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Title / Demonstrate knowledge of ante-mortem examination of farmed mammals for petfood
Level / 3 / Credits / 30
Purpose / People credited with this unit standard are able to, explain the purpose of the ante-mortem examination of farmed mammals for petfood production; describe the requirements for farmed mammals approved to be slaughtered for petfood; explain the ante-mortem examination process for farmed mammals for petfood production; describe the anatomical features and characteristics of normal healthy mammals; and describe symptoms and signs of common diseases, defects and abnormalities seen during ante-mortem examination of farmed mammals.
Classification / Animal Product Examination Services > Animal Product Examination - Generic
Available grade / Achieved
Explanatory notes
1Legislation
Legislation relevant to this unit standard includes but is not limited to the Animal Products Act 1999.
2Resource documents can be accessed on the website of New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) at and includes but is not limited to Animal Products (Recognised Agencies and Person Specifications) Notice 2007, and Animal Products (Specifications for Products Intended for Animal Consumption) Notice 2006.
3All explanations, descriptions and demonstration must meet the documentary requirements established by the New Zealand Food Safety Authority (Animal Products) or designated agent.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Explain the purpose of the ante-mortem examination of farmed mammals for petfood production.
Evidence requirements
1.1Purpose of ante-mortem examination is explained in terms of the Animal Products (Specifications for Products Intended for Animal Consumption) Notice 2006.
Rangepurpose includes - suitability of raw material for petfood, hazard identification, identifying any special processing conditions.
Outcome 2
Describe the requirements for farmed mammals approved to be slaughtered for petfood.
Evidence requirements
2.1The requirements for farmed mammals to be approved for slaughter are identified in terms of approval process for the species and any special procurement conditions.
Rangespecies - cattle, sheep, goats, horses, deer, pigs, bobby calves;
accredited examiner; operation approved for species to be processed;
special procurement conditions include – tuberculosis reactors, or movement control farms, movement control area disease surveillance suspect list, residue suspect list, imported animals, Johnes vaccinated animals, trials, experimentation or research, ruminant protein.
2.2The requirements for mammals to be eligible for on-farm humane killing are described in terms of types of evidence to support conditions.
Rangerequirements include – calving paralysis, traumatic injury, starvation or exposure, cancer eye, metabolic disease with veterinary certificate, prolapse rectum or uterus (pigs), unfloatable horses, general downer animals,unsuitable for humane transport.
2.3Farmed mammals that do not meet the criteria for on-farm humane killing are described in terms of the Animal Products (Specifications for Products Intended for Animal Consumption) Notice 2006.
Rangeexamples include - metabolic disease without veterinary certificate, animals that can be humanely transported.
Outcome 3
Explain the ante-mortem examination process for farmed mammals for petfood production.
Evidence requirements
3.1The components of the ante-mortem examination procedures are identified in terms of the Animal Products (Specifications for Products Intended for Animal Consumption) Notice 2006.
Rangecomponents include - accredited examiner, facilities and general requirements (site, lighting, clothing, ante-mortem equipment); supplier statements; confirmatory examination procedures, analysis of abnormalities, disease and defects, determination as to the suitability for petfood; Ante-mortem Examination Declaration.
3.2The confirmatory examination procedures are explained in terms of the Animal Products (Specifications for Products Intended for Animal Consumption) Notice 2006.
Rangepurpose of the procedures, confirmation of supplier statements, identification, physical examination.
3.3The abnormalities, disease, and defects in mammals that must be excluded from petfood are explained in terms of the Animal Products (Specifications for Products Intended for Animal Consumption) Notice 2006.
Rangeanimals that have died, are dying or are obviously generally ill; systemic illness; salmonella-like symptoms; gangrene; metabolic diseases without veterinary certifcate; abnormalities likely to impact on the processor’s ability to produce product fit for purpose.
3.4The legality and hazards associated with the acceptance of animals for petfood that have died in the field are explained and signs for recognising this are outlined.
Rangesigns include – lack of functioning cardio-vascular system, pooling of blood – sub-skin, dependent parts, tissues.
3.5The decision process used for determining the farmed mammal material’s suitability for petfood is explained in terms of the information gained from examination procedure and the disposition options available.
Rangespecial procurement conditions, supplier statements, findings during the examination procedure, passed for slaughter without restriction, under specified conditions, not passed.
3.6The purpose and use of the Ante-mortem Examination Declaration is explained in terms of the Animal Products (Specifications for Products Intended for Animal Consumption) Notice 2006.
Outcome 4
Describe the anatomical features and characteristics of normal healthy mammals.
Rangeevidence is required of the mammals processed in the candidate’s processing plant.
Evidence requirements
4.1Anatomical features on the mammal are described.
Rangemay include but is not limited to – horns or horn buds, ears, eyes, nose, lips, teeth, tongue, shoulder, hoof, leg joints, back, flanks, tail, anus, udder, vulva, penis and testicles, umbilicus.
4.2Characteristics of normal healthy mammals are described.
Rangemay include but is not limited to – alert appearance, eyes clear, nose and mouth free of excess mucus, movements prompt and unencumbered, no abnormal swellings.
Outcome 5
Describe symptoms and signs of common diseases, defects and abnormalities seen during ante-mortem examination of farmed mammals.
Rangediseases, defects, abnormalities requiring exclusion from petfood;
other common conditions - lameness, injuries, facial eczema, transit tetany, mastitis, retained foetal membranes, prolapse, scabby mouth, woody tongue, lumpy jaw pink eye, immobility, pizzle rot, poor condition associated with other diseases, arthritis, downers, calving paralysis, cancers.
Evidence requirements
5.1Symptoms and signs of diseases and defects commonly seen at ante-mortem examination are described in terms of those acceptable for petfood processing.
5.2Symptoms and signs of the diseases, defects and abnormalities seen at ante-mortem examination are described in terms of those that must be excluded from petfood processing.
Replacement information / This unit standard, unit standard 13474, unit standard 22046, and unit standard 22048 have been replaced by unit standard 27752.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 / 26 August 2003 / 31 December 2014
Review / 2 / 25 October 2007 / 31 December 2014
Review / 3 / 19 July 2012 / 31 December 2014
Reinstatement / 4 / 20 March 2015 / 31 December 2017
Rollover / 5 / 17 September 2015 / 31 December 2019
Rollover / 6 / 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