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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD: 

Explain basic pig husbandry practices 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
116120  Explain basic pig husbandry practices 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Primary Agriculture 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 01 - Agriculture and Nature Conservation Primary Agriculture 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 2  NQF Level 02  4 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2026-06-30   2029-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
A person achieving this unit standard will be able to identify abnormalities occurring in the sow, boar and piglets and be able to weigh, record and report data to appropriate supervisors.

Learners will gain specific knowledge and skills in pig husbandry and will be able to operate in an animal production environment implementing sustainable and economically viable production principles.

They will be capacitated to gain access to the mainstream agricultural sector, in animal production, impacting directly on the sustainability of the sub-sector. The improvement in production technology will also have a direct impact on the improvement of agricultural productivity of the sector. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
It is assumed that a learner attempting this unit standard will demonstrate competence against the unit standards or equivalent:
  • NQF 1: Apply standard animal feeding practices
  • NQF 1: Evaluate basic external anatomy and physiology
  • NQF 2: Monitor, collect and collate agricultural data 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    Whilst range statements have been defined generically to include as wide a set of alternatives as possible, all range statements should be interpreted within the specific context of application.

    Range statements are neither comprehensive nor necessarily appropriate to all contexts. Alternatives must however be comparable in scope and complexity. These are only as a general guide to scope and complexity of what is required. 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Identify and describe abnormalities occurring in the sows and boars in a piggery. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The presence of agalactia in sows in the farrowing house must be identified and reported. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The presence of anorexia in sows in the farrowing house should be recognised and reported. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The symptoms of mastitis occurring in sows in the farrowing house is recognised and reported. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Other abnormalities in sows and boars in the piggery must be identified and reported. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Symptoms of underfeeding, overfeeding and other nutritional problems must be recognised and reported. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Identify and describe abnormalities occurring in piglets in a piggery. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The causes of mortality amongst piglets in the farrowing house must be identified and reported. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The causes of mortality amongst piglets must be identified and reported the supervisor. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Causes and signs of cannibalism amongst piglets must be recognised and reported to the supervisor. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Poor suckling behaviour amongst piglets must be observed and possible causes and solutions must be found. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Demonstrate the ability to weigh pigs of all ages, record data and report to appropriate supervisor. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The correct time to weigh the various groups of pigs in a piggery, according to a programme is selected. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The scale is operated effectively and pigs of all ages are weighed. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The weighing data is captured on the appropriate data sheets and other observations are recorded during weighing of pigs. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Weights must be tabulated and findings must be reported to the appropriate supervisor. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Recognise and apply appropriate boar management practices in the piggery. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The boar's correct mating age must be selected, the frequency of mating and resting must be determined. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The need to exercise boars on a regular basis is explained and the type of exercise is defined. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Any symptoms of an unhealthy boar must be observed and reported to the supervisor. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Boars must be fed the correct levels of nutrition as determined by the feeding programme. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
    The assessment of qualifying learners against this standard should meet the requirements of established assessment principles.

    It will be necessary to develop assessment activities and tools, which are appropriate to the contexts in which the qualifying learners are working. These activities and tools may include an appropriate combination of self-assessment and peer assessment, formative and summative assessment, portfolios and observations etc.

    The assessment should ensure that all the specific outcomes; critical cross-field outcomes and essential embedded knowledge are assessed.

    The specific outcomes must be assessed through observation of performance. Supporting evidence should be used to prove competence of specific outcomes only when they are not clearly seen in the actual performance.

    Essential embedded knowledge must be assessed in its own right, through oral or written evidence and cannot be assessed only by being observed.

    The specific outcomes and essential embedded knowledge must be assessed in relation to each other. If a qualifying learner is able to explain the essential embedded knowledge but is unable to perform the specific outcomes, they should not be assessed as competent. Similarly, if a qualifying learner is able to perform the specific outcomes but is unable to explain or justify their performance in terms of the essential embedded knowledge, then they should not be assessed as competent.

    Evidence of the specified critical cross-field outcomes should be found both in performance and in the essential embedded knowledge.

    Performance of specific outcomes must actively affirm target groups of qualifying learners, not unfairly discriminate against them. Qualifying learners should be able to justify their performance in terms of these values.
  • Anyone assessing a learner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA.
  • Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this unit standard or assessing this unit standard must be accredited as a provider with the relevant ETQA.
  • Moderation of assessment will be overseen by the relevant ETQA according to the moderation guidelines in the relevant qualification and the agreed ETQA procedures. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    The person is able to demonstrate a basic knowledge of:
  • Communication and recording skills to report on observations.
  • Literacy and numeracy skills.
  • The purpose of this training to develop competent people to work in piggeries.
  • Determining abnormalities in sows and boars such as underfeeding, overfeeding, anorexia and other nutritional problems.
  • Recognisig mastitis and agalactia in sows.
  • Recognising abnormalities in piglets, such as cannibalism, sucking behaviour and causes of mortality.
  • Weighing procedures and collection of relevant data.
  • Knowledge of the management of the boar such as mating practices, frequency, exercise and symptoms of an unhealthy boar. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Problem Solving: relates to specific outcomes:
  • Identify and describe abnormalities occurring in the sows and boars in a piggery.
  • Identify and describe abnormalities occurring in piglets in a piggery. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Teamwork: relates to all specific outcomes. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Self-management: relates to all specific outcomes. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Interpreting Information: relates to all specific outcomes. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communication: relates to all specific outcomes. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Science and Technology: relates to all specific outcomes. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO CONTRIBUTING 
    Self-development: relates to all specific outcomes. 

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    N/A 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Elective  48976   National Certificate: Animal Production  Level 2  NQF Level 02  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  AgriSETA 
    Elective  48977   National Certificate: Mixed Farming Systems  Level 2  NQF Level 02  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  AgriSETA 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    1. Balemi Consulting Pty Ltd 
    2. Boikgantsho Consulting & Events 
    3. Bumunhu Services Providers Cc 
    4. Cedara College of Agriculture 
    5. Dihwai Food Cultural and Agricultural Services 
    6. ELSENBURG AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE 
    7. Escay Catering and other Services 
    8. Farm Africa (SA) 
    9. Ghoenas Kraal Opleiding Sentrum 
    10. Heedmorine Training 
    11. Impact Plus Training Consultants 
    12. Kimbali Holdings 
    13. Knowledge For Ever 
    14. Leruo ke Matla Training and Enterprise Development Services 
    15. Madzivhandila Agricultural College 
    16. Maishamalema Development Training 
    17. Mananthatshema Skills Dev. Centre 
    18. Marang Women in Agric and Development 
    19. Mathapuso Construction and Projects 
    20. Matotomana Training & General Trading 
    21. Mobile Agri Skills Development and Training NPC 
    22. Mogaladi Business Enterprise 
    23. Morwa Agri-development cc 
    24. Mpontshe Training 
    25. Mvelo Consultant 
    26. New Heights 1082 Pty Ltd 
    27. Nophelo Training Centre 
    28. Novi General Services 
    29. Phill Skills and Development Institute 
    30. Sekhukhune FET College - Central Office 
    31. Selipha Trading (Pty) Ltd 
    32. Setlakala Business Development 
    33. Siyafundisa I Africa 
    34. Siyasanga Training Centre 
    35. Suidwes Beleggings Eiendoms Beperk 
    36. Taletso FET College - Central Office 
    37. Thuto Boshwa Skills Development Services 
    38. TPN Training and Recruitment cc 
    39. Tripple R Training Provider 
    40. University of Limpopo 
    41. Vari Holdings (Pty)Ltd 
    42. Westco Agri Training 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.