Agriculture News

Year 8 Agriculture 2024

Dairy Unit

As part of technology mandatory, students are able to experience Agriculture for one term during Year 8. This year our design project was based on rearing dairy calves. Students completed a portfolio where they compiled their knowledge learnt about calf nutrition, housing and health, which prepared them for the arrival of our own dairy calves. Students were responsible for the feeding, care and housing maintenance of these calves over a three week period. We would like to extend our thanks to the Redgrove family from Nundah Pastoral who have been supplying two calves per term for our students to enjoy. 

Jahli & Jacob feeding our two Friesian x Angus heifers from (Term 1).

Our Term 2 Friesian bull calves. 

Dom, Will & Justin with our Friesian bull calf ‘buck’ (Term 4).

As part of this unit, we explored bovine digestion and the process of milk being digested in a calf’s stomach (very important as this played a role in the discovery of how to make cheese!). This process was modelled to students by heating unhomogenised milk and adding a rennet tablet (this contains the milk separating enzyme present in a calf’s stomach). 

Milk separating into curds & whey after heating and adding rennet tablet. 

               Frank checking if the milk had separated yet.

Annabelle, Adele & Sophie making butter.

Enjoying our butter with some sprinkles & bread.

Year 8 also managed a very successful vegetable garden. It was so wonderful to see so many students taking pride in maintaining and tending to their vegetables. 

Millie picking a very large beetroot after some good rain.

A whopper cauliflower grown by Jocelyn, Amira & Koby. Roughly the size of a soccer ball and weighing around 2kg.

Fresh produce sold to staff. 

It has been a busy year teaching Year 8 Agriculture, but I have thoroughly enjoyed sparking interest in this amazing industry for many of our Year 8 students.

Laura Smith

Agriculture Teacher