Farm 

Piggery

The first excursion for our Cert III Pork students this year was on Friday, 5 June 2026. 

We loaded our finisher pigs in the morning, then followed them down to Linley Valley abattoir to see the post-farm stage of pork production. We timed it perfectly and found our pigs on the kill floor. 

Impressively, our students identified our pigs on a line of 300 carcasses! When we double checked the brand, it was confirmed they were from WACoA Cunderdin! Goes to show how much time and attention the students give our pigs. 

We saw our pigs being graded to determine what market they were suitable for. Our gilts scored premium, and were tagged for export, where they’ll be available within 2 days on the market in Singapore. 

Next, we travelled to Portec Pig Vet headquarters in Perth. Here we had a medicating pig's workshop with Dr Mackenzie Congreve, followed by captive bolt euthanasia training. Students learnt how to identify pig diseases, read a medication document, calculate dosage and withholding periods, administer medication, humanly euthanise and confirm death (simulation/dummy only). 

All students obtained a certificate of competence to operate a captive bolt gun and humanly euthanise pigs. 

Skills learnt throughout the day directly link to and reinforce learning on the College farm to assist students in completing both practical and written assessments in both Pork and Ag courses.

Grains

We are on the home stretch with seeding.  There are some lovely green paddocks after the recent rains, so students can now get out and about with Mr O'Driscoll inspecting crops and learning about post emergent spraying, and weed, pest and disease identification. 

Butcher shop

This week we've been able to give students another lesson in processing meat for consumption.  Sheep and pigs have been in the abattoir and beef in the processing room.

Weekend duty

Sat 13 June :  Mikayla, Madalyn, Archie F, Lucas, Kirby

Sun14 June :  Madalyn, Archie F, Lucas, Kirby

Sat 20 June :  Tom V, Daniel H, Aven, Riley F

Sun 21June :  Shaie, Daniel H, Aven, Riley F

27 and 28 June : Chace, Raylin, Thomas F

Thank you to all Year 11 students that are organising in advance when they need to swap weekend duty due to other commitments.  It is appreciated that you have organised someone to swap with and given sufficient notice for the roster to be changed easily. 

Year 12s - there are only a handful of you who haven't completed your weekend duty allocation. Please stay on track to complete these days when you are rostered on, as they count towards two of your core units for Certificate II in Agriculture.

Mrs Iles

Assistant Farm Manager