Profession animal artificial insemination technician

Veterinary technicians and assistants carry out advisory, diagnostic, preventive and curative veterinary tasks, more limited in scope and complexity than those carried out by, and with the guidance of, veterinarians. They care for animals under treatment and in temporary residence at veterinary facilities, perform routine procedures and assist veterinarians to perform procedures and operations.

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Personality Type

• Realistic / Conventional

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• Quality inspector cattle, meat, fish
• Stockman
• Subsistence livestock farmer
• Veterinarian inspector
• Veterinarian, all other
• Veterinary aid
• Veterinary practitioner
• Veterinary technician
• Veterinary vaccinator

Knowledge

• Animal welfare

  Universally recognized animal welfare needs as applied to species, situation and occupation. These are: need for a suitable environment need for a suitable diet need to be able to exhibit normal behaviour patterns need to be housed with, or apart, from other animals need to be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease.

• Physiology of animals

  The study of the mechanical, physical, bioelectrical and biochemical functioning of animals, their organs and their cells.

• Anatomy of animals

  The study of animal body parts, their structure and dynamic relationships, on a level as demanded by the specific occupation.

• Biosecurity related to animals

  Awareness of hygiene and bio-security measures when working with animals, including causes, transmission and prevention of diseases and use of policies, materials and equipment.

• Signs of animal illness

  Physical, behavioural and environmental signs of health and ill health in various animals.

• Animal welfare legislation

  The legal boundaries, codes of professional conduct, national and EU regulatory frameworks and legal procedures of working with animals and living organisms, ensuring their welfare and health.

• Animal behaviour

  The natural behavioural patterns of animals, i.e. how normal and abnormal behaviour might be expressed according to species, environment, human-animal interaction and occupation.

• Safe work practices in a veterinary setting

  Safe work practices in a veterinary setting in order to identify hazards and associated risks so as to prevent accidents or incidents. This includes injury from animals, zoonotic diseases, chemicals, equipment and working environment.

Skills

• Manage animal hygiene

  Plan and use appropriate hygiene measures to prevent transmission of diseases and ensure an effective overall hygiene. Maintain and follow hygiene procedures and regulations when working with animals, communicate site hygiene controls and protocols to others. Manage the safe disposal of waste according to destination and local regulations.

• Maintain breeding equipment

  Operate and care for the equipment used in breeding procedures. This includes, when disposable equipment is not used, effective cleaning and disinfection, in order to avoid transmission of diseases, and to ensure a high welfare standard of the animals.

• Evaluate animal pregnancy

  Perform pregnancy evaluation using common methods such as using on-farm milk progesterone test, treatment of non-pregnant cows with prostaglandin, and pregnancy diagnosis by uterine palpation. Check and confirm pregnancy and take appropriate action in relation to husbandry and reporting requirements.

• Carry out artificial insemination of livestock

  Carry out insemination ensuring excellent hygiene, prevention of injury, minimal discomfort, and welfare.'

• Assess animal behaviour

  Observe and evaluate the behaviour of animals in order to work with them safely and recognise deviations from normal behaviour that signal compromised health and welfare.

• Evaluate semen

  Ensure collected semen is of good quality and quantity. Examine semen, using a microscope, to evaluate density and motility of gametes. Dilute semen with prescribed diluents according to regulations.

• Administer specific drugs to facilitate breeding

  Administer specific drugs for synchronisation of breeding cycles to animals in accordance with veterinary and owner instructions. This includes the safe use and storage of drugs and equipment and record keeping.

• Maintain professional records

  Produce and maintain records of work performed.

• Handle veterinary emergencies

  Handle unforeseen incidents concerning animals and circumstances which call for urgent action in an appropriate professional manner.

• Handle frozen semen

  Correctly identify, carefully handle and thaw the straws of frozen semen that have been kept in liquid nitrogen storage.

• Monitor the welfare of animals

  Monitor animals’ physical condition and behaviour and report any concerns or unexpected changes, including signs of health or ill-health, appearance, condition of the animals' accommodation, intake of food and water and environmental conditions.

• Insert semen

  Observe animals in heat to detect the approach of oestrus or comply with the synchronisation protocol. Insert the semen into the genital tract of the female animal using appropriate equipment and technique for species.

• Manage animal biosecurity

  Plan and use appropriate biosafety measures to prevent transmission of diseases and ensure effective overall biosecurity. Maintain and follow biosecurity procedures and infection control when working with animals, including recognising potential health issues and taking appropriate action, communicating site hygiene control measures and biosecurity procedures, as well as reporting to others.

• Select semen for artificial insemination of animals

  Select semen for animal artificial insemination according to the breeding program. Prepare sample and use the appropriate equipment and safe working practices.

• Store semen for future use on livestock

  Store animal semen at the correct temperature and in accordance with production specifications for future use.

• Apply safe work practices in a veterinary setting

  Apply safe work practices in a veterinary setting in order to identify hazards and associated risks so as to prevent accidents or incidents. This includes injury from animals, zoonotic diseases, chemicals, equipment and work environments.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB