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Title / Examine viscera and carcasses of deer
Level / 4 / Credits / 35
Purpose / People credited with this unit standard are able to: list the equipment required for post-mortem examination and demonstrate knowledge of deer disease indicator codings; demonstrate procedures and diagnose and assess diseases and defects found at post-mortem examination of deer viscera and make judgements and apply dispositions; state and demonstrate procedures for the post-mortem examination of the head and tongue; diagnose and assess diseases and defects found at post-mortem examination of the head and tongue and make judgements and apply dispositions to inspected parts; demonstrate procedures and diagnose and assess diseases and defects found at post-mortem examination of deer carcasses and make judgements and apply dispositions; use a hand knife to complete post-mortem animal product examination in accordance with NZFSA (New Zealand Standards Group) Manual 16; and comply with organisational and statutory hygiene and safety requirements.
Classification / Animal Product Examination Services > Animal Product Examination - Species Specific
Available grade / Achieved
Entry information
Critical health and safety prerequisites / Unit 2503,Maintain hand knives in the meat processing industry; Unit 13499, Demonstrate knowledge of post-mortem animal product examination; Unit 24501, Describe the legislative basis of animal material and animal product examination services under the Animal Products Act; and Unit 24506, Describe the anatomical features and presentation requirements of mammals for animal product examination; or demonstrate equivalent knowledge and skills.
Explanatory notes
1Legislation
Legislation relevant to this unit standard includes but is not limited to the Animal Products Act 1999 and the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992.
2Resource documents can be accessed on the website of New Zealand Food Safety Authority(NZFSA) at and include but are not limited to NZFSA (New Zealand Standards Group) Manual 3, NZFSA (New Zealand Standards Group) Manual 16, Meat Industry Hygiene Council Industry Standard No.5 (MIHC IS No.5) and relevant Notices.
3Definitions
Dispositions refers to the action of ensuring that examined animal material or animal product that has abnormalities is managed in accordance with legislative requirements.
Animal product refers to any animal material that has been processed for the purpose of consumption by humans or animals.
4Examinations of viscera, carcasses, and head and tongues are to be performed at processing speeds prevailing within the industry.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
List the equipment required for post-mortem examination and demonstrate knowledge of deer disease indicator codings.
Rangemay include but is not limited to - stamps, disease indicators, paper squares, Retain Label (AgM74), green ink.
Evidence requirements
1.1Equipment required for post-mortem examination is listed.
1.2Colours and coding of disease indicators are described in terms of those detailed for deer post-mortem examination in the service provider’s documented system.
Outcome 2
Demonstrate procedures and diagnose and assess diseases and defects found at post-mortem examination of deer viscera and make judgements and apply dispositions.
Rangeincludes but is not limited to diseases and defects affecting viscera to be found in NZFSA (New Zealand Standards Group) Manual 16.
Evidence requirements
2.1Viscera examination procedures for deer are demonstrated in accordance with those detailed in NZFSA (New Zealand Standards Group) Manual 16.
2.2Diseases and defects of viscera are diagnosed and assessment stated in terms of NZFSA (New Zealand Standards Group) Manual 16.
2.3Judgements are made in terms of NZFSA (New Zealand Standards Group) Manual 16.
2.4Dispositions are applied to inspected viscera in terms of NZFSA (New Zealand Standards Group) Manual 16.
Outcome 3
State and demonstrate procedures for post-mortem examination of the head and tongue.
Evidence requirements
3.1Head and tongue post-mortem examination procedures for deer are stated in accordance with those detailed in NZFSA (New Zealand Standards Group) Manual 16.
3.2Head and tongue post-mortem examination procedures are demonstrated in terms of NZFSA (New Zealand Standards Group) Manual 16.
Outcome 4
Diagnose and assess diseases and defects found at post-mortem examination of the head and tongue and make judgements and apply dispositions to inspected parts.
Rangeincludes but is not limited to diseases and defects affecting the head and tongue to be found in NZFSA (New Zealand Standards Group) Manual 16.
Evidence requirements
4.1Diseases and defects of the head and tongue are diagnosed and assessment stated in terms of NZFSA (New Zealand Standards Group) Manual 16.
4.2Judgements are made in terms of NZFSA (New Zealand Standards Group) Manual 16.
4.3Diseases and defects of the head and tongue are reported to carcass inspector according to post-mortem examination procedures.
4.4Dispositions are applied to infected parts in terms of NZFSA (New Zealand Standards Group) Manual 16.
Outcome 5
Demonstrate procedures and diagnose and assess diseases and defects found at post-mortem examination of deer carcasses and make judgements and apply dispositions.
Rangeincludes but is not limited to diseases and defects affecting the carcass to be found in NZFSA (New Zealand Standards Group) Manual 16.
Evidence requirements
5.1Carcass examination procedures for deer are demonstrated in accordance with NZFSA (New Zealand Standards Group) Manual 16.
5.2Diseases and defects of carcass are diagnosed and assessment stated in terms of NZFSA (New Zealand Standards Group) Manual 16.
5.3Diseases and defects of carcasses are reported according to post mortem examination procedures.
5.4Dispositions are applied to inspected carcasses in terms of NZFSA (New Zealand Standards Group) Manual 16.
Outcome 6
Use a hand knife to complete post-mortem animal product examination in accordance with NZFSA (New Zealand Standards Group) Manual 16.
Evidence requirements
6.1Incisions are of minimum number and size required to effectively complete examination.
6.2Carcass and edible viscera incisions are completed using techniques which minimise unnecessary damage to the examined part.
6.3Incisions are repeated parallel incisions made using a technique which exposes the cut surfaces for examination.
6.4Knife cuts are clean and straight and made without excessive force or unnecessary duplication.
6.5Operator balance is maintained and body weight used to best effect at all times during knife use.
6.6Operator reach and follow-through maintain balance and reduce risk of injury to operator and others.
6.7Cuts are made away from or to the side of the operator's body and free hand.
6.8Hands, protective gloves, and knife handles are kept in clean and slip-free condition.
6.9Cuts do not damage or contaminate recoverable products.
6.10Knives are maintained in sharp and hygienic condition.
6.11Knives are replaced in pouch when not in use.
6.12Steels are used to meet organisational requirements.
6.13Actions likely to place the operator and others at risk of injury during knife use and sharpening are avoided.
Outcome 7
Comply with organisational and statutory hygiene and safety requirements.
Evidence requirements
7.1Company-supplied clothing, and hygiene and safety equipment, is worn and used in accordance with organisational and statutory requirements.
7.2Work methods comply with organisational and statutory requirements to minimise the risk of product contamination and injuries to the operator and others.
7.3Contaminated meat products, surfaces, machinery and equipment, are handled in accordance with organisational and statutory requirements.
7.4Unsafe and unhygienic conditions are identified and reported to supervisory staff in accordance with organisational requirements.
7.5Equipment and work area cleanliness complies with organisational and statutory requirements.
Replacement information / This unit standard, unit standard 13491, unit standard 13492, unit standard 13493, unit standard 13494, unit standard 13501, unit standard 13502, unit standard 13503, unit standard 13504, unit standard 20206, unit standard 20207, unit standard 22049, unit standard 24502, unit standard 24503, unit standard 24504, unit standard 24505, unit standard 24507, and unit standard 27355 have been replaced by unit standard 27754.This unit standard is expiring. Assessment against the standard must take place by the last date for assessment set out below.
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process / Version / Date / Last Date for AssessmentRegistration / 1 / 23 April 1998 / 31 December 2014
Review / 2 / 23 June 2000 / 31 December 2014
Revision / 3 / 20 August 2001 / 31 December 2014
Rollover and Revision / 4 / 20 June 2006 / 31 December 2014
Review / 5 / 25 February 2008 / 31 December 2014
Revision / 6 / 19 May 2008 / 31 December 2014
Review / 7 / 19 July 2012 / 31 December 2014
Reinstatement / 8 / 20 March 2015 / 31 December 2017
Rollover / 9 / 17 September 2015 / 31 December 2019
Rollover / 10 / 21 April 2016 / 31 December 2019
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference / 0033
This CMR can be accessed at
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA, before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards.
Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR). The CMR also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors and assessors, and special resource requirements.
Primary Industry Training OrganisationSSB Code 101558 / New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2018 / / New Zealand Qualifications Aut