A team of students from Lecale Trinity Grammar School in Downpatrick, Co. Down, hosted a young farmers animal welfare conference earlier this month, to discuss vital issues in the agriculture sector.

Lecale Trinity Grammar School is taking part in this year's ABP Angus Youth Challenge.

The conference brought together leading figures from the agriculture industry to discuss animal welfare, sustainability, and mental health within the farming community.

The school said the conference provided a platform for meaningful conversations about the future of farming, highlighting the importance of collaboration and education to create a more sustainable and welfare-conscious agri-food industry.

Speakers at the conference included:

Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU) deputy president, Glenn Cuddy on safeguarding animal welfare in Northern Irish farming;
Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs' (DAERA) veterinary officer, Siobhan Kyle on the government policies shaping the welfare landscape;
The sales director at United Feeds, Alan Boyd on the importance of nutrition for animal well-being;
Dr. Debbie McConnell from AI Services on breeding strategies to improve animal welfare;
Lecturer at the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE), Matthew McConville on welfare-focused training for young farmers;
Local farmer and vet, David Turley on practical veterinary care on farms;
Rural Support's Gyles Dawson on mental health support for rural communities;
Head of ABP's supply chain development, Liam McCarthy.

The Lecale Trinity team is made up of Ben O'Connor, Brent Magouran, Lochlann Hegarty, and Christopher Cunningham.

"We are so proud of how the event turned out. We want to sincerely thank all our speakers for sharing their expertise, our teachers for supporting us, and our guests for attending. Their contributions made this event truly impactful," the Lecale Trinity team said.

The ABP Angus Youth Challenge offers Year 11 students aged between 14 and 15 the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in beef production.

The competition invites teams of two to four students representing their school, club, or society, whereby they will rear their own set of calves under the mentorship of CAFRE.