UWS offers a steer-raising challenge for local school students
So, at a time when people worldwide are consuming about 250 million tonnes of meat annually, the University of Western Sydney’s UniSchools Steer Challenge is as relevant as ever.
Held annually by the UWS School of Science and Health, the UniSchools Steer Challenge brings together 12 high schools from across Sydney to compete as individuals and school team members in a steer-raising challenge.
“Providing a practical and theoretical side to the reality of beef production is why high schools take up this challenge,” says Stephen Blunden, Adjunct Fellow.
Each school receives a Poll Hereford steer that students feed, handle and care for over approximately 100 days.
This year’s challenge will be commencing for the first time with a training day for new students, where approximately 120 students will receive training in: Live animal assessment; judging; feeding and nutrition; animal welfare; and how to appraise a steer in terms of its carcase traits fitting and grooming.
The competition ends with students presenting their allotted steers at the Hawkesbury Showground.
The schools competing this year are:
- Bede Polding College
- Knox Grammar
- Caroline Chisholm
- Macarthur Anglican School
- Chifley College
- Oakhill College
- Colo High
- Prairiewood High
- Crestwood High
- Richmond High
- Elizabeth Macarthur High
- Richmond TAFE
Photos: Olga Nebot
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