Raising calves, growing knowledge, building profits

Sacred Heart Secondary School, Clonakilty, fought tough entries from four other schools to win the Certified Irish Angus Beef (CIAB) schools competition.

Sacred Heart Secondary School, Clonakilty, fought tough entries from four other schools to win the Certified Irish Angus Beef (CIAB) schools competition. Organised in partnership with ABP Food Group Ireland, the competition encourages students to gain a better understanding as to how beef is produced on family farms is produced, processed and marketed to a satisfied end consumer. The four pupils from Sacred Heart, who come from farms across the Clonakilty area, focused on reducing labour and increasing income during production as part of their Leaving Certificate Agricultural Science project. They first compared the cost and work involved in bringing cattle in during the winter versus leaving them out to graze. They measured the physical condition and the financial costs incurred by both sets of animals each winter and during their lifetime. The students discovered that while there were no significant physical differences between the housed cattle and those out at grass, significant savings could be made if livestock was kept outside. They then planted kale to support a long grazing season while raising the five certified Angus calves they were given through the CIAB. The students will now benefit from the profits earned by their cattle and, as competition winners, will receive an additional €2,000 payment towards their further education.