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Contribute to the production of fertile game bird eggs

URN: LANGa27
Business Sectors (Suites): Game and Wildlife Management
Developed by: Lantra
Approved on: 2022

Overview

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This standard is about contributing to the production of fertile game bird eggs. It can be applied to   any game bird that is produced under controlled conditions.

This standard is for those who work in game production and can be applied  to any wildlife management area or game farm.
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To meet this standard you will be able to:
• select suitable game birds for breeding
• establish a breeding flock of game birds
• manage a flock of game birds to facilitate game bird egg production
• maintain the production of game bird eggs
• manage the handling and storage of game bird eggs.

For you to fully understand the content of the standard, and the activities it describes, it is important that you are able to understand the terms used within the standard. See the Glossary for some definitions that should help you with this.

Performance criteria

You must be able to:

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  1. contribute to the production of fertile game bird eggs by the effective implementation of the game bird breeding programme so that targets can be achieved, in accordance with the relevant national legal requirements and codes of practice
  2. confirm that work is carried out safely, in line with the relevant health and safety requirements
  3. organise the establishment of breeding pens to support planned fertile game bird egg production
  4. implement measures to monitor and maintain the safety and security of the game bird breeding stock 
  5. implement measures to control pests and predators
  6. select breeding stock to optimise the potential returns from breeding activities
  7. implement suitable feeding and care regimes for the game bird breeding stock in order to maintain their nutritional and welfare requirements
  8. organise the preparation and care of game bird breeding stock to maintain their welfare, facilitate fertile game bird egg production and comply with the relevant national legislation and codes of practice
  9. follow established procedures to minimise the effect of factors that can disrupt fertile game bird egg production
  10. maintain fertile game bird egg production operations within the known resource availability and according to welfare requirements
  11. administer prophylactic and disease treatments to game bird breeding stock, in accordance with the relevant legal requirements and codes of practice
  12. recognise and effectively deal with any issues that impact on the game bird breeding programme
  13.  confirm that fertile game bird eggs are handled and stored in the correct manner to maintain their viability
  14. maintain communication with those involved to facilitate effective game bird egg production
  15.  confirm accurate records of egg production are maintained, as required by the relevant legislation, codes of practice and organisational requirements

Knowledge and Understanding

You need to know and understand:

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  1. the relevant legal requirements and codes of practice for the production, transport and welfare of game birds
  2. the health and safety requirements associated with the production of fertile game bird eggs
  3. how to implement a game bird breeding programme to achieve the planned targets
  4. the reproductive requirements of the game bird being produced
  5. how to organise game bird breeding pens to achieve the required egg production
  6. the methods that can be used to monitor and maintain the safety and security of the game bird breeding stock 
  7. the methods that can be used to monitor and control the presence of pests and predators
  8. the specialist handling requirements of the game bird breeding stock
  9. the methods used to monitor the fertility of individual game birds
  10. the expected levels of fertile game bird egg production and how game birds can be prepared in order to maximise game bird egg production
  11. the advantages and disadvantages of closed and caught-up flock systems
  12. the welfare and nutritional requirements of game bird breeding stock, including the pre-breeding nutritional requirements
  13. the common game bird diseases and their symptoms, possible causes of infection and treatments
  14. the national legal requirements for the reporting of notifiable diseases
  15. how to administer treatments to game birds and the legal requirements and codes of practice associated with the use of veterinary medicines 
  16. the expected levels and common causes of mortality
  17. the requirements for collecting, cleaning and storing fertile game bird eggs to maximise their hatchability
  18. the expected periods and levels of production linked to the calendar months
  19. the causes of common issues which can affect fertile game bird egg production and how to minimise their effects
  20. the importance of good egg fertility and the variations in fertility which occur during the egg-laying season
  21. the relevant legislation, codes of practice and organisational requirements for the completion and storage of records

Scope/range

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Implement a breeding programme to cover six of the following processes:
• catching breeding stocks
• transport of laying birds
• preparation of laying birds
• monitoring fertility
• egg collection and storage
• disposal of the breeding flock
• over-wintered stock

 Follow procedures to deal with four of the following factors that can disrupt production:
• changes in environmental conditions
• resource shortages
• pest and predator actions
• sabotage
• disease
• equipment failure

Recognise and effectively deal with six of the following issues that may arise:
• egg eating
• soft shells
• vent pecking
• over mating
• variations in expected egg production
• low fertility
• egg binding
• disease
• stress in birds
• egg peritonitis

Maintain the following operations:
• egg collection
• egg cleaning and storage
• caring for breeding stock
• disposal of breeding flocks

Scope Performance

Scope Knowledge

Values

Behaviours

Skills

Glossary

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Game birds – pheasant, partridge, duck

Resources – people, materials, feed and water, equipment, power, time

Links To Other NOS

External Links

Version Number

3

Indicative Review Date

2027

Validity

Current

Status

Original

Originating Organisation

Lantra

Original URN

LANGa27

Relevant Occupations

Estate Worker, Gamekeeper

SOC Code

5119

Keywords

game bird eggs; pheasant; partridge; duck