Year 9/10 Agriculture

For the next 6 months the class are participating in the AWI Merino Wether Challenge. The main aim of the program is to expose students to as many possibilities the sheep and wool industry has to offer through a hands-on program with support from AWI.  This year 14 schools from Victoria are participating in this program, culminating in judging at Clunes on 26th August.  Sheep are judged on wool quantity and quality, meat and carcass quality, both on hoof and hook.

On 1st March we adopted 6 merino wethers from Kerrilyn Merino Stud west of Bendigo. All schools receive the same genetics and start on a level playing field with the final product determined by the management strategies adopted by the participants.

As a class we decided that we were going to focus on an all-round sheep hoping to reach a final liveweight of 70kg and maintaining consistent growth, strength and micron for the wool.  Through research in class, we have seen that both markets in wool and meat have been strong over the last 6 months.  AWI have provided structured learning and engagement materials that we have been working on.  Students have also had training in low stress stock handling and will commence halter training the animals in Term 2.

Fortunately, we have had some excellent support from our Monivae family and local experts to devise a feed plan that has commercial merit.  This means that based on growth estimates and understanding markets that the sheep will make a profit after all costs are accounted for. 

Wish us luck as we aim to beat Shepparton who have taken out the challenge the last two years.

Many thanks to businesses and volunteers that have supported us thus far:

Scott Mullins - Halt Farms

Dean Cameron &  Mandy Maulman - Noremac Stud

Darren Gordon - Nextgen Agri

Ross Winfield - Nutrimax

Ashley Read - Zoetis Animal Health

Ray Aldridge

Steve Cotton - Dynamic Ag

Zac Burgess - Capital Livestock and Property

Mrs Alison Read

Science Teacher