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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Maintain water for poultry production 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
119402  Maintain water for poultry production 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Secondary Agriculture: Processing 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 01 - Agriculture and Nature Conservation Secondary Agriculture 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 3  NQF Level 03  6 
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
2024-06-30   2027-06-30  

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 
To supply constant clean water to ensure that the critical metabolic processes in poultry can take place. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Water management level 2. 

UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
N/A 

Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
Understand the function that water plays in the digestive and absorption processes of poultry. 
OUTCOME RANGE 
Softening of feedstuffs, medium for enzymes, solvent for nutrients, uric acid transport, transport medium of nutrients in plasma, medium for cell plasma. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
The role that water plays in the digestive processes is described. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
The role that water plays in the transporting of nutrients within the body is described. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
The role that water plays in the functioning of kidneys is explained. 
ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
Uric acid insoluble, reabsorption of water in cloaca.
 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
Understand the moisturizing function of water in the nasal and tracheal membranes, to act as a first line of defense against bacterial infections. 
OUTCOME RANGE 
Cilia, mucous membranes, dust, epithelial tissue, placement of chicks at day-old, accessibility of water in brooding area, dry droppings, dehydrated skin, lack of appetite, crop contents. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
The role of water to maintain epithelial tissue in the mouth, nasal and respiratory tract is described. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
The role of cilia and their function as the first line of defence against disease-causing organisms is explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
The management practices that encourage water consumption in day-old chicks are detailed. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
The visible signs that chicks exhibit when they are not consuming water during brooding are described. 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
Understand the function of water to enable poultry to maintain a constant body temperature at high environmental temperatures. 
OUTCOME RANGE 
Latent heat loss, high environmental temperature, relative humidity, panting, evaporation of moisture. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
The cooling effect that results from water evaporation, is described. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
The effect that the environmental relative humidity has on the efficiency of evaporative cooling, is described. 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
Understand the role that water plays in the feed passage rate and feed consumption. 
OUTCOME RANGE 
Feed passage, satiety effect, digestive rate, feed intake. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
The lubricating effect that water has on the movement of feed through the gastro-intestinal tract is described. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
The stimuli of satiety centres by crop and intestine fill is explained. 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 5 
Understand the importance of the filtration and purification of drinking water for poultry. 
OUTCOME RANGE 
Silt, water pH, dissolved solids, bacteria, E coli, chlorination, mineral deposits, water softener, water samples. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
The reasons for the chlorination of water and the benefits for poultry farms and hatcheries are explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
The effects that high levels of dissolved solids have on poultry watering equipment are described. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
The reasons for taking water samples are explained. 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 6 
Understand the implementation of water management principles to achieve high standards of production and poultry health. 
OUTCOME RANGE 
Wet bedding and manure, leaks, ammonia levels and cilia of the respiratory tract, drinkers, filters, valves, relationship between water intake and feed intake. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
The main causes of ammonia formation in bedding and manure is explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
The effect that high levels of ammonia have on the health of birds is explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
The advantages of measuring water consumption on poultry farms are described. 


UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • 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 must be accredited as a provider through 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.
  • The assessment of qualifying learners against this standard should meet the requirements of established principles. Practical assessment activities will be used, which are appropriate to the contents in which qualifying learners are working. These activities will include an appropriate combination of self and peer assessment, practical and oral assessments, observations etc.
  • The assessment should ensure that all the specific outcomes, critical cross-field outcomes and essential embedded knowledge be assessed. The specific outcomes must be assessed in its own right, through oral and practical evidence. It cannot be assessed by observation only.
  • The specific outcomes and essential 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, then they should not be assessed as competent. Similarly, if a learner is able to perform specific outcomes, but is unable to explain or justify their performance in terms of the essential embedded knowledge, 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. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    Embedded knowledge is reflected in the assessment criteria of each specific outcome. 

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
  • Reflecting on and exploring a variety of strategies to learn more effectively;
  • Participating as responsible citizens in the life of local, national and global communities;
  • Being culturally and aesthetically sensitive across a range of social contexts;
  • Exploring education and career opportunities; and
  • Developing entrepreneurial opportunities. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems in which responses display that responsible decisions using critical and creative thinking have been mad: Specific Outcome: 2, 5
  • Understand the moisturizing function of water in the nasal and tracheal membranes, to act as a first line of defense against bacterial infections.
  • Understand the importance of the filtration and purification of drinking water for poultry. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others as a member of a team, group, organization or community. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage oneself and one's activities responsibly and effectively. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyze, organise and critically evaluate information: Specific Outcome: All
  • Understand the function that water plays in the digestive and absorption processes of poultry.
  • Understand the moisturizing function of water in the nasal and tracheal membranes, to act as a first line of defense against bacterial infections.
  • Understand the function of water to enable poultry to maintain a constant body temperature at high environmental temperatures.
  • Understand the role that water plays in the feed passage rate and feed consumption.
  • Understand the importance of the filtration and purification of drinking water for poultry.
  • Understand the implementation of water management principles to achieve high standards of production and poultry health. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively using visual, mathematical and/or language skills in the modes of oral and/or written presentation: Specific Outcome: 5
  • Understand the importance of the filtration and purification of drinking water for poultry. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology effectively and critically, showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others: Specific Outcome: All
  • Understand the function that water plays in the digestive and absorption processes of poultry.
  • Understand the moisturizing function of water in the nasal and tracheal membranes, to act as a first line of defense against bacterial infections.
  • Understand the function of water to enable poultry to maintain a constant body temperature at high environmental temperatures.
  • Understand the role that water plays in the feed passage rate and feed consumption.
  • Understand the importance of the filtration and purification of drinking water for poultry.
  • Understand the implementation of water management principles to achieve high standards of production and poultry health. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems by recognizing that problem-solving contexts do not exist in isolation: Specific Outcome: All
  • Understand the function that water plays in the digestive and absorption processes of poultry.
  • Understand the moisturizing function of water in the nasal and tracheal membranes, to act as a first line of defense against bacterial infections.
  • Understand the function of water to enable poultry to maintain a constant body temperature at high environmental temperatures.
  • Understand the role that water plays in the feed passage rate and feed consumption.
  • Understand the importance of the filtration and purification of drinking water for poultry.
  • Understand the implementation of water management principles to achieve high standards of production and poultry health. 
    		•

    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
    Core  49578   National Certificate: Poultry Production  Level 3  NQF Level 03  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. Astral Operations Limited 
    2. ELSENBURG AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE 


    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.