Level 3 Livestock Technician Apprenticeship

The broad purpose of the occupation is to operationally manage 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 health and safety of others. 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 that are set out by the employer.

In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts internally with team members including line manager, business owner (principal) /manager and other departments (if applicable) on the farm. They may have the opportunity to manage people internally and manage external relationships. The individual will work alongside allied industry, 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.

An employee in this occupation will be responsible for making decisions about daily management of livestock such as changes in diet based on nutritional values in feed. They will manage livestock before, during and after parturition, providing accommodation that meets the animal’s requirements for optimal health and performance. They also select and prepare livestock for sale or transfer. 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. Depending on the business structure, they may supervise junior members of staff. Typical working hours will depend on farm type and labour structure (for example, dairy farms require early start due to milking). A Livestock Unit Technician will be expected to do long hours, only as permitted within UK employment law. 

Length of Programme

18 months prior to the End-point Assessment Gateway

Please see the Institute for Apprenticeship website for further information

• Some experience volunteering or working within the agricultural sector
• Good work ethic
• Be in employment and be committed to your career
• Three GCSEs at grade D/3 or above including English and Maths

The apprentice will follow a training programme to complete the apprenticeship requirements and meet the knowledge, skills and behaviours required for them to be fully competent:

• The apprentice works and trains with the employer and/or training provider
• The apprentice will create and maintain a mandatory portfolio in order to provide supporting evidence that will be needed to supplement the knowledge, skills and behaviours observed by the Independent Assessor at the End-point Assessment. The portfolio will be used as evidence for the professional discussion.
• A record of off-the-job training – this is training that must occur for a minimum of 20% of the time the apprentice is paid to work and is training delivered outside of their normal working duties – to develop a wider understanding of the industry.

Criteria

Please see the Institute for Apprenticeship website for further information

Learning will take place in a variety of ways, which could include workplace training, formal courses, work shadowing, industrial visits, research, self-study, attendance at College for classroom/workshop activities and time spent completing assignments set by the assessor.

The apprentice will undertake their end-point assessment when the employer, training provider and apprentice all consider that they are ready to do so.  This stage of the apprenticeship is known as the gateway and will not be reached until the apprentice has completed at least 18 months on the programme. 

The end-point assessment will be carried out by an independent assessor

The apprenticeship will be delivered in the workplace and on-site at Broomfield Hall. 

You need PPE for the workplace and writing materials.

End-point Assessment Gradings

This qualification is graded Fail, Pass or Distinction

Functional Skills

Before taking the end-point assessment, apprentices must

• Have or achieved for Level 2 English and Maths (equivalent to GCSE grades A* to C)

Further Study

You can progress to a part-time or full-time Level 4 in Agricultural programme or a further apprenticeship programme.

For more information contact Derby College on 0800 0280289 or enquiries@derby-college.ac.uk