Sydney school’s stockfeed success
In the heart of the central Sydney suburb of Lane Cove, within Saint Ignatius’ College Riverview’s grounds, sits a cosy two-hectare farm.
Managed by David Dodds, the micro-farm is part of the Riverview Primary Industry and Agriculture Curriculum, and is used to study crops and livestock including poultry, sheep, and beef cattle.
Livestock are donated each year to the program and in September 2020 the farm received nine steers, donated from the School’s alumni.
Throughout the year, the students at Riverview learn all things agriculture from soils and cropping to ovine and bovine husbandry.
The steers farmed at Riverview are fed a ration of Manildra Stockfeed DDG-S Wheat Pellets for Beef Cattle, donated to the school by Manildra Stockfeed.
“We love to support programs that help to educate kids about agriculture in Australia,” said Manildra Group National Stockfeed Manager Tim Wirth.
The Manildra Stockfeed DDG-S Wheat Pellets for Beef Cattle are highly palatable, increasing average daily weight gain and are produced at Manildra Group’s state-of-the-art Shoalhaven Starches manufacturing site.
Saint Ignatius’ College Riverview Farm Manager David Dodds said he was impressed with the results from the Wheat Pellets.
“We are currently feeding 130kg/day across the nine steers and weight gain on average
is anywhere between 1.5-2kg per day,” he said.
“The sustained weight gain is exactly what we are after when using a high performance stockfeed pellet.”
Manildra Stockfeed DDG-S Wheat Pellets for Beef Cattle contain 21 per cent crude protein, with 80 per cent of this rumen-degradable for an excellent source of soluble protein.
The steers raised at the Riverview farm are entered in country and metropolitan shows throughout the year including the Castle Hill Show and rounding show season out by participating in the Sydney Royal Easter Show Schools’ Competition. Here, the students compete in the cattle category leading before the steers are sent to the abattoir for the subsequent meat grading competition.
“As we compete in both hoof and hook competitions, it is important that our cattle are looking and feeling the best they possibly can when we go to compete,” said Mr Dodds.
“The DDG-S Wheat Pellets for Beef Cattle ensure our cattle are gaining weight at impressive weights from the beginning of feeding whilst also staying fit and healthy.”
“We are deeply appreciative of Manildra Group’s support of our agriculture program here at the school. It is very important to us to maintain these relationships with a company like Manildra that share so many of our core values,” he said.
Mr Dodds said the school had historically been very supportive of these subjects and opportunities with 350 of the 1600 students being boarders from rural and regional areas.
“It’s a truly remarkable component of an inner-city school to have such a hands-on program and I look forward to the ongoing development of the program in the coming years,” Mr Dodds said.
For details on the full range of Manildra Stockfeed products, contact our specialist sales team on 02 4423 8300 or stockfeed@manildra.com.au
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