National Poultry Education Competition zAn - Poultry Hub

National Poultry Education Competition zAnQueensland and New South Wales sectionsTanya NagleDepartment of Agriculture, Fisherles and ForestryRedlands Research Facility26 - 40 Delancey StCleveland, QLD 4163

Thank you to our sponsors who make this project possible:* Alltech Biotechnologyt AgForce Queenslandi. Australian Chicken Meat Federation{. Australian Egg Corporation Ltdi. Australian Poultry CRCi. Baiada Poultry/Steggles{. Bond Enterprisest!. Dept of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Qld* Golden Cockerel{. Inghams Enterprises{. PD( (Poultry Information Exchange)* Queensland Chicken Growers Association* Queensland Egg Fainners Associationt Safefood Queenslanda SunnyQueen{. World's Poultry Science Association, Qld.* World's Poultry Science Association, Aust.Participating Schools 2012:QueenslandNew South Wales& Beaudesert State High..!. Alstonville High* Beenleigh State High {. Armidale High€. Biloela State High .i. Bundarra Central€. Caboolture State High €. Condobolin High* Chinchilla State High .!. Elderslie Higha CHfton State High{. Gosford HighA Corinda State High a Kincumber High* Dakabin State High i. Lansdowne Publict Dalby State High.3. Mawarra Public{. Downlands College {. Morisset High* Faith Lutheran College {. Nemingha Public{. Ferny Grove State High * Oakhill College* Gordonvale State High * St John's College{. Ipswich Grammar t Tuggerah Lakes{. Isis District High.i. Kilcoy State High{. Lockyer District High{. Mackay Christian College{. Mackay State High{. Nambour State High* Proston StateA Sarina State Hight. St George State High

BackgroundThe concept for the School's Poultry Education Competition grew from a desire ofthe Queensland sub-branch of the World's Poultry Science Association to implementan educational activity that would counteract negative and inaccurate mediainformation regarding poultry industry practices. Increasing links between industryand the school sector is also aimed to create interest, identifu opportunities andprovide access to industry careers. The competition was first introduced toagricultural students in Queensland in 2000 when 11 of the targeted 38 schoolsparticipated. It was introduced to South Australia in 2008, with expansion into NewSouth Wales, Victoria and Westem Australiain2012. As the competition has grownit now includes non-agricultural schools and judor, middle and senior categories.The competition is organised by the Queensland and South Australian Branches of theWPSA, with sponsorship from industry organisations and companies - both egg andchicken meat. In Queensland, the project is carried out in collaboration withQueensland Departrnent of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.Incorrect perceptions impact on the industry through loss of consumer support i.e. saleof product, and through low interest in industry careers. To counteract this, studentsand teachers are provided with accurate and balanced information on the poultryindustry and issues, aiming to strengthen consumer confidence in poultry productsand practices, especially as these days there are fewer links between urban'and rural.The project also promotes the poultry industry's wide range of careers, to help meetthe need for science and agriculture students and stimulate students' potentialinvolvement in the industry.The competition involves an experiment about poultry that is completed during theschool year. Students develop and undertake a simple research trial, do a literaturereview, write a report and produce a poster.Birds are supplied for the trial through the competition co-ordinator. A resource pack,which includes timelines, guidelines for report and poster preparation, informationsources and ideas for a trial, is provided.Each school submits their top two reports and posters which are judged by induskyrepresentatives. Schools are invited to attend and display their posters at an awardsand careers day where prizes are presented and students hear short interactive talksfrom industry representatives. An industry sponsored lunch is also provided. Statewinners compete for a national pize.Activities carried out 2012Queensland and New South Wales Competition 2012ln 2012,24 Qld Schools and 14 NSW schools participated in the WPSA SchoolsPoultry Education Competition. This year there were schools from a wider range ofyears meaning that each state had entries in each of the categories (Junior, Middle and

Senior). The reports and posters were very impressive with a range of topicsresearched. Six schools attended the Awards and Careers Day, along wittr t: industryorganisation/company representatives, a local MP, and AgForce Sihool to IndustyLiaison Officer.This year there were two interactive demonstrations for the students. Connie Bridger(SunnyQueen) held an egg quality presentation and Kelly McTavish (Inghams)showed the students through a post mortem scenario (figure 1 and,2).Figure 1: Egg quality demonstration.Figure 2: Post mortem scenario.Industry representatives then spoke abbut the chicken meat and egg food chain, therange of career roles in both, pathways into the industry *d u cRC lntem(veterinarian) Jodi Hopper told of her pathway into the industry, followed by thepresentations of the awards (figures 3 and 4). The winning schoois that were presenton the day also gave a five minute snapshot of their project (figure 5). rrre aaywrapped up with the industry sponsored chicken products barbeque-.4

Figure 3: industry representative career pathway presentation.Figure 4: Industry representatives and speakersHopper, Jodie Redclffi, l,Iingun Choct, AdamJohnston).(from left Santiago Ramirez, JodiNaylor, Julie Roberts and PeterFigure 5: Katherine Barnes - l" Senior Category Qld.

The2012 winners were:Queenslando Ferny Grove State High: I't Senior Category (Grades 11 and 12) -of dietary protein on broiler and layer birds (figure 6).The effectsFigure 6: l" Qld Senior Category -Ferny Grove State High School.o Ipswich Grammar School: 2nd Senior Category -Do layer hens produce moreeggs on mixed grain than layer pellets? After the layers starting eating theireggs, the kial evolved into a design experiment for nest boxes. The nest boxdesign that the class came up with is now being produced by the school'sDesign and Technology class for use in the coming years (figure 7).Figure 7: 2"d Qld Senior Category -Ipswich Grammar Schoolo Caboolture State High: 1't Middle Category (Grades 9 and 10) -The effects ofegg freshness - natural cuticle, washed, and washed and oiled (figure 8).

Figure 8: I't Qld Middle Category -Caboolture State High School.o Gordonvale State High School: 2nd Middle Category -daylight on the growth of chickens (figure 9).The effect of inueasedFigure 9: 2"d Qld Middle Category -Gordonvale State High School.o Kilcoy State High School: 3'd Middle Category -light (figure 10).Red, white and all thingso Proston State School P - 10: 1't Junior Category -marketing.Egg production ando Best poster went to Caboolture State High School and Ipswich GrammarSchool received an award for best innovation in a trial.

Figure l0: i'd Qld Middle Category - Kilcoy State High School.NSWr -Morisset High: I't Senior Category - Scramtled eggs -today? (figure 1l)what colour do I preferFigure I l: I't NSW Senior Category -Morisset High.o Kincumber High School: I't Middle Category -Detemrining the effect ofenvironment on Australory egg size and production (figure 12).o Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College - Berkeley Vale Campus: 2od MiddleCategory - A comparison of the growth rates of layer chicks on 3 differentfeedtypes (figure 13).o St Johns's College, Lismore: 3'd Middle Category -colour (figure 14).Eftect of pasture on yolk

Figure l2: I't NSW Middle Category * Kincumber High School.Figure 13: 2d NSW Middle Categary * Tuggerah Lslws Secondary College.Figure l4: i'd NSW Middte Category -St John's College, Lismore.

Mawarra Public School: I't Junior Category * Comparison of growing pr*lletson commercial grower feed and choice feeding (figure 15).Figure l5: le NSW Juntor Category -Mowarra Public School.o Bundara Central State School: 2od Junior Category -crumbles: do you getwhet youpay for (figure 16)?Chicken startero Nemingha Public School: 3'd Junior Category -and eggs (figue 16).The way food affects chickensFigure t6: 2d NSW Junior category -Bundana central state school and 3'd NSWJunior Category - Nemingha Publie School.10

For the 2012 school project year comments received from teachers include:. T have enjoyed the competitions and so have the students.Bundarra is a very smal1 central schoo-I and the sLudents arebeaming with pride (most do not even get a rank in NAPLANtests) so the academic standard is low and to get a place isbeyond thelr expectations. Without this competition, they wouldhave nothing academic in their CV.. I am looking forward to hearing how our reports go and I thank yourselves and theWPSA for your support in offering this competition. We look forward to participatingagain in the new year.o I told the team today and there very excited. lt's great news for me as well and Ireally appreciate the opportunity you and the WPSA have provided.a We rea11y enjoyed the project and can't walt to be invotvedagai-n next year.. Oh my hatlll Thanks so much Tanya and the rest of the crew! Ihave only just checked my emai-Is - had an excursion on today!These two are going to be besldes themselves with excitementwhen they find out ! Thanks for everything and the opportunityto get 1n and have a go ! Next year - we w1ll- be much betterorganised IImprovements made to the 2012 Awards and Careers Day were:o an interactive egg quatlty demonstration for the students provided by ConnieBridger from SunnyQueen. a post mortem of a broiler chicken for the students by Kelly McTavish fromInghamso senior, middle and junior categories judged separatelyo introduction of all industry representatives prior to morning tea to allow forstudent interaction.I approached Kerry Pearce (Broiler Competition) and David Gaggin (LayerCompetition) from the Sydney Royal Easter Show poultry competitions. This was anopportunity to capture more schools closer to Sydney as schools could enter both theShow and this competition and this should increase the number of NSW entries infuture years. David Gaggin is very interested and I have recently contacted him againin regards to cross promotion of our projects to schools.I established a link with Landleam NSW Schools Education Coordinator, CarolynSmith, for the opportunity for increased promotion of the project to schools in NSW.The competition was promoted in a newsletter sent from Carolyn to her mailing listwhich included schools in NSW. Unfortunately there is a restructure happening inNSW and this position is under review.11