AGRICULTURE AT DOWNLANDS

AGRICULTURE PROGRAM

Downlands lies at the gateway to the Darling Downs and was founded with a special commitment to country families and those facing the challenges of remoteness and distance. The Downlands Agricultural curriculum sets high standards, continually challenging and inspiring agricultural students both in the pursuit of Agricultural Science and the Vocational Educational program.


Agricultural Science is an integral part of the Science curriculum. A very hands-on subject, it provides opportunities for students of all ages to participate in a variety of projects at the 14-hectare on-site farm (College Rural Centre).

 

Senior students may choose to obtain a Certificate II in Rural Operations or undertake Agricultural Science subjects to contribute to an ATAR score.


Downlands is a proud partner and a Gateway School to Agribusiness which aims to help young people make a successful transition from school into further education and/or employment. The project encourages partnerships between schools, training (VET), universities and industry to provide career opportunities for young people.


The program provides opportunities for students and school communities to engage in a diverse range of careers across businesses based on primary industries. Students are able to gain valuable experience in the industry while still at school, providing them with the tools and knowledge to make informed decisions about training and employment upon leaving school, by raising the profile of careers in the Agribusiness sector.

The Downlands Rural Centre is a fully functioning farm located on our 38 hectare College campus.  There are opportunities for students of all ages to participate in a variety of projects at this flourishing College Rural Centre, including:

  • Fencing
  • Cattle handling and show preparation
  • Beef, sheep and chicken feed trials
  • Beekeeping and honey extraction
  • Low input vegetables
  • Crop production
  • Rotation and pasture management
  • Egg production
  • Citrus and olive orchard management
  • Aquaculture

The Downlands College Cattle Show Team students participate in Judging, Paraders and Herdsman competitions and have enjoyed consistent success at national and international levels. While the Downlands College Cattle Show team is a co-curricular activity offered to students from Years 7 to 12, interested students in Years 5 and 6 are provided with a more tailored introduction to the Cattle Show Team at the Junior Handler's Camp.


Downlands College students prepare stud cattle across a range of breeds, along with an extensive commercial feeding and showing program to exhibit in carcase competitions. Furthermore, Downlands operates a small commercial herd to breed its own animals for hook and hoof competitions.


Students are involved in integrated beef production from choosing sires, artificial insemination, calving, animal husbandry (vaccinations, drenching, marking and weaning), monitoring growth rates and determining feed efficiencies, recognising market viability indicators and making decisions on which beasts are suitable for breeding or market. Students follow cattle from conception through to calving, to the show ring then to the carcass competition and are able to observe, first hand, the results of breeding and feeding programs.