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Title / Complete pre-slaughter examination of pigs to be processed for human consumption
Level / 4 / Credits / 8
Purpose / People credited with this unit standard are able to: identify and name types of pigs; demonstrate knowledge of requirements for animal handling; move and handle animals in premises stockyards and restrain animals for close examination and apply identification tags; list and describe diseases and defects seen during examination of pigs; list and describe the symptoms of the diseases of pigs requiring report; and detect and diagnose diseases and defects in pigs and make judgements and apply dispositions to examined animals.
Classification / Animal Product Examination Services > Animal Product Examination - Species Specific
Available grade / Achieved
Entry information
Critical health and safety prerequisites / Unit 13474, Describe and carry out generic pre-slaughter examination duties; and Unit 13503, Examine viscera and carcasses of pigs; 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, Animal Welfare 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) Industry Standard 4 and relevant Notices.
3Industry recommended methods of animal handling referred to in this unit standard can be found in R J Holmes Sheep and Cattle Handling Skills (Wellington: Accident Compensation Corporation 1984).
4Definitions
Flight distance is a term used in stock handling that indicates how close the animals allow the handler to come before they take flight.
Balance lines are terms used in stock handling that refer to two imaginary lines, one of which passes through the line of the animal’s shoulders and the second runs lengthways down the backbone. By moving in relation to these lines the handler can turn the animals in a desired direction.
Dispositions refers to the action of ensuring that examined animal material or animal product that has abnormalities is managed in accordance with legislative requirements.
5Diseases requiring report in this unit standard are those advised by Biosecurity New Zealand.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Identify and name types of pigs.
Evidence requirements
1.1Pigs are identified and named according to type.
Rangesow, boar, porker.
Outcome 2
Demonstrate knowledge of requirements for animal handling.
Evidence requirements
2.1Stockyard construction and other features that inhibit stock handling and movement are described.
Rangedead ends in races, humans or dogs in path of moving stock, flapping clothing or sacking, sudden changes in light, changes in underfoot surfaces, unusual smells, loud noises.
2.2Techniques for moving animals in stockyards are described.
Rangeuse of rattles and voice, use of flight distance, use of balance lines.
2.3Behaviour characteristics are described for various types of animals.
Rangeyoung animal behaviour, male animal behaviour, female animal behaviour, moving animal behaviour, sick animal behaviour.
2.4Techniques are demonstrated that enhance operator safety in stockyards.
Rangesafety hazards identified and corrected, use of catwalks where provided, staying alert to stock moving outside range of operator vision, wearing of appropriate apparel including footwear, use of correct techniques for restraint and lifting animals.
Outcome 3
Move and handle animals in premises stockyards and restrain animals for close examination and apply identification tags.
Evidence requirements
3.1Animals are moved in premises stockyards using industry agreed methods.
3.2Animals are moved with minimum stress and least risk of injury to animals and people.
3.3Animal behaviour is anticipated and controlled.
3.4Animals are restrained securely using industry recommended methods.
3.5Animals are closely examined in accordance with pre-slaughter examination procedures.
3.6Equipment is prepared and used in accordance with pre-slaughter examination procedures and manufacturers' guidelines.
3.7Ear tags are applied in accordance with pre-slaughter procedures.
Outcome 4
List and describe diseases and defects seen during examination of pigs.
Rangelameness, traumatic injuries, mastitis, retained foetal membranes, prolapse of uterus or anus, tumours, contagious and exotic diseases, immobility, balanitis, arthritis, skin lesions.
Evidence requirements
4.1Diseases seen during examination of pigs are listed.
4.2Symptoms and defects of diseases seen during examination are described.
Outcome 5
List and describe the symptoms of the diseases of pigs requiring report.
Evidence requirements
5.1Diseases requiring report are listed in terms of those applicable to pigs.
RangeFoot and Mouth disease, anthrax, salmonellosis
5.2Symptoms are described in terms of diseases of pigs requiring report.
Outcome 6
Detect and diagnose diseases and defects in pigs and make judgements and apply dispositions to examined animals.
Evidence requirements
6.1Diseases and defects of pigs are detected and diagnosed during examination.
6.2Judgements are made according to pre-slaughter examination findings and dispositions are applied to examined animals following procedures in NZFSA (New Zealand Standards Group) Industry Standard 4.
Replacement information / This unit standard, unit standard 13475, unit standard 13476, unit standard 13477, unit standard 13479, unit standard 13480, unit standard 13505, unit standard 24508, and unit standard 27356 have been replaced by 27753.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