I see that five groups of transition year students from schools all around the country have been selected to receive Angus calves. Each group will be given five six-month-old Angus-cross calves at the National Ploughing Championships to rear and sell through to slaughter as two-year-olds in either Kepak or ABP meat plants.

It will coincide with project submission for agricultural science studies for the Leaving Certificate of that given year. After submitting their final reports, one of the five schools will become overall winner and receive a further prize of €2,000.

The finalists are: CBS, The Green, Tralee, Co Kerry; St Brogan’s College, Bandon, Co Cork; Coláiste Treasa, Kanturk, Co Cork; Athlone Community College, Co Westmeath; Rice College, Castlebar, Co Mayo.