Small Stock Slaughterer

The purpose of this qualification is to prepare a learner to function as a Small Stock Slaughterer. A Small Stock Slaughterer slaughters sheep and/or goats in abattoirs in compliance with meat safety regulations, health, safety, environment standards, and customer specifications according to abattoir layout and procedures. Typical learner attributes enabled through this qualification include dexterity and physical strength, flexibility, time management, and self-discipline. A qualified learner will be able to: • Handle small stock in a humane manner according to animal welfare principles. • Slaughter, skin, and dress small stock, ensuring compliance with hygienic requirements and GMP practices adhering to set parameters. • Apply sanitisation, hygiene, and food safety procedures and requirements to provide statutory compliance.

There is a growing demand for sheep and goat (small stock) meat products, thus emphasising the importance of good slaughter procedures, carcass dressing, food quality and safety. The need for this qualification is to equip learners with knowledge and skills to be able to slaughter and process sheep and goat (small stock) meat products. These small stock products form an important part of economy as contributions to local, national, and international trade. Compliance has a substantial impact on the processes and procedures in small stock abattoirs as well as on competencies of Small Stock Slaughterers in terms of small stock species-specific techniques and parameters such as electrical stunning techniques and bleeding times and different techniques to remove small stock skins, e.g. traditional vs inverted methods. In addition to this, national and international standards and meat quality and safety requirements specified in Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) are globally becoming more important. The abattoir industry, therefore, requires well-trained staff to ensure compliance with these national and international standards and to ensure the safety of the consumer through conformance to meat safety and quality standards. Sheep and goat meat is regarded as an important part of the human diet and plays an important role in the livelihood of resource-poor farmers. Qualified and well-trained Small Stock Slaughterers can ensure that this important source of nutrients in the diet of consumers will meet food safety and quality standards, thus ensuring benefits to rural communities and urbanised communities alike. Opportunities for employment exist in high-throughput abattoirs, low-throughput abattoirs, and rural abattoirs. Globally, export opportunities are increasing e.g. to the United Arab Emirates and other opportunities to expand the South African export to such countries. Skilled Small Stock Slaughterers will ensure reduced carcass and skin damage, reducing unnecessary loss while reducing contamination and increasing food safety, quality, profits, and abattoir sustainability. Nationally, small stock slaughtering represents approximately 50% more (headcount) than other species. Increasing numbers of Small Stock Slaughterers competent in species-specific techniques and parameters are crucial to supply the increased demand. This qualification is aimed at people working in the red meat abattoir industry with no formal recognition or who are currently employed as Small Stock Slaughterers and would like to progress. It aims to formalise the skills required in the red meat industry to facilitate career-pathing and provide access to new entrants. This qualification is a stepping-stone in a learning and career path within the abattoir industry. Learners may be promoted to abattoir supervisors after these acquired skills and knowledge. No registration or licensing is needed to function as a Small Stock Slaughterer.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL): RPL for Access • Learners may use the RPL process to gain access to training opportunities for a learning, qualification, part-qualification, or skills programme if they do not meet the formal minimum entry requirements for admission. RPL assessment provides an alternative access route into a programme of learning, qualification, part-qualification, or skills programme. • Such an RPL assessment may be developed, moderated, and conducted by the accredited Skills Development Provider, which offers that specific qualification/part qualification/skills programme. Such an assessment must ensure the learner can display the equivalent competencies required for access based on the NQF level descriptors. RPL for Credits For exemption from modules through RPL, learners who have gained the stipulated competencies of the modules of a programme of learning, qualification, part-qualification, or skills programme through any means of formal, informal, or non-formal learning and/or work experience may be awarded credits towards relevant modules, and gaps identified for training, which is then concluded. Entry Requirements: An NQF Level 1 qualification.

• Demonstrate the ability to receive and care for small stock at an abattoir taking animal welfare requirements into account.
• Clean and sanitise small stock abattoir facilities, equipment, and machines to achieve statutory compliance.
• Conduct small stock slaughter procedures in the dirty area of the abattoir.
• Flay and dress small stock carcasses using either the inverted or normal/traditional method, as per the line layout of the abattoir.
• Apply safety procedures and operate equipment and machines.