Plan and monitor animal diets

This standard is about planning and monitoring the diets for animals in your care.
You will need to identify the dietary requirements of the animals and develop feeding plans containing all the necessary information for those responsible for feeding the animals. You will also need to monitor animal feeding, make necessary adjustments to the feeding plan and evaluate the effect on animal health and development and take the necessary action when the monitoring reveals problems. This could apply to a variety of animal species or a single species in your care. You will need to be aware of your limitations and confirm that you meet the relevant legal responsibilities for providing your duty of care under the current animal health and welfare legislation. The standard is suitable for those working with animals with specific responsibilities for planning and monitoring animal diets.

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1. work professionally and ethically and within the limits of your authority, expertise, training, competence and experience
2. carry out your work in accordance with the relevant environmental and health and safety legislation, risk assessment requirements, associated codes of practice and organisational policies
3. carry out your work in accordance with the relevant animal health and welfare and animal-related legislation, associated codes of practice and organisational policies
4. select and implement the required hygiene and bio-security measures and confirm that they are maintained
5. specify arrangements for the recycling or disposal of waste in accordance with the relevant legal procedures and organisational policies
6. plan diets to meet the dietary requirements of the animals in your care, considering relevant factors
7. maintain communication with colleagues and all those involved in, or affected by, your work and seek professional advice when necessary
8. produce feeding plans in a level of detail that is clear enough to allow all those involved to implement them
9. select and source relevant nutritional foodstuffs to meet the requirements of the feeding plans
10. implement and monitor procedures for storage and stock rotation of foodstuffs
11. confirm that facilities, supplies, equipment and any other resources required, including staffing, are available
12. confirm that all those involved in the implementation of the feeding plans have the skills and knowledge required to carry out the activities
13. monitor and review the suitability of the diet content and feeding plans on animal health, well-being and performance
14. where required, make modifications to the feeding plans that are consistent with the feedback received and the needs of the animals concerned
15. confirm that records are maintained and stored as required by the relevant legislation and organisational policy

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1. 2. your professional responsibilities when planning and monitoring animal diets and the limits of your authority, expertise, training, competence and experience
2. your responsibilities under the relevant environmental and health and safety legislation, risk assessment requirements, associated codes of practice and organisational policies
3. your responsibilities under the relevant animal health and welfare and animal-related legislation, associated codes of practice and organisational policies
4. the importance of implementing the correct hygiene and bio-security measures and how these can be achieved
5. the relevant legal and organisational practices for the handling, storage and disposal of waste
6. the factors that should be taken into consideration when planning animal diets
7. the main sources of information available to establish dietary requirements
8. the sources of nutrients suitable for the animals in your care and their impact on animal health and welfare
9. where and when to seek advice and guidance on the planning of animal diets
10. how to formulate a diet for different animal species, life stages, animal conditions and levels of activity
11. the effect of malnutrition on animal health and welfare and the importance of using a recognised method for evaluating body condition when managing animal nutrition
12. the importance of managing the weight of animals in relation to their health and welfare
13. the different forms, characteristics and function of animal foodstuffs suitable for the animals in your care and their acceptability under the relevant legislation
14. the role of supplements and nutraceuticals in animal diets
15. the types of supplements relevant to the animals in your care, the reasons for including them in their diet and the relevant legislation that relates to such inclusion
16. the types of commercial substitute foods and vitamin or mineral supplements available, the quantities required, their common side effects and the adverse effects of inaccurately calculated levels
17. how to develop feeding plans based on the animals’ requirements and available resources, including the behavioural requirements of the animals, and the role of different feeding methods as enrichment and its use in training
18. the importance of maintaining communication with all those involved in, or affected by, your work and how this should be done in order to monitor the implementation of the feeding plans
19. the factors to be monitored including animal behaviour and condition, quantities being eaten, and costs of feeding
20. how to assess the suitability of a feeding plan and its ability to improve animal growth, development and performance
21. the importance of reviewing and revising the feeding plan to confirm it continues to meet the requirements of the animals in your care
22. the records that need to be kept in relation to planning and monitoring animal diets and the importance of completing these in accordance with the relevant legislation and organisational policy

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Relevant factors to consider when planning diets:

1. species feeding behaviours and dietary needs
2. purpose for which the animal is being kept
3. life stages
4. levels of activity
5. condition score or weight
6. health
7. prevention/management of disease
8. enrichment and use in training

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Current animal welfare legislation:

• England and Wales, Animal Welfare Act
• Scotland, Animal Health and Welfare Act
• Northern Ireland, Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland)
• Food and Environment Protection Act

Sources of Nutrients:**

• Protein
• Carbs
• Fat

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2

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2025

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Current

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Original

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Lantra

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LANAnC46

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Animal Care, Animal Facility Manager, Licensed Animal Technologist, Team Leader, Senior Animal Technologist, Animal Technology

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6129

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animal; nutrition; diet; feeding plans

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