The Sydney Royal School Commercial Pig Competition is a three month educational program that provides students with hands on experience in the care, management and husbandry of commercial pigs. Open to NSW schools with suitable facilities to house and manage pigs, participating schools work with a team of three pigs, developing practical skills in animal welfare, nutrition, biosecurity and livestock management while gaining an understanding of the Australian pork industry and the wider primary industries sector. Through the program, students explore the connections between animal production, food production, agricultural science, sustainability and agribusiness before showcasing their achievements at the Sydney Royal Easter Show. For schools without existing pigs, the RAS can assist in sourcing animals for the competition, making participation accessible to a broader range of students and schools.
The competition is conducted as a school based livestock production project prior to the Sydney Royal Easter Show. Participating schools work with a team of three pigs under their direct daily care and management, collecting production data and applying industry best practice principles in animal husbandry, welfare and biosecurity. Students then exhibit their pigs and present their learning outcomes as part of the Sydney Royal Easter Show.
