Animal artificial insemination technician jobs in Finland
Animal artificial insemination technicians are in charge of the impregnation of an animal using collected semen, in accordance with national legislation.
Animal artificial insemination technician - Which skills are essential?
Awareness of hygiene and bio-security measures when working with animals, including causes, transmission and prevention of diseases and use of policies, materials and equipment.
Observe animals in heat to detect the approach of oestrus or comply with the synchronisation protocol. Insert the semen into the genital tract of the female animal using appropriate equipment and technique for species.
Plan and use appropriate biosafety measures to prevent transmission of diseases and ensure effective overall biosecurity. Maintain and follow biosecurity procedures and infection control when working with animals, including recognising potential health issues and taking appropriate action, communicating site hygiene control measures and biosecurity procedures, as well as reporting to others.
Select semen for animal artificial insemination according to the breeding program. Prepare sample and use the appropriate equipment and safe working practices.
Physical, behavioural and environmental signs of health and ill health in various animals.
The legal boundaries, codes of professional conduct, national and EU regulatory frameworks and legal procedures of working with animals and living organisms, ensuring their welfare and health.
Correctly identify, carefully handle and thaw the straws of frozen semen that have been kept in liquid nitrogen storage.
Universally recognized animal welfare needs as applied to species, situation and occupation. These are: need for a suitable environment need for a suitable diet need to be able to exhibit normal behaviour patterns need to be housed with, or apart, from other animals need to be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease.
Perform pregnancy evaluation using common methods such as using on-farm milk progesterone test, treatment of non-pregnant cows with prostaglandin, and pregnancy diagnosis by uterine palpation. Check and confirm pregnancy and take appropriate action in relation to husbandry and reporting requirements.
The study of the mechanical, physical, bioelectrical and biochemical functioning of animals, their organs and their cells.
Carry out insemination ensuring excellent hygiene, prevention of injury, minimal discomfort, and welfare.'
Operate and care for the equipment used in breeding procedures. This includes, when disposable equipment is not used, effective cleaning and disinfection, in order to avoid transmission of diseases, and to ensure a high welfare standard of the animals.
Produce and maintain records of work performed.
Apply safe work practices in a veterinary setting in order to identify hazards and associated risks so as to prevent accidents or incidents. This includes injury from animals, zoonotic diseases, chemicals, equipment and work environments.
Ensure collected semen is of good quality and quantity. Examine semen, using a microscope, to evaluate density and motility of gametes. Dilute semen with prescribed diluents according to regulations.
Store animal semen at the correct temperature and in accordance with production specifications for future use.
Plan and use appropriate hygiene measures to prevent transmission of diseases and ensure an effective overall hygiene. Maintain and follow hygiene procedures and regulations when working with animals, communicate site hygiene controls and protocols to others. Manage the safe disposal of waste according to destination and local regulations.
Safe work practices in a veterinary setting in order to identify hazards and associated risks so as to prevent accidents or incidents. This includes injury from animals, zoonotic diseases, chemicals, equipment and working environment.
Handle unforeseen incidents concerning animals and circumstances which call for urgent action in an appropriate professional manner.
Monitor animals’ physical condition and behaviour and report any concerns or unexpected changes, including signs of health or ill-health, appearance, condition of the animals' accommodation, intake of food and water and environmental conditions.
Observe and evaluate the behaviour of animals in order to work with them safely and recognise deviations from normal behaviour that signal compromised health and welfare.
The study of animal body parts, their structure and dynamic relationships, on a level as demanded by the specific occupation.
Administer specific drugs for synchronisation of breeding cycles to animals in accordance with veterinary and owner instructions. This includes the safe use and storage of drugs and equipment and record keeping.
The natural behavioural patterns of animals, i.e. how normal and abnormal behaviour might be expressed according to species, environment, human-animal interaction and occupation.
Animal artificial insemination technician - Which skills are useful but not essential?
Use different channels and learning styles such as journals, courses, and conferences to obtain new information, knowledge, skills, and know-how in relation to working with animals.
Carry out activities according to accepted principles of right and wrong, including transparency in work practices and conduct towards clients and their animals.
Correctly identify stock to be inseminated. Move stock to an appropriate area to be inseminated. Ensure that the work environment is suitable for the safe handling of animals and protection of operators.
Categorise and verify information about the environment and its impact on the animal. Analyse the situation, such as what the animal may want or need.
Calculate the best time for insemination through monitoring of female behaviour patterns and heat cycles.
Collaborate with veterinary and other animal related professionals through communication of animal details, case records and summary reports orally or via written or electronic transfer.
Maintain a positive attitude during challenging situations such as a misbehaving animal. Work under pressure and adapt to the circumstances in a positive manner.'
Manage the sequence of activities in order to deliver completed work on agreed deadlines by following a work schedule.
Spelling and meaning of commonly used terminology of veterinary terms.
Animal nutrition, agronomy, rural economics, animal husbandry, hygiene and bio-security, ethology, protection and herd health management.
Inspect the animal for any external signs of parasites, disease or injury. Use this information to determine own actions and report your findings to owners.
Make a choice from several alternative possibilities that promote the animal's well-being.
Manage the selection of breeding stock in accordance with the breeding programme and where possible screen stock to minimise known genetic weaknesses.
Create and maintain records of animal inseminations including dates and other data.
Ask questions appropriate to the setting and purpose, with the aim to elicit accurate information on the animal's health condition, in order to facilitate a correct diagnosis.
Develop plans and strategies to deal with the animal in order to achieve established goals and optimal results.
Analyse, transform and model data in order to discover useful information and to support decision-making.
Plan a responsible animal breeding programme with a clearly defined purpose. Assess the needs of the animal and how they may be addressed or affected throughout the breeding programme. Communicate the breeding programme to those who will be involved in its implementation.
Work safely and communicate effectively with individuals and groups of people who are in challenging circumstances. This would include recognition of signs of aggression, distress, threatening and how to address them to promote personal safety and that of others.