22085 version 2

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Demonstrate knowledge of farrowing, and post-farrowing care of the litter and sow

Level / 3
Credits / 3

PurposePeople credited with this unit standard are able to demonstrate knowledge of farrowing, and post-farrowing care of litter and sow.

Subfield / Pork Production
Domain / Pig Husbandry
Status / Registered
Status date / 19 March 2010
Date version published / 19 March 2010
Planned review date / 31 December 2014
Entry information / Open.
Replacement information / This unit standard and unit standard 22086 replaced unit standard 15584.
Accreditation / Evaluation of documentation and visit by NZQA, industry and teaching professional in the same field from another provider.
Standard setting body (SSB) / Primary Industry Training Organisation
Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP) reference / 0052

This AMAP can be accessed at

Special notes

1Legislation relevant to this unit standard includes but is not limited to the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992.

2Performance of all aspects of this unit standard should comply with the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Animal Welfare (Pigs) Code of Welfare 2005, Wellington, available at

3Definitions

On-farm procedures – the verbal or written instructions to staff on procedures for pig health, welfare, and management.

Production targets – number and/or rate for a specified level of performance, for example, piglets born per week.

Elements and performance criteria

Element 1

Demonstrate knowledge of farrowing.

Performance criteria

1.1Farrowing is described in terms of the implications of pig anatomy, hormonal control, effect of birth order, and teat order.

1.2Farrowing is described in terms of the imminent signs, and duration.

1.3Facilities for farrowing are described in terms of their features, and benefits for the sow, litter, and handler.

Rangebenefits – reduce overlays, reduce piglet mortality, create temperature differentials.

1.4Management and care of sow and litter during farrowing are described in terms of on-farm procedures.

Rangehygiene, temperature control, health, vaccination.

1.5Farrowing is described in terms of possible problems and ways in which assistance may be provided.

Rangeproblems – stillbirths, piglet mortality;

assistance includes but is not limited to – induction.

1.6Farrowing is described in terms of the factors which contribute to, and affect, expected production targets.

Rangeincludes but is not limited to – live piglets per litter, numbers weaned per litter; stillbirth rate, pre-weaning mortality.

Element 2

Demonstrate knowledge of post-farrowing care of litter and sow.

Performance criteria

2.1Post-farrowing care of the litter is described in terms of routine post-farrowing piglet husbandry procedures, piglet survival and birth weight, piglet health, environment, and nutrition.

Rangenutrition – use of colostrum, stomach tubing, fostering or split suckling, creep feeding.

2.2Post-farrowing care of the sow is described in terms of the implications of health, feeding methods and frequency, facilities, environment, nutritional and water requirements, and subsequent reproductive performance.

2.3Husbandry procedures that are carried out following birth are identified and described in terms of their importance.

Rangemanagement of injuries to – sow's udder, piglets;

treatments for – iron deficiency, infection;

management of vices.

2.4Records are maintained in accordance with on-farm procedures.

Please note

Providers must be accredited by NZQA, or an inter-institutional body with delegated authority for quality assurance, before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.

Industry Training Organisations must be accredited by NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.

Accredited providers and Industry Training Organisations assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards.

Accreditation requirements and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this standard are outlined in the Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP). The AMAP 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.

Comments on this unit standard

Please contact the Primary Industry Training Organisation if you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.

 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2018