Four learners were involved in the Steers program, where steers were selected and fed for the planned Farm Stock Show in Vryheid.
Learners were taught how to select animals (steers) for a fatstock show.
They were also responsible for the feeding of the steers, over the course of 126 days.
During this time, the learners had to weigh the steers weekly to determine average daily gains (ADG) and feed consumption, and to keep daily records.
They were also exposed to the judging of show animals and their preparation.
Vryheid Landbou thanked Trevor Ehrens from AAM, who visited the school and taught the learners how to check the age of animals and what the quality of the meat was simply by looking at their teeth.
He also gave a practical training session in animal handling and the selection of breed animals. The learners attended a show and auction at Bloodriver recently after the Vryheid Fatstock Show was cancelled.
The average ADG of the steers was 2,1 kilograms per day, with one steer reaching an incredible ADG of 2,4kg/day.
Six steers were brought back and slaughtered at the abattoir.
Neels Upton from Vleissentraal organised a visit to the local Valley View Abattoir for the learners, where they had the opportunity to look at the carcasses of different gradings.
The dressing percentage of the six carcasses was 62 per cent.
The learners’ practical program ended at Natalia Meatmaster’s Butchery, where the learners were shown the different cuts of beef. Vryheid Landbou thanked Mr van Rooyen and Mr Vermaak of Valley View Abattoir, for the exposure of the learners to the abattoir, as well as Patrick Friend for allowing the visit to the butchery.
“We would like to thank Ettiene for the demonstration in the cutting of beef carcasses.”
Neels Upton’s involvement in this practical program with the ‘ossie’ learners was also highly appreciated.
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