3 Fig. 3.1 shows a plan of a farm with several buildings labelled A to D. (a) Name the farm building labelled A, which has a sloping ramp leading into a nar...

Labelled answer diagram:

(a) Building A, with a sloping ramp leading into a narrow channel, is a dipping tank (cattle dip). [1] Livestock walk down the ramp into the channel containing an acaricide or insecticide solution, which treats them against external parasites such as ticks.

(b) Building B, a tall cylindrical structure, is a silo. [1] A silo is used to store animal feed such as silage (fermented green fodder) or grain in bulk.

(c) Two features of a well-designed livestock building:

1. Adequate ventilation (open sides, mesh walls or gaps between the roof and walls) to allow fresh air in and remove stale, humid air containing ammonia and pathogens. [1]
2. Sufficient floor space for the number of animals housed, preventing overcrowding which causes stress, injury and the rapid spread of disease. [1]

Other acceptable features: a sloping concrete floor for easy cleaning and drainage; a waterproof roof to protect animals from rain; feeding and watering troughs inside the building.

(d) Why the implement shed (Building D) should have good road access:

1. Machinery and equipment need to be moved frequently to different parts of the farm for field operations such as ploughing, planting and harvesting. [1]
2. Good road access allows tractors and implements to reach fields quickly, saving time and fuel costs. [1]

(e) Three reasons why the position of livestock buildings is important:

1. Wind direction: buildings should be placed downwind of the homestead so that odours and flies are carried away from the living area. [1]
2. Water supply: livestock buildings need a reliable water source nearby for drinking, cleaning and waste disposal. [1]
3. Drainage: the site must be well-drained to prevent waterlogging, which creates muddy, unhygienic conditions and encourages disease. [1]

Other acceptable reasons: accessibility for feeding, cleaning and veterinary care; distance from neighbours to reduce noise and odour disturbance.

(f) The feed store should be close to livestock housing to reduce the time and labour needed to transport feed to the animals. [1] Short distances also reduce feed wastage during transport and allow more frequent feeding.

(g) Two ways to maintain farm buildings:

1. Repairing damaged roofing sheets or thatch promptly to prevent water leaking in and causing further structural damage. [1]
2. Repainting or treating timber and metal surfaces with preservative or anti-rust coatings to prevent rot and corrosion. [1]

Other acceptable answers: replacing broken doors, windows or fittings; clearing drainage channels around buildings to prevent flooding; repointing or repairing cracked walls.