  1. how to identify hazards and assess risks associated with maintaining livestock during pregnancy
  2. the type of clothing and personal protective equipment (PPE) suitable for the activity
  3. the importance of maintaining hygiene and bio-security, and the methods for achieving this
  4. how to monitor and maintain the correct environment for the livestock during pregnancy
  5. the livestock’s requirements for feed, and water during pregnancy and when supplements should be provided
  6. the gestation period of the livestock you are working with and the different stages of pregnancy 
  7. the reasons for monitoring the condition of the livestock during the various stages of pregnancy
  8. the signs that indicate the normal health and behaviour of the livestock during pregnancy, and the need to take immediate action if any variations from these are detected
  9. the different diseases and disorders associated with pregnancy and the action to take if any of these are present
  10. the symptoms of abortions, how to deal with livestock that have aborted and the legal requirements for reporting
  11. how pregnancy will impact on the production output of the livestock
  12. the importance of maintaining communication with those involved in, or affected by, your work and how this should be done
  13. your responsibilities for the welfare of livestock under relevant animal health and welfare legislation, codes of practice and business policies
  14. your responsibilities under the relevant environmental and health and safety legislation, codes of practice and business policies
  15. the records that need to be kept and the importance of completing them

Scope/range

Scope Performance

Scope Knowledge

Values

Behaviours

Skills

Glossary

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Environment: indoor, outdoor
   
Monitoring the condition of the livestock includes: 
• appearance
• posture and movement
• behaviour
• reproductive cycle
• diseases and disorders
• the age of the animal and its last pregnancy

Links To Other NOS

​LANLP5 Monitor and maintain the care of livestock during and after parturition

External Links

Version Number

4

Indicative Review Date

2027

Validity

Current

Status

Original

Originating Organisation

Lantra

Original URN

LANLP4

Relevant Occupations

Farmer, General Farm Worker, Pig Farm Worker, Crofter, Smallholder

SOC Code

5119

Keywords

breeding; gestation; pregnancy; livestock