Wether on-hoof goats led by school exhibitors

Urrbrae Agricultural High School took out the grand championship with their heavy weight wether on-hoof, Apollo, while the champion light weight wether on-hoof was Bordertown High School Top Deck.

Judge John Falkenhagen, West Meningie, said the grand champion was "really square and really muscly".

"He's not carrying too much fat so he's really ideal for the domestic market," he said.

"The schools have done an exceptional job on getting him to that correct weight.

"The lightweight guy for his age and his weight was exceptionally correct and again, not carrying too much fat, so that's what we're after.

"As a second year judge here, I am proud to be here."

He said the competition was about the schools and getting students involved.

"It is so exciting and it is a credit to everybody that has put it on," he said.

Urrbrae Agricultural High School ag teacher Ellie Duffy said the grand champion goat was a school bred exhibit.

"It's dam is one of our does from Urrbrae and its buck from that lot came from Balmarden," she said.

Urrbrae Agricultural High School ag teacher Kirsty Hart said the students had been been feeding the goats a diet of oats and lupins.

"We are aiming for them to consume about 3 per cent of their body weight as they've grown, and they've been in our feedlot for the last eight weeks," she said.

"And then a bit of Lucerne hay to top up the protein and oaten hay for roughage.

Ms Hart said the school ran goat club three times a week and most of the students who were present in the show team had been coming out twice a week.

"They do that from about week two in term one," she said.

"We weigh them regularly with the club and then we look at composition, growth rates and see who stacks up.

"Daniel was the handler of the champion and he stood it up perfectly."

The champion light-weight goat was from GCL Livestock, Breakaway Creek, Vic, and was exhibited by Bordertown High School.

Bordertown ag teacher Kate McCarthy said the goats were December-drop and arrived to the school in March.

She said CGL principal Geordie Elliott selected some wethers for them, which they then feed on pellets.

"The kids work with them twice a week and it is open to anyone in the school," she said.

"This year we put them out in the paddock as last year we had some very heavy goats.

"It's just regular handling and getting to know the goat then you can then you notice if it's eating or not and weighing."

She said the students weigh the goats once a week and build up their handling skills and their confidence.

"Really it's a team effort, they all handle all the goats across the year at lunchtimes," she said.

"Our show team works just seamless because they've all worked together."