(a) What is Colotrum? (b) Draw and label the transverse section of an egg. (c) Complete this table on Law of Diminishing Returns (i) — (ii) 3kg (ii) 11kg (i...

Answer Details

(a) Colostrum

Colostrum is the first milk secreted from the udder of a dam (mother mammal) within the first few days (about five days) after parturition (birth). Its main features are:

• It is thick and yellowish in colour.
• It is rich in antibodies (immunoglobulins), which give the newborn passive immunity against disease.
• It is rich in nutrients, protein, vitamins and minerals.
• It has a laxative effect that helps clear the newborn's gut of the first faeces (meconium).

(b) Transverse section of an egg

The labelled diagram of the section of a hen's (chicken) egg is shown below.

The parts labelled, from the outside inwards, are: the shell, the shell membranes (outer and inner), the air cell (air space) at the broad end, the thin albumen, the thick albumen, the chalaza (twisted cords that hold the yolk in position), the vitelline membrane surrounding the yolk, the yolk, and the germinal disc (blastoderm) on the surface of the yolk.

(c) Completing the table on the Law of Diminishing Returns

Marginal product (MP) is the extra output obtained from each additional unit of the variable input:

Applying this relationship to the figures supplied in the question, the completed table is:

Working for each missing entry:

• (i) Unit 1 has no preceding unit, so its marginal product cannot be computed → – (dash).
• (ii) Total product at unit 1 = 3 kg (the base output).
• (iii) \( TP_2 = TP_1 + MP_2 = 3 + 8 = \mathbf{11\text{ kg}} \).
• (iv) \( TP_3 = TP_2 + MP_3 = 11 + 17 = \mathbf{28\text{ kg}} \).
• (v) \( TP_4 = TP_3 + MP_4 = 28 + 12 = \mathbf{40\text{ kg}} \).
• (vi) \( MP_2 = TP_2 - TP_1 = 11 - 3 = \mathbf{8\text{ kg}} \).
• (vii) \( MP_5 = TP_5 - TP_4 = 41 - 40 = \mathbf{1\text{ kg}} \).
• (viii) \( MP_6 = TP_6 - TP_5 = 41 - 41 = \mathbf{0\text{ kg}} \).

Check (running the TP column back through \( TP_n = TP_{n-1}+MP_n \)): \(3+8=11\;\checkmark\), \(11+17=28\;\checkmark\), \(28+12=40\;\checkmark\), \(40+1=41\;\checkmark\), \(41+0=41\;\checkmark\).

Interpretation (Law of Diminishing Returns): the marginal product rises to a maximum of 17 kg at the 3rd unit and then falls (12 → 1 → 0). Diminishing returns therefore set in after the 3rd unit of the variable input. Total product reaches its maximum of 41 kg at units 5 and 6, where marginal product has fallen to 0 kg.