Our names are Ellen Miller, Aideen Conroy, Tammy Wright and Anna Hennessy and we are students in Scoil Chríost Rí we are taking part in The Certified Irish Angus Beef Schools Competition.
It is run by the Irish Angus Producer Group, along with its processor partners, ABP Ireland and Kepak Group, the competition aims to encourage second-level students to gain an understanding about the care and attention that is required to produce and market the highest quality beef for consumers.
We were selected as one of the 30 shortlisted groups which were invited to attend an event in Croke Park to showcase our entry today.
Out of these 30 groups, five group finalists will each receive five Angus calves to rear and each group will receive the financial benefit following their slaughter.
We firstly submitted a three-minute video explaining the role of Agricultural science in our school and our plans for promotion. Then as a result of our video we moved onto the next stage which was when we travelled to Mullingar to an interview. And now we are on our way to Croke Park. As part of the competition we are promoting Certified Irish Angus Beef.
So why choose Angus?
The Angus breed is known for ease of calving. Angus is particularly suitable for farmers whose main objective is to secure a cow per calf each year.
Angus cattle are recognised for their hardiness and ability to thrive under less favoured grazing conditions. The breed is well suited to extremes of weather and can be out-wintered very satisfactorily.
For temperament you will not find a more placid and easier to rear bread. Dairy farmers find the Angus very suited to bucket feeding. Angus cows have excellent milking ability, which added to their ease of calving and high fertility rates makes them ideal suckler animals. Angus cattle are naturally polled and this is passed into future generations even when crossbred.
Irish Angus Beef is marbled meat which means the fat is dispersed evenly against the actual cut of meat. This marbling trait of Angus cattle typically creates tenderer, juicier and flavoured meat than other breeds.
All Certified Irish Angus Beef comes from Board Bia quality assured farms.
We have enjoyed the whole experience and are hoping for the best in Croke Park.
SEE ALSO – Three Laois basketball players selected in Irish U-16 squad
