Farm Enterprises
Cattle
Pregnancy testing was conducted last week with a less-than-desirable result. This is just a stumbling block though, and now the detective work begins to determine the reason behind the poor conception rates. Everything at the College can lead to a further learning opportunity! The cattle are in great condition with feeding becoming a regular task. Weaning will occur soon with the young steers (and some heifers) heading on a road trip to Muchea Sale Yards.
Sheep
It has been a great start to the term for the sheep enterprise. The Year 12s are undertaking their Certificate II in Shearing and Certificate III in Wool Handling with Technical and Further Education (TAFE) trainers thanks to Australian wool Innovation (AWI), to broaden their knowledge of wool and shearing.
Year 11s are starting their shearing and woolhandling journey and learning how to set up the handpiece and shearing the bellies and back leg of the sheep. We have spent the last few weeks preparing the Poll Dorset Donor ewes for artificial insemination (AI), which was performed by the vet last Thursday. Next week we will know if fertilisation was successful, and we'll be able to flush the embryos for transfer into our South African Meat Merino (SAMM) ewes.
AI
Collection
Shearing
AI
Collection
Shearing
Grains
Lime spreading is underway which is giving the Cert III in Agriculture - Grains students a head-start on their practical activities for their cropping units. Inductions have been undertaken with students being shown the safety procedures associated with our tractors and machinery.
Workshop
Inductions for the workshop have been undertaken over the past couple of days. Students have been learning the ins and outs of workshop and tool safety with Mr Ball. Work from last year that has been continued into this year has included the Ute-mounted sprayer and the dead pig remover pictured below.
