Schools begin to rear Angus calves in the classroom

At the National Ploughing Championships, in collaboration with ABP Food Group, five fortunate schools were presented with their Angus Calves Awards. Selected from a pool of over 60 schools across the country, these schools will undertake the responsibility of raising the calves until they are ready for slaughter, integrating this task into their Leaving Certificate Agricultural Science studies. The competition's goal is to foster a deeper comprehension among secondary students about the beef industry, from the meticulous care of the animals to the final product enjoyed by consumers. Paul Matthews from ABP Food Group expressed his enthusiasm for the initiative, highlighting the positive impact on the students, their teachers, and families. He looks forward to monitoring their progress and is keen on continuing the competition in the future. Matthews emphasized the value of hands-on learning experiences for the students and wished them success. During the awards ceremony at the Angus exhibit at the National Ploughing Championships, Damien English, the Minister of State at the Department of Education, praised the students for embarking on what he anticipates will be an enriching journey. He extended his best wishes to the students, their teachers, and their families. Minister English, who oversees Skills, Research, and Innovation, acknowledged the educational benefits of the program, applauding ABP for initiating such an innovative and advantageous project. The participating schools will raise the calves according to various project themes, such as Carbon Footprint, Meat Quality, and Marketing. The calves will be raised on the students' family farms, except for Heywood Community School, which has made special arrangements on its premises for the animals. Edmund Walton, a student from Heywood Community School, expressed excitement about the project, particularly focusing on Animal Welfare, including winter housing, feed, and stress reduction for the calves. The awarded schools hail from Leinster and Munster and are as follows: - CBS, Co. Tipperary - Sacred Heart, Co. Cork - Heywood Community School, Co. Laois - Colaiste Bhride, Co. Wicklow - Presentation Secondary School, Co. Tipperary