WAEC SSCE - Animal Husbandry - 2024 (Essay)

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(a)  Definition of animal improvement:

 It refers to means/techiques of developing/breeding/producing animals of better traits/characters over the existing ones /parents              

OR
It is a means/technique of introduction/selection/breeding of animals with better/outstanding traits/character/genes/allele over the existing ones
                                                                                   
(b)  Explanation of the terms;

Cross breeding;

• It is the mating of proven quality animals from
• different breeds but the same species e.g. Muturu  x White Fulani.
• It leads to production of heterosis/hybrid vigour      

Out breeding;

• It is the mating of unrelated animals of the same breed
• It recovers certain traits that may have been lost due to other breeding methods.
• New traits are introduced in the offspring/young ones

(d)       Completion of the table

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(a)  (i)  Definition of culling as used in cattle production;
Culling is the removal of animals from the flock for specific reasons  
                    
(ii)  Reasons for culling;

• For immediate financial gain
• To avoid the spread of diseases
• To prevent animals with undesirable trait from reproducing
• To remove unproductive animals
• To reduce competition for feed
• To reduce competition for space
• To reduce competition for water

(b)  Major function of ptyalin, renin and pepsin during digestion of feed in rabbit
           
     Ptyalin: It is an amylase/enzyme which converts/digests starch to maltose/dextrin in the mouth
                                   

     Renin: It is an enzyme which helps in the coagulation/curdle of milk protein in the stomach
            OR
    Digestion of casein to casinogen in the stomach                   
            

     Pepsin: It is an enzyme which converts proteins to peptones and or polypeptides in the stomach   

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(a) Organs in Parts of Rabbit:

(i) Head: Tongue, Eye, ear, lips, teeth, nose/nostril, Mouth/oral cavity/buccal cavity, Brain, Skin, Hair, Skull

(ii) Thorax: Lung, Heart, Oesophagus, Trachea, Diaphragm, Thymus.

(iii) Abdomen: -Small intestine - Large intestine -Pancreas -Spleen, Bladder, Uterus, Fallopian tube/oviduct, Ovaries, Kidney, Liver, Stomach, Caecum, Colon

(b) Functions of Organs:

(i) Caecum:

• It aids fermentation of fibre. 
• Absorption of fluid/salt/vitamins.
• Houses microbes which produce cellulase for microbial digestion.
• Site where digestion of forages take place in pseudoruminants.

(ii) Gizzard:

• Contains grit/stones for grinding feed in poultry/aids digestion.
• Stores feed in poultry/aids digestion
• Stores feed temporarily/regulation of feed flow.
• Mixes digestive enzymes with the feed/chemical degradation

(ii) Crop:

• Hunger sensation centre.
• Site for temporary storage of food feed/regulation of feed flow.
• Allows feed to be moistened for digestion/aids digestion.
• Acidification of feed.

(iv) Rumen:

• It facilitates rumination.
• Elimination of gases through eructation.
• Site for fermentation of fibrous feed.
• Houses microbes which facilitates digestion of fibre.
• Production of volatile fatty acids.
• Synthesis of vitamin B complex.
• Receives feed.
• It stores feed temporarily.
• Absorption of volatile fatty acids.
• Site of synthesis of microbial protein.

(v) Lung:

• Helps in intake of oxygen/breathing/respiration.
• Provide surface for gaseous exchange
• Helps in the elimination of carbon dioxide.

(c) Practical Way of Checking Malnutrition in Livestock Production :

• Deworming.
• Giving supplementary feed
• feeding weaker animals separately
• use of fortified feed
• adjusting stocking density
• feeding the animals adlibitum /without restriction
• Provision of quality feed.
• Avoid overfeeding/underfeeding
• Protecting animals from toxic plants.
• Provision of salt lick.
• Use of additives to stimulate feed intake. 
• Provision of good quality water
• Balanced ration/diet

(d) Examples of Non-traditional farm animals. - Silkworm - Horse-Camel - Donkey -Quails -Grasscutter - Rabbit -Honey bees. -Geese Snail - Ducks -Guinea peas Pigeons. 

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Steps involved in the processing of beeswax

• Fill a cooking pot with water
• Heat water over fire
• Add beeswax to the warm water in the pot
• Pour all the molten beeswax into a moulding container
• Allow it to solidify
• Remove/evacuate wax
• Store in a cool dry place

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(a) Equipment used in Incubation of Eggs: (i) Egg tray (ii) incubator (iii) Hatcher (iv) Egg candler (v) Egg grader (vi) Egg crate/egg setter. 
(b) Measures used to control Disease on the Farm: (i) Medication/Drenching (ii) Drug administration (iii) Vaccination/inoculation. 
(iv) Quarantine/isolation (v) Provision of adequate balanced diet. (vi) Provision of fresh clean water. (vii) Provision of well ventilated housing (viii) Restriction of unwanted visitors/animals

(ix) Provision of foot baths/bio-security. (x) Good stocking rate/avoidance of overstocking 
(xi) Good sanitary practices/good hygiene/cleaning (xi i) Dipping delousing pour-on. 
(c) Advantages of Artificial Insemination: (i) Enhances optimal use of semen (ii) Saves the cost of maintaining male animals 
(iii ) Prevents the spread of sexual transmitted diseases ) Easier and cheaper to obtain semen than a live male. 
(v)Allows more female animals to be served in the farm at the same time. 
(vi) It can be used to control inbreeding in the farm. (vii) The semen of a desired sire can be used even alter death. 
(viii) It aids better records keeping (ix) Semen of old/injured sires can be used 
(x) It makes it possible to inseminate female animals of different sizes. 

(d) Methods of Animal Improvement: Introduction: (i) This involves the movement of an animal  with desired characteristics or trails from its origin to another region where it can adapt. 
(ii) imported animals are: usually quarantined (iii) When introduced breeds are mated with local breeds the good qualities of both are obtained. 
(vi) Introduction can be costly in terms of purchase and maintenance. 
(v)Animal may not perform optimally in the new environment. Selection -It is the process of choosing animals with desirable qualities as parents. -Desirable qualities are passed onto the offspring -It maximizes genetic gain/accumulation of good traits. -Selection can be natural or artificial. -Example of artificial selection are mass, progeny, pedigree, family. Breeding/cross breeding/out breeding/inbreeding: 
-It involves the transfer )f heritable characters from parents to offspring through mating. -The parents are carefully chosen -Types of breeding include inbreeding, cross-breeding and out-breeding. The desired qualities are incorporated into succeeding generations. 

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(a) Changes that take place after chopped forage has been compressed and covered in silage preparation: - Oxygen is used up. -Carbon dioxide is increased. -Rise in temperature of ensiled mass. Bacterial ferment carbohydrates to produce lactic acid. -Fruity smell/alcoholic smell/esters produced. -pH is lowered. -Breakdown of fibre due to fermentation. -Gradual compression of ensiling material occurs/reduction in bulkiness. -Colour changes to olive green.

(b) Reasons for carrying out various practices in pasture management: (i) Weeding: - Reduces competition for air, water, nutrients, and space. -For better growth of herbage/good yield. -Get rid of pests. -Get rid of diseases. -Removes poisonous plants/obnoxious weeds. -Minimizes incidence of predators. -Enhances free movement. (ii) Controlled burning: - Kills eggs, and larvae of parasites/kills parasites. -Destroys old herbage/gets rid of old plants/regeneration. -Promotes new growth of pasture grass. -Controls weed. -Controls vermin. -Controls diseases. -Increases mineral content of soil. -Reduces soil acidity. -Controls pests. -Eliminates predators. (iii) Irrigation: - Maintains good growth of herbage. -For good yield/crop productivity. -For all-year-round production of pasture. -Availability of quality pasture. -Reduces dustiness. (iv) Fertilizer application: - For good growth of herbage quality grass and legume. -For high carrying capacity. -For higher yield/higher production. -For increased nutrients of pasture/fertility. -Neutralizes alkalinity. -Organic fertilizers improve soil structure. (v) Liming: - Neutralizes soil acidity/increases soil pH. -Improves soil structure. -Destroys the eggs of liver fluke. -Increases soil nutrients e.g. CaCo3/ fertility.

(c) Functions of phosphorus in animal nutrition: - For bone formation. -For teeth formation. -For eggshell formation. -For acid-base balance. -For the metabolism of fats and carbohydrates. -For milk production. -Precursor for protein synthesis.

(d) Parameters of farm animals when the temperature is low.