State of Origin – not a competition for chickens, or is it?

Who would have thought that animal nutrition studies would lead to an intense interstate rivalry?

Students from the School of Animal Studies at the University of Queensland’s (UQ) Gatton Campus are set to defend state pride this month with winners of the first annual "State of Origin Chicken Challenge" being announced on October 24 at a ceremony to be held at the campus.

The competition, between the students at UQ Gatton and the University of New England (UNE) at Armidale, is putting the students’ animal nutrition knowledge to the test. According to Team Queensland captain, Dr Gordon Dryden, the students have to devise a range of feeding rations designed to maximise the growth and efficiency of food use of broiler chickens.

“According to the rules of the competition, the students at each University have to feed a total of seven chicken diets, including three designed by the UNE team, one commercial diet and three diets designed by the UQ students,” he said.

“The winners of the competition will be awarded based on overall weight gain and efficiency of food use, with the chickens being weighed today.”

The "State of Origin Chicken Challenge" has become part of the Animal Nutrition course at the UQ Gatton Campus and the students have keenly followed the progress of their feathered friends, incorporating learning about this very important topic with a small amount of friendly interstate rivalry.

“The chicken industry in Australia is worth over a billion dollars a year to the Australian economy," Dr Dryden said.

"These Gatton students are working on developing their understanding of one of the basic principles governing the industry, standing them in good stead to be future industry participants and leaders.

Students from UNE will travel to the Gatton Campus on October 23 to meet the UQ team and the students will present their results at a seminar on October 24 which will be supported by animal nutrition experts based at both UNE and UQ. The all important announcement of the overall winners of the competition will be made at the seminar.

“This will prove one tough competition to crack,” Dr Dryden said.

Media inquiries: Susanne Schick - UQ Gatton Campus (5460 1229, 0409 265 587).

Further information/comment: Contact Dr Gordon Dryden (5460 1255).