Level 3 Livestock Unit Technician
About The Apprenticeship
A Livestock Unit Technician manages the livestock-related tasks on the farm such as animal health and welfare from conception and birth through to the customer, and to support business productivity. The individual will make key decisions on a day-to-day basis to ensure the protection of their own and others’ health and safety. this includes ensuring the standards of cross-compliance, farm assurance, biosecurity and infrastructure security are met.
The Livestock Unit Technician will usually only work with one species. The role will include the safe use and maintenance of farm vehicles, including the equipment used for transporting or producing feed. The individual will be required to understand, record and meet the business key performance indicators (KPIs) that are set out by the employer. They will also work alongside allied industries to make formative decisions to assist the productivity of the livestock, including breeding, nutrition and health plan. In addition to this, they will provide factual data to third parties involved in the farm such as assurance auditors and vets.
The individual will be responsible for completing daily records and reporting to senior management, assisting with overall strategic decisions to help drive productivity, livestock welfare and farm health and safety in line with industry standards.
Entry Requirements
Employers will ultimately determine the entry requirements but you must have the attitude and ability to develop the required skills and knowledge during the apprenticeship. This will be tested via an application/interview process.
Apprentices without Level 2 English and maths will need to achieve this level prior to taking the End-Point Assessment. For those with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) or a Legacy Statement, the apprenticeship’s English and maths minimum requirement is Entry Level 3. A British Sign Language (BSL) qualification is an alternative to the English qualification for those whose primary language is BSL.
More information
Stockperson, Shepherd, Herd Manager roles.
Example Knowledge Content:
- Health & Safety processes and practices relevant to stock management. this includes the development and implementation of health and safety plans and risk assessments; health and safety for self and visitors, biosecurity and infrastructure requirements
- The digestive process of commonly farmed livestock (cattle – beef and dairy, pigs, sheep and goats) and how this can be managed by nutritional support
- The legal and operational aspects of livestock record keeping and the importance of maintaining and reporting on such systems (both written and digitally)
- Breeding and production cycles for commonly farmed livestock and how to correctly manage livestock pre, during and post parturition to meet animal welfare and operational requirements
- The different types of technology and systems used in livestock production, their benefits and how to prepare, maintain (for example, cleaning, repairing minor faults) and use them. For example, robotic milking, EID tagging, GPS tracking and safety and animal welfare legislation, regulation and local policy.
Example Behaviours Content:
- Acts responsibly to provide a high standard of welfare and biosecurity to livestock, self and others under their care
- Have a team-based work ethic
- Is customer-focused
- Proactively undertakes continuous professional development (CPD)
Example Skills Content:
- Plan, implement, monitor and review health and safety of self, others and livestock; including risk assessments and biosecurity policy
- Manage, monitor and evaluate the financial viability of delivered diets using relevant resources
- Maintain, analyse and utilise production records (both written and digital) to improve productivity and aid compliance
- Implement breeding plan, monitor and manage the physical condition and check that selected stock are in the correct condition for breeding
This apprenticeship programme will be delivered through a combination of practical hands-on and theory-based activities which will be tailored to ensure the apprentice develops the necessary knowledge, skills and behaviours to become a professional Arboriculture worker and effective member of your organisation.
With all apprenticeships, there is a requirement to record 20% off-the-job activities and this will be achieved through the use of a dedicated electronic online portfolio which the apprentice, you as the employer and the college delivery team will all have access to. The apprentice will be assigned a dedicated Assessor Trainer, who will undertake regular workplace progress reviews with both the apprentice and an assigned member of your team, as well as supporting all aspects of the apprentice’s ongoing development. This approach enables effective progress monitoring and target setting to be established from day 1, ensuring the employer and apprentice are clear about all aspects of the apprenticeship programme and what part they each play in ensuring the apprentice continues to make the expected levels of progress. Furthermore, this approach ensures any additional support requirements or interventions can be implemented in a timely manner as required.
A BCA Virtual Learning Environment ensures all learning, development and support material can be easily accessed, further supporting the blended learning and development approach adopted by BCA for all its apprenticeship delivery. This ensures flexible and responsive training at all times, through a combination of online and face-to-face activities delivered by industry experts, using our high quality, industry-recognised resources and equipment. The apprentice will be required to undertake and pass an independent End Point Assessment upon successful completion of their apprenticeship, after which point they will be awarded their Apprenticeship Certificate.
- Level 3 Award in Emergency First Aid at Work, which is a minimum of 1-day course (Ofqual regulated)
- Level 2 Award in Safe Use of Vet Meds
- City & Guilds Level 2 Principles of Safe Handling and Application of Pesticides or Lantra Awards Level 2 Award in the Safe Use of Pesticides
