A NUMBER of local schools are taking part in Western Sydney University’s annual UniSchools Steer Challenge, which challenges students to hand-raise a Poll Hereford steer.
Organised by the University’s School of Science and Health and the Office of Widening Participation, the steer-raising challenge brings together individuals and teams from 14 high schools to hone their animal husbandry skills.
Each school has now received their steer, which they will feed, handle and care for over the next 100 days.
Around 120 students are participating all up, and gathered at the University’s Hawkesbury campus recently to receive advice on feeding, nutrition and animal welfare, fitting, grooming and appraising their steer.
Schools competing this year are Arndell Anglican College, Bede Polding College, Caroline Chisholm College, Colo High, Crestwood High, Elizabeth Macarthur High, Hurlstone Agricultural High, McCarthy Catholic College, Macarthur Anglican School, Mount Annan Christian School, Oakhill College, Richmond TAFE, Richmond High and Xavier College.
The competition ends with students presenting their allotted steers for show at the Hawkesbury Showground in September 2016.
Adjunct Fellow with the School of Science and Health, Mr Stephen Blunden, said providing a practical and theoretical side to the reality of beef production is why high schools take up this challenge.
“The UniSchools Steer Challenge has been running for over 16 years now, and we continue to be impressed with the enthusiasm and pride that the students have for the competition and for taking care of their steers,” said Mr Blunden.
“Importantly, it is also a chance for the students – many who have grown up in suburbia and an increasingly urbanised environment – to be hands-on with agriculture and better understand what it takes to raise a farm animal for production.”
