Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to process and store semen collected from livestock for the purpose of artificial insemination.
All work must be carried out to comply with workplace procedures, work health and safety, animal welfare and biosecurity legislation and codes of practice and sustainability practices.
This unit applies to individuals who work under broad direction and take responsibility for their own work. They complete routine activities and work in a range of known contexts.
No occupational licensing, legislative or certification requirements are known to apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Element | Performance criteria |
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Prepare diluent | 1.1 Clean containers to be used for preparation of diluent according to enterprise hygiene standards 1.2 Calibrate equipment and tools used in processing semen 1.3 Heat distilled water for use in diluent to required temperature 1.4 Add distilled water to powdered diluent in correct proportions 1.5 Store diluent correctly before use |
2 Determine number of semen doses | 2.1 Determine concentration of the ejaculate using appropriate equipment 2.2 Calculate number of doses according to the concentration determined |
3 Assess quality of semen batch | 3.1 Examine semen batch and check for contamination 3.2 Assess motility of semen 3.3 Compare quality of semen batch against enterprise benchmarks 3.4 Discard poor quality semen appropriately |
4 Check incubator | 4.1 Check temperature and other operational parameters of incubator before use 4.2 Report and resolve problems with incubator before operation |
5 Prepare semen doses | 5.1 Add diluent to semen batch 5.2 Divide diluted semen into doses 5.3 Label each semen dose 5.4 Place doses in incubator 5.5 Assess quality of prepared doses 5.6 Record data in line with enterprise requirements |
Evidence of Performance
The candidate must be assessed on their ability to integrate and apply the performance requirements of this unit in a workplace setting. Performance must be demonstrated consistently over time and in a suitable range of contexts.
The candidate must provide evidence that they can:
prepare diluent
determine number of semen doses
assess quality of semen batch
check incubator temperature and other operational parameters before use
prepare and label semen doses
record semen details.
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:
methods and procedures for cleaning and sterilisation of containers, equipment and tools
calibration of equipment and tools
preparation and storage of diluent
types, uses, maintenance and servicing of equipment used for determining semen concentration and quality
calculation of semen doses
criteria, characteristics and methods for assessing semen quality
requirements and methods for the disposal of semen
types, functions and maintenance of incubator
requirements, methods and procedures for preparing semen doses
effects and impacts of environmental conditions, equipment factors and human factors on viability of semen doses
enterprise recording requirements.
Assessment Conditions
Competency is to be assessed in the workplace and/or a simulated environment that accurately reflects performance in a real workplace setting.
Assessors must satisfy current standards for RTOs.
Foundation Skills
Foundation Skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.
Range Statement
Sectors
Artificial Insemination (AIS)