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Poultry worker - Breeding

Poultry worker - Breeding

Agriculture, environmental and animal care

Level 2 - Technical Occupation

Farming birds for their eggs or meat.

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Reference: OCC0389A

Status: assignment_turned_inApproved occupation

Average (median) salary: £24,696 per year

SOC 2020 code: 9111 Farm workers

SOC 2020 sub unit groups:

  • 5111/06 Poultry farmers
  • 5433/02 Poultry dressers
  • 9111/00 Farm labourers

Technical Education Products

ST0389:

Poultry worker - Breeding

(Level 2)

Approved for delivery

Employers involved in creating the standard:

Faccenda Foods, Moy Park, PD Hook, Cargill, Gressingham, Banham, Bernard Matthews, Kelly’s Turkeys, Cobb Europe, BSF Partnership

Summary

The agriculture industry offers exciting and varied careers in the UK and abroad providing unique opportunities for young people to work in a technically advanced and innovative environment, producing one of the country’s most important products – food. Businesses within the industry range from small family farms through to large integrated organisations working across the food supply chain. The key role for a poultry worker is to raise the animals with optimal welfare and consideration for their needs throughout the different stages of their life. This is practical work involving a combination of technology and manual labour. Being a poultry worker requires compassion, self-motivation and the ability to work both independently and as a team player. Poultry workers will be responsible for their own work, but will have close supervision. As animal welfare is a priority on farm, key to being a good poultry worker is understanding your limits and knowing when to ask for help. A poultry worker is responsible for supporting the bird development process, maintaining bird accommodation and preparing and monitoring the livestock production environment whether this is on a farm or in a hatchery. This will include ensuring they are looked after to meet health and welfare requirements as well as performance targets while maintaining effective biosecurity at site. This standard follows a ‘core and options’ approach. The core covers the generic requirements for looking after birds competently and the sector options provide more specific needs for different stages of the process, rearing, breeding and egg laying, hatchery and grow out farms. These are permanent stages in the process and not seasonal roles. To complete the standard a Poultry Worker should complete the core elements and one option.

Employers involved in creating the standard:

Faccenda Foods, Moy Park, PD Hook, Cargill, Gressingham, Banham, Bernard Matthews, Kelly’s Turkeys, Cobb Europe, BSF Partnership

eco

Mid Green occupation

Keywords:

Animal Care
Farming
Poultry
Poultry Farming
Poultry Worker

Knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs)

K1: Relevant species/breed, its characteristics, behaviours, production cycle, and welfare requirements.
K2: Importance of food safety including personal hygiene and good hygiene practice and procedures for the relevant site environment.
K3: Health and safety requirements for the individual and the workplace including relevant company procedures and legislative standards.
K4: Safe and effective methods of operating and maintaining equipment appropriate to the site environment.
K5: Importance of good site biosecurity and the procedures and controls that have to be in place to maintain it including general security rules relevant to the site.
K6: Correct diet and water requirements relevant to the species and point in the life cycle and the impact of any change.
K7: Correct environmental conditions relevant to the species and point in the life cycle and the impact of any change.
K8: Correct procedures for humane culling, storing and disposal.
K9: Correct procedures for handling, storing, moving and transporting birds/eggs.
K10: Relevant welfare codes of practice including the five freedoms, (Freedom from hunger and thirst, Freedom from discomfort, Freedom from pain, injury or disease, Freedom to express normal behaviour, Freedom from fear and distress) by ensuring conditions and treatment which avoid mental suffering.
K11: The impact of the poultry worker on welfare.
K12: Signals and behaviours to look for that indicate health or welfare issues and the actions required to mitigate them.
K13: Business/industry and legislative requirements including industry assurance standards.
K14: Methods for stock control, record keeping and reporting
K15: Relevant costs, waste management procedures, bird metrics and site targets necessary to deliver effective performance.
K16: Relevant technology appropriate to the process, for example controls and software.
K17: Production targets for the appropriate breed / species.
K18: The appropriate conditions and resources necessary to bring birds into lay.
K19: The correct dosage and quality of semen used for artificial insemination and frequency required to maximise fertility where relevant to species.

S1: Health & Safety: Works in a safe manner and maintains a safe working environment. Carries out the relevant site procedures and report incidents/unsafe conditions.
S2: Biosecurity: Implements and monitors site biosecurity rules and procedures. Implements corrective actions when required. Applies site security rules.
S3: Hygiene and food safety: Implements site & personal hygiene procedures, including relevant rules for entering & leaving site. Maintains a clean environment in line with agreed standards for the facility.
S4: Bird Handling: Prepares facilities for arrival/ departure of birds. Moves and transports birds safely, effectively and compassionately without undue stress. Applies and uses appropriate manual handling techniques.
S5: Welfare: Monitors and maintains the health of the bird/egg. Diagnoses bird/egg condition and acts appropriately.
S6: Environment: Operates environmental control systems in line with instruction/ procedure (as relevant for the species, point in life cycle).
S7: Operations: Maintains and operates equipment e.g. ventilation, feeding equipment, drinking equipment, incubators, nest boxes’ (relevant to age/breed/bird requirement) safely and effectively. Utilises technology and systems appropriate to the operation (some examples may include computerised shed environmental management equipment, hatchery processing equipment, environmental testing equipment, egg grading and packing equipment). Conducts appropriate checks in a timely manner, and maintains/updates/keeps records as relevant. Monitors and reports performance metrics for operations.
S8: Standards: Adheres to and applies welfare codes of practice including the 5 freedoms (as described in knowledge). Applies and acts on business/industry and legislative requirements including industry assurance standards relevant to the operation.
S9: People: Communicates effectively in the appropriate environment. Uses reading, writing and numeracy skills in carrying out roles and tasks. Uses problem solving skills in carrying out roles and tasks. Interacts effectively with colleagues, managers and site visitors.
S10: Assist with bringing birds into lay – accurately and correctly measure the development of the birds using the appropriate method and equipment. Assist with providing the appropriate conditions and resources necessary to bring birds into lay.
S11: Collection, grading and storage of eggs for breeding purposes. Handle, grade, mark and store eggs in line with organisational requirements.
S12: Assist with artificial insemination if relevant to species including the insemination of hens in-line with organisation requirements.

B1: A strong work ethic through punctuality, consistent standards, diligence in the quality of their work quality, a positive attitude and good attention to detail.
B2: Take appropriate responsibility and ownership, for good welfare practice, care of animals’ integrity/ethics in the process and site standards.
B3: A positive mind set, through their willingness to learn, proactive approach, ability to act on their initiative, and willingness to solve problems and acquire new skills.
B4: Works well with others, give and receive information, show respect for other people, help colleagues and share what they know.
B5: Adapts to changes in conditions, technologies, situations and working environments, willing to accept changing priorities and work patterns when new jobs need to be done, or requirements change.
B6: Resilience and determination, shown in their commitment to their work, consistency in results and willingness to do more.

Occupational Progression

This occupational progression map shows technical occupations that have transferable knowledge and skills.

In this map, the focused occupation is highlighted in yellow. The arrows indicate where transferable knowledge and skills exist between two occupations. This map shows some of the strongest progression links between the focused occupation and other occupations.

It is anticipated that individuals would be required to undertake further learning or training to progress to and from occupations. To find out more about an occupation featured in the progression map, including the learning options available, click the occupation.

Progression decisions have been reached by comparing the knowledge and skills statements between occupational standards, combined with individualised learner movement data.

Technical Occupations

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Level 3

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Agriculture, environmental and animal care