WAEC SSCE - Animal Husbandry - 2017 (Practical)

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(a)(i) Two uses of each of specimen P (Wood shavings) and R (Spade) on an animal farm

Specimen P (Wood shavings):

• Used as litter (bedding) material on the deep-litter floor to absorb moisture and droppings.
• Provides warmth and insulation for young stock such as chicks.

Specimen R (Spade):

• Used for digging and turning the soil, and for making drainage channels.
• Used for removing manure, spent litter and refuse from pens.

(ii) Three uses of specimen Q (Egg tray)

• Holding and storing eggs safely to prevent breakage.
• Transporting eggs from the farm to the market.
• Grading, sorting and setting eggs before incubation.

(b) Three other tools that could be used in a poultry farm

• Feeder (feeding trough).
• Drinker (waterer).
• Debeaker (for debeaking birds).

(Others: incubator, egg candler, brooder lamp.)

(c) Two precautions when using specimen P (Wood shavings)

• Keep the shavings dry and turn them regularly to prevent dampness, caking and the growth of mould.
• Use only clean shavings that are free from dust, chemicals or wood preservatives which could be toxic to the birds.

(d) Three ways of maintaining specimen R (Spade)

• Wash off soil and dry the blade after each use to prevent rusting.
• Smear the metal parts with oil or grease and sharpen the cutting edge.
• Store in a dry shed, and tighten or replace a loose handle.

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(a)(i) Two harmful effects of each specimen in livestock production

Specimen J (soldier ants):

• They bite and sting the animals, causing discomfort, irritation and restlessness, and can kill young or weak stock.
• They consume and reduce the quality of stored feed.

Specimen K (weaver bird):

• They consume feed and feedstuff meant for the animals.
• They contaminate feed and water with their droppings and act as vectors of diseases.

Specimen L (weevil):

• They consume and destroy stored feed and feedstuffs.
• They reduce the nutrient content and viability of the feed and cause contamination.

(a)(ii) Two ways of controlling each specimen

Soldier ants (J):

• Apply insecticides, hot water or kerosene along their trails.
• Destroy their ant hills/colonies and maintain a high level of hygiene.

Weaver bird (K):

• Use scarecrows and noise-making to frighten them off.
• Trap, hunt or shoot them, and use approved avicides.

Weevil (L):

• Dry the feed and store it properly, and treat with insecticides.
• Apply heat by roasting or boiling and use repellents such as dried pepper.

(b) Three other storage pests in farm animal production

• Rats/rodents.
• Cockroaches.
• Beetles (also termites and mould/fungi).

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(a) Botanical names

(b) Forage type

(c) Four ways in which specimen C (Pueraria phaseoloides) is important in livestock production

• It fixes nitrogen into the soil, improving fertility for other forage.
• It is used as feed material, providing protein and other nutrients.
• It can be conserved as hay or silage for the dry season.
• It serves as a cover crop that checks erosion and leaching (and can be used as green manure).

(d) Type of farm animal mostly fed with specimen F (hay)

Ruminants such as cattle, sheep, goats and camels.

(e) Process of preparing specimen F (hay)

• Cut the forage before flowering, at early maturity.
• Chop the forage material into shorter pieces.
• Spread it out and turn it regularly.
• Dry it to reduce the moisture content while maintaining its green colour.
• Bale/pack it and stack/store it in a dry place.

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(a)(i) How specimen V (Livestock bone) could be processed into bone meal

1. Collect the bones and clean off flesh, then boil or steam them to remove remaining meat, fat and marrow.
2. Sun-dry (or oven-dry) the softened bones thoroughly.
3. Grind or mill the dried bones into a fine powder.
4. Sieve the powder to obtain uniform, fine bone meal and bag it for storage.

(ii) Two nutrients supplied by bone meal in animal feed

• Calcium.
• Phosphorus.

(b) Two farm animals from which each specimen could be obtained

Specimen W (Poultry crop): fowl (chicken) and turkey (or duck) - it is found in birds.

Specimen X (Rumen): cattle and sheep (or goat) - it is found in ruminants.

(c) Two functions of each specimen in farm animals

Specimen W (Crop):

• Temporary storage of swallowed food.
• Softening and moistening of food before it passes to the proventriculus and gizzard.

Specimen X (Rumen):

• Serves as the site for microbial fermentation and digestion of cellulose (roughage).
• Stores ingested food and allows synthesis of microbial protein and B-vitamins.