Establish, monitor and maintain livestock on outdoor sites

This standard covers the establishment, monitoring and maintenance of livestock on outdoor sites. This can include using grazing animals as part of the approach to managing semi-natural habitats valued for their biodiversity.

Activities include monitoring the continued suitability of the outdoor site to support the livestock and recognising changes in the condition or behaviour of the livestock. You must be able to take the relevant action where such changes are identified.

When working with livestock or machinery you should be trained, and hold the current certification where required, in accordance with the relevant legislation.

When carrying out your work you must consider the impact it will have on the environment, and work towards preserving and improving habitats and biodiversity and responding to and mitigating the effects of climate change.

Your work must conform to all relevant legislation and codes of practice, industry standards and guidance.

This standard is suitable for those responsible for establishing, monitoring and maintaining livestock on outdoor sites.

1. maintain the health and safety of yourself and others at all times, in accordance with the relevant legislation and codes of practice
2. assess the risks associated with the site and the work to be carried out, before starting work and throughout the activity
3. carry out site surveys to record and map the current habitat conditions, extent and types of different habitats when using semi-natural habitats for grazing
4. evaluate the impact of wild herbivores on outdoor sites
5. check any statutory requirements that might be in place that may prohibit or place conditions on the establishment of livestock on outdoor sites
6. confirm that appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for the work to be carried out is worn at all times
7. confirm that relevant training, experience and certification is in place to undertake the work to be carried out and recognise your own competence limitations
8. select, prepare, use, maintain and store the tools and equipment required safely, in accordance with the relevant legal requirements and manufacturer’s instructions
9. maintain hygiene and biosecurity in accordance with the relevant legal requirements, industry guidance and organisational procedures
10. check and confirm the suitability of the outdoor site and that it is ready for livestock, its boundaries are safe and secure and shelter, if required, is available
11. confirm that measures are in place to protect the livestock from disturbance or predators
12. check that the quantity and the quality of the grazing meets the needs of the livestock, including checking for the presence of both beneficial and toxic plants and trees, as well as pests and diseases
13. confirm that the supply of feed and clean water meets livestock and legal requirements
14. prepare and agree grazing management plans in accordance with legal requirements and organisational procedures, including livestock types, overall stocking rates, seasons and durations of grazing
15. establish the livestock on the outdoor site at the right time and in a manner that minimises stress, maintains their health and welfare and maintains your own safety
16. use and monitor suitable grazing patterns for the livestock and the grass or forage, identify when grazing requires improving and take the relevant action
17. monitor conditions on the outdoor site and take the required action if it becomes unsuitable for the livestock due to weather or other changes
18. manage the impacts of trampling and dunging in accordance with grazing management plans
19. maintain the outdoor site and its boundaries to ensure their continuing suitability, safety and security
20. carry out habitat condition monitoring when using semi-natural habitats for grazing
21. monitor the livestock to assess their on-going health and welfare while they are on the outdoor site and take the required action where there are any issues
22. monitor the supply of feed and water, in accordance with livestock requirements and environmental conditions
23. adjust the quantity and mix of livestock where required, to take account of the available grazing and the animals’ needs
24. use appropriate methods to maintain effective communication with colleagues and others involved in, or affected by, the work, in accordance with organisational procedures
25. implement best practice approaches to sustainability that are appropriate for the work being carried out
26. deal effectively with issues that arise within the scope and limitations of your responsibilities and report issues that cannot be resolved, in accordance with organisational procedures
27. complete and store all relevant documentation in accordance with the relevant legal requirements and organisational procedures

1. how to identify hazards and assess risks associated with the site and the work to be carried out, and the importance of site-specific risk assessment and control measures that are appropriate for your area of work
2. the relevant health and safety procedures and Safe Systems of Work (SSoW)
3. the range and importance of semi-natural habitats that require grazing animals to maintain their biodiversity and how to assess the conditions, extent and types of different semi-natural habitats for grazing
4. the impact of different types of livestock on different semi-natural habitats
5. the statutory requirements that may prohibit or place conditions on the establishment of livestock on outdoor sites, including conservation protection for habitats or species
6. the current legislation and codes of practice, industry standards and guidance, organisational policies, procedures and protocols, business and professional ethics that are relevant to your area of work, and to which you must adhere
7. the legal, industry and organisational requirements for training, experience and certification to undertake the work activities required, and the importance of acknowledging your limitations and not undertaking work that is beyond your level of competence
8. why it is important to maintain effective communication with colleagues and others involved in, or affected by, the work, and the methods of communication that should be used
9. the tools, equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE) required for the work and how to select, prepare, use, maintain and store these safely, in accordance with the relevant legal requirements, manufacturer’s instructions, and organisational procedures
10. the importance of hygiene and biosecurity measures and how to apply these
11. the impact of drainage and hydrology on different outdoor sites
12. the impacts of trampling on nesting birds and methods to protect nesting birds
13. the impact of livestock on watercourses and wetland habitats
14. how to undertake stocking density calculations and the appropriate levels for different outdoor sites
15. how to assess potential safety and security hazards and the suitability of different boundaries, and shelter, if required, for the livestock
16. the need for livestock to be protected against disturbance or predators and the measures that can be taken
17. how to assess the quantity and quality of the grazing, including recognising the presence of pests and diseases, and identifying plants that are beneficial to the livestock as well as plants and trees that could be toxic
18. the requirements livestock have for feed and water on outdoor sites, how these can be provided and the relevant legal requirements
19. the key elements of grazing management plans and approaches to stock management to achieve the appropriate levels of grazing to maintain and enhance habitats
20. the methods of handling and establishing livestock on outdoor sites that minimise stress and optimise acceptance, and the hazards that might occur when releasing livestock
21. the methods for monitoring livestock on outdoor sites to maintain their health and welfare and the potential consequences of failing to do so
22. your responsibilities for the welfare of livestock under the relevant animal health and welfare legislation, codes of practice and organisational policies
23. how to recognise healthy livestock and signs of ill-health
24. the impact of anthelmintics on biodiversity
25. the need for checking stock numbers and boundaries
26. the use of electronic collars to monitor location and maintain the security of grazing animals
27. the importance of recognising grazing depletion and when to remove livestock, based on the condition and availability of food
28. the role of supplementary feeding in maintaining animal welfare and ways to avoid nutrient enrichment from in situ supplementary feeding
29. the causes of water shortages and contamination and the actions to be taken if these occur
30. how to recognise signs of ground “poaching” and the actions to be taken
31. your and the organisation’s responsibility for protecting the environment and working sustainably
32. the issues that can occur when establishing, monitoring and maintaining livestock on outdoor sites, the actions to take and organisational procedures for reporting issues that cannot be resolved
33. the legal and organisational requirements for the completion and storage of documentation

Invasive plant species and injurious weeds including:
• rhododendron
• bracken
• Japanese Knotweed
• ragwort

Monitor the livestock for: condition and behaviour, health and ill-health

Organisational procedures refer to procedures set by the organisation you are employed by or the organisation that you are doing the work on behalf of (the client or customer)