WA College of Agriculture - Harvey becomes the first school to win the Harvey Beef Gate 2 Plate Challenge

The State’s biggest feedlotting challenge has been won by a team of students for the first time in the competition’s eight-year history, with the “crown and glory” win sending spirits soaring at the WA College of Agriculture — Harvey. The team of two steers and one heifer — all Angus cross Charolais — were bred at the college and claimed the top spot in the prestigious Harvey Beef Gate 2 Plate Challenge, thanks to the efforts of staff and students. First held in 2015, the challenge aims to reflect the situation of cattle entering a grainfed, MSA-graded domestic supply chain and to reward animals that meet carcass quality requirements and are profitable along the way. The rules were simple — each of the 54 teams entered three steers and heifers, near nine months of age, which were fed the same diet for about three months at a feedlot at Willyung Farms near Albany. Heifers were put on feed for 76 days and steers for 83 days, with cattle processed and graded at Harvey Beef. Each animal was scored individually, with 50 points for feedlot performance, 50 points for processing and 25 points for Meat Standards Australia grading. The WA College of Agriculture — Harvey scored top spot, with 234.675 points. More than 170 participants, sponsors and industry representatives gathered at Retravision Stadium on June 10 for the awards, which saw a total 21 accolades presented. WA College of Agriculture — Harvey principal Stephen Watt said it was a huge achievement for the school to become the first to win the prestigious cattle competition, traditionally won by commercial cattle producers. “This win is the crowning glory after several years of close management by our beef section, to bring us a historical title as the first agricultural school to take out the overall victory,” he said. “It was very pleasing to have industry providing this opportunity to showcase what we can accomplish . . . especially given our main focus is about training students. “It is lovely that we have the Forrest family (owners of Harvest Road and Harvey Beef), who are big players in agriculture around the Harvey area, the South West and more broadly throughout WA, able to support the competition.” Mr Watt said it was ironic that the cattle “had a holiday in Albany”, won the challenge, and were then trucked full circle back to Harvey for processing at the local Harvey Beef abattoir. “The college’s success was a testament of the hard work of our staff and students and the great genetics and husbandry practises that are in place,” he said. “When our cattle were given the nod, it was very exciting and I was pleased for all those who had a hand in our beef enterprise in the last few years, especially staff member Ian Millichamp and recent staff member Chris Dunlop.” Mr Millichamp said to train, teach and inspire students, the college’s beef enterprise needed to be as profitable and successful as possible while also being comparable to industry peers. “I hope this award validates this direction and encourages more young people to enter the industry,” he said. Mr Watt said the school’s beef enterprise had come along in “leaps and bounds”, particularly under Mr Millichamp’s expert eyes. “We are also very grateful for the support and advice from members of the college’s Agricultural Advisory Committee including Rodney Galati and Ken MacLeay,” Mr Watt said. “They have made sure our beef enterprise runs to as close to industry level and standard as possible to provide an industry standard learning environment for our students.” Mr Watt said the college staff were unable to attend the award presentations but were very pleased to have Rodney there to represent the College. “It was quite appropriate that he was the one that collected our prize given his support and guidance contributed to the win,” he said. “One of the good things about this award is that it illustrates that we are operating at industry best practice which means our students are being trained in a real life learning environment and being prepared when they leave us.” Mr Watt said Year 12 student Lewis Hordienko was a good example of a young person who had cultivated an interest and flair in beef cattle and was now working one day a week in industry, and employed by Elders at their monthly cattle sales. “He is an example of the college bridging the gap between the school setting and industry to get young people into real life learning opportunities,” he said. The college has 168 students enrolled, spread across years 10, 11 and 12, and all students are rostered through the beef cattle section. “Some students are particularly passionate about the beef industry, but all of the school’s students have involvement in beef and should feel pride in the college and our beef success,” Mr Watt said. “Our Challenge’s $5000 prize money could be spent several times over,” he said. “We are in need of a new crush and the prize money will go some way to assist.” “We are already investing in tools to assist in objective measurement and the electronic collection and recording of data, technologies which have assisted in the improvement of the cattle herd and ultimately the success in this competition.”