Goals

The goals of the ARS department's Agricultural Animal Care Training Program are to ensure animal well-being, the validity and effectiveness of research and teaching activities and the health and safety of animal care personnel.

Overview

The AACTP includes three categories (A, B and C) with two levels of certification within category A.

Category A includes all temporary farm employees and all graduate students who work with animals

  • Level I certification is required for all individuals in Category A
  • Level II certification is required for all individuals in Category A who may be given unsupervised responsibility for animal care - e.g. weekend or holiday responsibilities or supervisory responsibilities.

Category B includes all permanent farm employees.

Category C includes all faculty and staff who have responsibilities or projects dealing with animals, excluding permanent farm employees. 

Maintenance of certification shall be achieved via annual mandatory update/training sessions administered by the ARS department. Records of employee certification shall be filed in the department's main office.

Category A - Temporary farm employees and graduate students who work with animals

Level I Certification

  1. View videos 1 and 2 of the Federation of Animal Science Societies (FASS) Farm Animal Worker Training Program.
  2. Read chapters 1 (Institutional Policies), 2 (General Guidelines for Animal Husbandry), 3 (Agricultural Animal Health Care) and 4 (Physical Plant) of FASS Ag Guide.
  3. Read the Animal and Range Science department's
    1. General Livestock Husbandry Policies and Procedures.
    2. Farm and Ranch Operations Policies.
    3. Signs and Symptoms of Animal Disease, Pain and Injury.
    4. Agricultural Animal Worker Health and Safety Plan.
  4. Pass a written exam based on the material above.

 

Level II Certification

  1. Read chapters 5 (Beef Cattle), 7 (Horses) and 9 (Sheep and Goats) of FASS Ag Guide.
  2. Read components of current ARS Farm and Ranch Management Plan pertaining to management and health of livestock (available from ARS department head or Farm Manager). 
  3. Pass a written exam based on the material listed above.
  4. Beef Quality Assurance certification (available through ARS Extension).

Category B - Permanent farm employees

Category B includes the expectation of advanced education, training and experience in livestock husbandry as listed in the job descriptions for these positions.

  1. View videos 1 and 2 of FASS Farm Animal Worker Training Program.
  2. Read chapters 1 (Institutional Policies), 2 (General Guidelines for Animal Husbandry), 3 (Agricultural Animal Health Care) and 4 (Physical Plant), 5 (Beef Cattle), 7 (Horses), 9 (Sheep and Goats) and 10 (Swine) of FASS Ag Guide.
  3. Read the Animal and Range Science department's
    1. General Livestock Husbandry Policies and Procedures.
    2. Farm and Ranch Operations Policies.
    3. Signs and Symptoms of Animal Disease, Pain and Injury.
    4. Agricultural Animal Worker Health and Safety Plan.
  4. Read components of current ARS Farm and Ranch Management Plan pertaining to management and health of livestock (available from ARS department head or Farm Manager). 
  5. Pass a written exam based on the material listed above.
  6. Beef Quality Assurance certification (available through ARS Extension).

Category C - Faculty and staff who work with animals, excluding permanent farm employees

Category C includes the expectation of advanced education in animal science and related research and teaching experience.

  1. View videos 1 and 2 of FASS Farm Animal Worker Training Program.
  2. Read chapters 1 (Institutional Policies), 2 (General Guidelines for Animal Husbandry), 3 (Agricultural Animal Health Care) and 4 (Physical Plant), 5 (Beef Cattle), 7 (Horses) and 9 (Sheep and Goats) of FASS Ag Guide.
  3. Read the Animal and Range Science department's
    1. General Livestock Husbandry Policies and Procedures.
    2. Farm and Ranch Operations Policies.
    3. Signs and Symptoms of Animal Disease, Pain and Injury.
    4. Agricultural Animal Worker Health and Safety Plan.
  4. Pass a written exam based on the material listed above.

Maintenance of Certification using Annual Updates and Training

  1. Review of:
    1. General Livestock Husbandry Policies and Procedures (Department Head).
    2. Farm and Ranch Operations Policies (Department Head).
    3. Animal management components of farm management plan (Farm Manager and Consulting Veterinarian).
    4. Health and Safety Guidelines (Farm Manager, Consulting Veterinarian and representative of MSU Safety and Risk Management).
  2. Discussion of current issues and concerns with Department Head, Farm Manager and Consulting Veterinarian.

  

Reference: Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Agricultural Research and Teaching, First Revised Edition, Federation of Animal Science Societies, January, 1999.