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ZIMSEC O Level · 4001/2 · N2018

Agriculture Paper 2 November 2018

Questions
72
Total marks
180
Syllabus code
4001/2

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Questions
72
Pass mark
44
Sit this paper

Answer every question in the printed order, get marked at the end, then see the answers.

The questions

Question 101

[3 marks]Agro-ecological regions, deforestation and rainfall
Natural Region I of Zimbabwe lies in the eastern highlands and receives more than 1 000 mm of rainfall a year, with low temperatures and frequent mist. Which set of enterprises suits it best?
  1. ACotton, irrigated wheat and dryland groundnuts for export
  2. BExtensive beef ranching on veld with a little drought sorghum
  3. CIrrigated sugar cane, citrus estates and winter wheat blocks
  4. DTea, coffee, macadamia nuts and plantation forestry

Question 102

[2 marks]Agro-ecological regions, deforestation and rainfall
A farmer in Natural Region V is advised not to grow a dryland maize crop. The main reason is that Region V
  1. Areceives rain that is low, erratic and unreliable for a rain grown crop
  2. Bhas soils that are far too heavy for a plough to work in the dry season
  3. Cis too cold at night for a maize crop to set grain before the frost
  4. Dhas land held under state title that may not be cropped at all

Question 103

[2 marks]Agro-ecological regions, deforestation and rainfall
Why does the clearing of trees from a catchment worry the farmers living downstream?
  1. AFirewood becomes cheap, so farmers stop planting woodlots of their own
  2. BBare ground sheds rain quickly, so soil is washed away and streams silt up
  3. CTrees left standing draw water away from the field crops planted next to them
  4. DThe remaining stumps make ploughing difficult on the cleared land itself

Question 104

[2 marks]Agro-ecological regions, deforestation and rainfall
Two farms each received 800 mm of rain in a season. Which statement uses the terms rainfall distribution and rainfall intensity correctly?
  1. ADistribution is the total rain a place gets in a year, intensity is the number of rain days in that year
  2. BDistribution is the depth of rain caught in a gauge, intensity is the height of the gauge above ground
  3. CDistribution is how the rain is spread through the season, intensity is how hard it falls in a given time
  4. DDistribution is how hard the rain falls during a storm, intensity is how the rain is spread over the season

Question 201

[2 marks]Soil profile, soil particle sizes and soil water
The diagram shows a soil profile. X labels the uppermost layer and Y labels the lowest layer of the profile. Which pair names them correctly?
  1. AX is the topsoil and Y is the subsoil
  2. BX is the topsoil and Y is the bedrock
  3. CX is the bedrock and Y is the topsoil
  4. DX is the subsoil and Y is the parent rock

Question 202

[2 marks]Soil profile, soil particle sizes and soil water
The topsoil of a cultivated field is left bare between two crops. Which pair of environmental agents does most damage to that layer?
  1. AFrost and dew, which wet the surface soil and cool it each night
  2. BEarthworms and termites, which mix the surface soil as they feed
  3. CSunlight and shade, which change the colour of the surface soil
  4. DRunning water and wind, which strip the loose surface soil away

Question 203

[2 marks]Soil profile, soil particle sizes and soil water
In the international soil classification, particles between 2 mm and 0,2 mm and particles between 0,02 mm and 0,002 mm are named respectively
  1. Afine sand and clay
  2. Bgravel and fine sand
  3. Csilt and coarse sand
  4. Dcoarse sand and silt

Question 204

[3 marks]Soil profile, soil particle sizes and soil water
Which set names the three forms in which water is held in a soil?
  1. AFree water, saturated water and the water inside plant roots
  2. BGravitational water, capillary water and hygroscopic water
  3. CRain water, borehole water and river water held in the soil
  4. DSurface water, ground water and the water vapour in the air

Question 205

[1 marks]Soil profile, soil particle sizes and soil water
A soil is soaked by heavy rain and then left for two days until the water in the large pores has drained away. The moisture it still holds is at its ...

Answer this when you sit the paper.

Question 301

[2 marks]Soil temperature, soil sampling and land degradation
A grower on a sandy soil finds the surface too hot for young seedlings at midday. Which practice will most directly moderate that soil temperature?
  1. ARemoving the weeds and crop residues to leave the surface clean
  2. BApplying a top dressing of ammonium nitrate along the crop rows
  3. CSpreading a layer of grass mulch over the soil between the rows
  4. DPloughing the land a second time to break the surface into dust

Question 302

[2 marks]Soil temperature, soil sampling and land degradation
A farmer is taking a soil sample from a ten hectare field of uniform soil. How should the sampling points be chosen?
  1. ATake all the sub samples from under the biggest tree in the field
  2. BTake several sub samples along a zig zag path across the whole field
  3. CTake one large sample from the corner nearest the farm road for ease
  4. DTake all the sub samples from the part of the field that crops worst

Question 303

[2 marks]Soil temperature, soil sampling and land degradation
After the sub samples have been collected in a clean bucket, the next steps before the sample is sent to the laboratory are to
  1. Apick out the largest lumps and send only the fine soil that is left
  2. Bmix them well, quarter the heap and keep about half a kilogram
  3. Cdry them in the sun for a week and then burn off the plant material
  4. Dadd a little fertiliser so the laboratory can test how the soil reacts

Question 304

[2 marks]Soil temperature, soil sampling and land degradation
Which set of practices in a communal farming area leads most directly to land degradation?
  1. ADigging contour ridges, planting a windbreak and mulching the whole seedbed
  2. BOvergrazing the veld, stream bank cultivation and cutting trees for sale
  3. CRotating crops, ploughing along the contour and spreading kraal manure
  4. DFencing paddocks, resting the veld in turn and planting a grass ley

Question 305

[2 marks]Soil temperature, soil sampling and land degradation
A farmer keeps more cattle on a paddock than its grass can support. The grass is eaten faster than it can regrow, the ground is left bare and the soil begins to wash away. Name the practice responsible.

Answer this when you sit the paper.

Question 401

[2 marks]Reproductive system of a cow, animal nutrients and feed intake
The diagram shows the reproductive system of a cow. During natural mating semen is deposited in one part, and the ovum is fertilised in another. Which pair is correct?
  1. ASemen in the ovary, fertilisation in the uterus body
  2. BSemen in the udder, fertilisation in the cervix canal
  3. CSemen in the vagina, fertilisation in the oviduct
  4. DSemen in the oviduct, fertilisation in the vagina

Question 402

[2 marks]Reproductive system of a cow, animal nutrients and feed intake
Which statement about the nutrients in a farm animal's ration is correct?
  1. AProteins are stored in the liver and released as heat during cold weather
  2. BCalcium is broken down in the rumen to supply the animal with its energy
  3. CCarbohydrates build the muscle tissue that a growing animal lays down
  4. DCarbohydrates are the animal's main source of energy for work and heat

Question 403

[1 marks]Reproductive system of a cow, animal nutrients and feed intake
A laying hen begins producing eggs with thin, easily broken shells. Which mineral is most likely short in her ration?

Answer this when you sit the paper.

Question 404

[3 marks]Reproductive system of a cow, animal nutrients and feed intake
Which set of factors most affects how much feed a farm animal will eat in a day?
  1. AThe colour of the feed trough, the name of the breed and the age of the farmer
  2. BThe distance to the nearest market, the price of the feed and the season of sale
  3. CThe height of the fence, the number of animals sold and the size of the paddock
  4. DThe palatability of the feed, the size of the animal and its stage of production

Question 501

[2 marks]Fencing structures and farm road siting tools
The diagram shows part of a fence in which two posts are joined by wires crossing diagonally between them. What do those crossed wires do?
  1. AThey brace the pair of posts so the strained fence wires cannot pull them over
  2. BThey carry the current from an energiser box along the whole length of the fence
  3. CThey mark the boundary line so that the fence can be seen from a long way off
  4. DThey hold the barbed strands apart so that livestock cannot push between them

Question 502

[3 marks]Fencing structures and farm road siting tools
Which set lists fences a farmer can build to control the movement of livestock?
  1. AWindbreak of gum trees, shade net and a row of planted sisal
  2. BCattle crush, dip tank race and a loading ramp beside the road
  3. CBarbed wire fence, wire netting fence and electric fence
  4. DContour ridge, storm drain and grassed waterway across a field

Question 503

[2 marks]Fencing structures and farm road siting tools
When a farm road is being sited across sloping ground, what is the dumpy level used for?
  1. AFinding the difference in height between points, so the gradient can be set
  2. BMeasuring the width of the road so that two lorries can pass each other
  3. CTesting how firm the ground is before the road surface is rolled and compacted
  4. DDriving the wooden pegs into the ground along the centre line of the road

Question 504

[1 marks]Fencing structures and farm road siting tools
Which tool is used to drive the wooden pegs into the ground when the centre line of a farm road is being marked out?

Answer this when you sit the paper.

Question 601

[3 marks]Factors of production, agricultural marketing and cooperatives
Which set names the factors of production a farm business combines?
  1. AMaize, cattle, tobacco and market garden
  2. BRainfall, sunshine, temperature and wind
  3. CLand, labour, capital and management
  4. DSeed, fertiliser, chemicals and fuel oil

Question 602

[3 marks]Factors of production, agricultural marketing and cooperatives
Which set of factors most affects how a farmer's produce is marketed?
  1. APerishability of the produce, distance to the market and its grade
  2. BThe colour of the farm gate and the year of birth of the farm owner
  3. CThe number of workers born on the farm and the size of the kraal
  4. DThe depth of the plough furrow and the make of the farm tractor

Question 603

[2 marks]Factors of production, agricultural marketing and cooperatives
In an agricultural cooperative, democratic member control means that
  1. Aonly members who have farmed for over ten years are allowed to vote at all
  2. Beach member has one vote, whatever number of shares that member holds
  3. Cthe member who holds the most shares makes the decisions for the group
  4. Dthe government appoints the committee that runs the cooperative's affairs

Question 604

[2 marks]Factors of production, agricultural marketing and cooperatives
A cooperative shares out the surplus it has made at the end of the year. On which basis is it divided among the members?
  1. AAccording to how much land each of the members holds under title
  2. BAccording to how much business each member did with the society
  3. CAccording to how long each member has lived in the district itself
  4. DEqually among every household living within the society's own area

Question 701

[3 marks]Legume crop maturity, harvesting and storage
A farmer is deciding whether a groundnut crop is ready to lift. Which set of signs shows that the crop has matured?
  1. AThe pods are still soft and white inside, and the kernels are watery
  2. BThe leaves yellow and drop, and the shell is dark and veined inside
  3. CThe leaves are still dark green and the plants are flowering strongly
  4. DThe stems have begun to lodge and the field has been weeded twice

Question 702

[3 marks]Legume crop maturity, harvesting and storage
Which sign tells a farmer that a soya bean crop has reached harvest maturity?
  1. AThe pods have turned brown and the seed rattles when the plant is shaken
  2. BThe first flowers have only just opened along the middle of the main stem
  3. CThe lowest leaves have been eaten by insects and show ragged holes
  4. DThe crop has grown taller than the ridges that were made at planting

Question 703

[3 marks]Legume crop maturity, harvesting and storage
How is a mature groundnut crop best lifted from a field in Zimbabwe?
  1. ALift the plants with a fork while the soil is still moist, then windrow them
  2. BSlash the plants at ground level and leave the pods buried until winter
  3. CBurn the leaves off first so that the pods can be picked out of the ash afterwards
  4. DWait until the soil is bone dry, then pull each plant hard by the stem

Question 704

[2 marks]Legume crop maturity, harvesting and storage
Why is a legume crop harvested as soon as it reaches maturity rather than left standing in the field?
  1. AThe plants begin to take up water from the crop planted next
  2. BThe dry pods split open and shed their seed onto the ground
  3. CThe seed keeps growing and becomes too large for the market
  4. DThe roots stop fixing nitrogen once the pods have turned brown

Question 705

[2 marks]Legume crop maturity, harvesting and storage
After threshing, the mixture of seed and light chaff is tossed in the wind or dropped in front of a fan so that the chaff blows away. Name this operation.

Answer this when you sit the paper.

Question 706

[3 marks]Legume crop maturity, harvesting and storage
Groundnuts are dried to a low moisture content before they are put into store. What is the main danger if they go in damp?
  1. AThe seed coats lose their colour and the crop is downgraded on sale
  2. BThe kernels germinate in the bag and grow into seedlings in the dark
  3. CMoulds grow on the kernels and produce aflatoxin, which is poisonous
  4. DThe kernels swell and burst the bags they have been packed into

Question 707

[2 marks]Legume crop maturity, harvesting and storage
Small round holes appear in stored beans and adult beetles are found among them. Which measure will protect the rest of the stock?
  1. AStore the bags directly against the wall where the room is coolest
  2. BDust the grain with a registered storage protectant and reseal the bags
  3. CSpread the beans out in the sun each morning and return them again at midday
  4. DAdd fresh undried beans to the bags so the beetles have new feed

Question 708

[2 marks]Legume crop maturity, harvesting and storage
How should bags of dried grain be arranged in a farm store?
  1. ALaid flat on the bare floor so that the stack cannot topple
  2. BPiled next to the fertiliser so that both are locked up together
  3. CStacked on pallets clear of the floor and away from the walls
  4. DStacked tight against the wall so that more bags will fit in

Question 801

[3 marks]Cereal crop management
A maize grower ploughs the land before the rains. To what depth is a conventional mouldboard plough normally set for that operation?
  1. A10 to 15 cm
  2. B20 to 25 cm
  3. C40 to 45 cm
  4. D5 to 10 cm

Question 802

[2 marks]Cereal crop management
Name the basal fertiliser most commonly applied to a maize crop at planting in Zimbabwe.

Answer this when you sit the paper.

Question 803

[3 marks]Cereal crop management
A maize crop is planted in rows 90 cm apart with the plants 25 cm apart within the row. Roughly what plant population does that give per hectare?
  1. A90 000 plants
  2. B22 000 plants
  3. C37 000 plants
  4. D44 000 plants

Question 804

[3 marks]Cereal crop management
When is ammonium nitrate normally applied as a top dressing to a rainfed maize crop?
  1. AOnly in the dry season before the land has even been ploughed at all
  2. BAt about knee height, four to six weeks after the crop has emerged
  3. CInto the planting furrow together with the seed on the planting day
  4. DAfter the cobs have dried down and the crop is ready for harvesting

Question 805

[3 marks]Cereal crop management
Why is the first weeding of a maize crop done within the first three weeks after emergence?
  1. AWeeds are easier to see once the crop has closed over the rows completely
  2. BThe soil is at its driest then, so a hoe cuts through the weeds cleanly
  3. CWeeding later would damage the maize roots that have not yet grown at all
  4. DWeeds compete hardest with the young crop for water, light and nutrients

Question 806

[3 marks]Cereal crop management
Ragged shot holes appear in the funnel of young maize plants and a caterpillar is found in the whorl. How is this pest controlled?
  1. AIrrigate the field heavily so that the caterpillars are washed away
  2. BApply a granular insecticide into the funnel of each affected plant
  3. CApply lime to the soil around the base of each of the affected plants
  4. DIncrease the top dressing so the plants grow through the damage fast

Question 807

[3 marks]Cereal crop management
A maize crop shows fine yellow streaks running the length of the leaves and the plants are stunted. What is the cause, and how is it best managed?
  1. AA virus spread by leafhoppers, managed by planting a resistant variety
  2. BA shortage of nitrogen in the soil, managed by a much heavier top dressing
  3. CA fungus in the seed, managed by soaking the seed in water overnight
  4. DDamage by hail earlier in the season, managed by replanting the field

Question 901

[3 marks]Integrated Pest Management and agrochemical safety
Under integrated pest management, when does a farmer decide to apply a chemical?
  1. AOnly after the crop has already been harvested and put into store
  2. BOnly when scouting shows the pest has reached the economic threshold
  3. COn a fixed calendar date every fortnight right through the season
  4. DAs soon as the very first individual of any pest is seen in the field

Question 902

[3 marks]Integrated Pest Management and agrochemical safety
One benefit claimed for integrated pest management is that it protects natural enemies. Why does that matter to the farmer?
  1. ANatural enemies fix nitrogen in the soil and reduce the fertiliser bill
  2. BLadybirds and wasps pollinate the maize crop and raise the grain yield
  3. CLadybirds, wasps and spiders keep pest numbers down without any cost
  4. DNatural enemies feed on the crop residues and speed up decomposition

Question 903

[2 marks]Integrated Pest Management and agrochemical safety
Spraying the same chemical against the same pest season after season commonly leads to
  1. Aa pest that becomes larger in body size but stays easy to control
  2. Ba soil that will no longer grow the crop the chemical was used on
  3. Ca chemical that loses its colour but keeps its full killing power
  4. Da resistant pest population that the chemical no longer controls

Question 904

[2 marks]Integrated Pest Management and agrochemical safety
Reducing the number of sprays applied to a vegetable crop also helps the grower because
  1. Aless chemical residue is left on the produce that reaches the buyer
  2. Bthe vegetables grow larger leaves and therefore weigh a great deal more
  3. Cthe soil under the crop becomes darker and holds much more of its water
  4. Dthe crop ripens several weeks earlier than it otherwise would have done

Question 905

[3 marks]Integrated Pest Management and agrochemical safety
A farm worker is about to spray a knapsack load of insecticide. What should be worn?
  1. AA short sleeved shirt, shorts and open sandals because of the heat
  2. BA raincoat only, since the spray is water based and will wash off
  3. COrdinary work clothes, with a cloth tied loosely over the nose only
  4. DOveralls, gumboots, gloves, goggles and a respirator over the mouth

Question 906

[3 marks]Integrated Pest Management and agrochemical safety
Under what conditions should a knapsack sprayer be operated in the field?
  1. ADuring heavy rain, so that the chemical is washed into the soil fast
  2. BOn a windy afternoon, walking across the wind with the nozzle held up high
  3. CIn the cool of the morning, with the wind blowing away from the operator
  4. DAt midday in the full heat, walking straight into a strong headwind

Question 907

[2 marks]Integrated Pest Management and agrochemical safety
Where should agricultural chemicals be kept on a farm?
  1. AIn the kitchen store next to the maize meal so they are easy to find
  2. BIn an open shed beside the cattle pens where the workers can reach
  3. CIn the farmhouse bedroom cupboard where the children cannot climb
  4. DIn a locked, ventilated store used for nothing else, away from food

Question 908

[2 marks]Integrated Pest Management and agrochemical safety
The label on a pesticide states the number of days that must pass between the last spray and the picking of the crop. What is this period called?

Answer this when you sit the paper.

Question 1001

[3 marks]Animal dips: features and siting
A plunge dip has a sloping draining race at its exit. What is that race for?
  1. AIt stores the used dip wash until it can be pumped away from the tank
  2. BIt lets the wash running off the cattle drain back into the dip tank
  3. CIt gives the animals a firm place to stand while they are being counted
  4. DIt holds clean water in which the cattle rinse before they leave the dip

Question 1002

[3 marks]Animal dips: features and siting
Why is the swim section of a plunge dip made deep enough that a beast cannot touch the bottom?
  1. ASo the animal is completely immersed and every tick on it is wetted
  2. BSo that the animal can drink the dip wash while it swims across it
  3. CSo that the mud carried in on the hooves settles out at the bottom
  4. DSo that the tank can hold enough wash to last a whole dipping season

Question 1003

[3 marks]Animal dips: features and siting
Some plunge dips are built with a roof over the tank. What does the roof achieve?
  1. AIt stops birds from drinking at the tank and carrying ticks between herds
  2. BIt allows the dip to be used at night when the tick numbers are highest
  3. CIt keeps rain out, so the wash is not diluted below its right strength
  4. DIt keeps the cattle cool so that they walk through the race more calmly

Question 1004

[3 marks]Animal dips: features and siting
A narrow walled race leads the cattle to the jumping step of a dip. Why is the race built narrow?
  1. ASo the animals move in single file and cannot turn back or climb out
  2. BSo the animals can graze along the way and enter the tank more calmly
  3. CSo the herdsman can ride a bicycle alongside and count the herd easily
  4. DSo the rain water can be collected off the walls and stored for later

Question 1005

[3 marks]Animal dips: features and siting
Compared with a plunge dip, what is the main advantage of a spray race?
  1. AIt treats the animals only on the back, which is where all ticks feed
  2. BIt works without power, since the animals push the pump as they pass
  3. CIt uses much less wash and needs no large tank to be filled and kept
  4. DIt kills ticks without any chemical being needed in the water at all

Question 1006

[3 marks]Animal dips: features and siting
Which site is most suitable for building a new cattle dip?
  1. AOn firm, well drained ground near a reliable water supply and a road
  2. BIn the bottom of a vlei where water collects and the ground stays wet
  3. CImmediately on the bank of a river that supplies the village with water
  4. DOn a steep rocky hillside far from the paddocks the cattle graze on

Question 1007

[2 marks]Animal dips: features and siting
Why is a communal dip tank sited centrally among the villages it serves?
  1. ASo no herd has to be walked so far that the animals lose condition
  2. BSo that the tank can be filled from several boreholes at the same time
  3. CSo the dip wash can be mixed by many people at once on dipping day
  4. DSo that the veterinary officer can reach it without using any vehicle

Question 1101

[3 marks]Rearing a non-ruminant animal and creep feeding
Why must a new born piglet suckle within the first few hours of birth?
  1. ASuckling early makes the sow's udder produce more milk in later litters
  2. BSuckling early teaches the piglet to find the creep area for its feed
  3. CColostrum carries antibodies that the piglet can only absorb early on
  4. DColostrum contains the iron the piglet needs for the whole of its life

Question 1102

[2 marks]Rearing a non-ruminant animal and creep feeding
Piglets reared on a concrete floor are injected at about three days old to prevent anaemia. Which mineral is injected?

Answer this when you sit the paper.

Question 1103

[3 marks]Rearing a non-ruminant animal and creep feeding
A farrowing pen is fitted with rails set a short way out from the walls, just above floor level. What do they prevent?
  1. AThe sow crushing her piglets against the wall as she lies down
  2. BThe piglets escaping under the door and out into the passageway
  3. CThe sow reaching the feed trough before the piglets have suckled
  4. DThe piglets soiling the bedding at the front end of the farrowing pen

Question 1104

[3 marks]Rearing a non-ruminant animal and creep feeding
What is done to the navel cord of a newly born piglet or calf?
  1. AIt is cut short and dipped in iodine to keep infection out
  2. BIt is tied to the pen rail so the young animal cannot wander
  3. CIt is left long and untouched so that it dries in its own time
  4. DIt is washed in warm soapy water and then bandaged for a week

Question 1105

[2 marks]Rearing a non-ruminant animal and creep feeding
The needle teeth of a new born piglet are clipped. Why?
  1. AThey stop the piglet from taking the creep feed offered to it
  2. BThey grow so fast that the piglet cannot close its mouth later
  3. CThey carry the organisms that cause scouring in young piglets
  4. DThey cut the sow's udder and the faces of the other piglets

Question 1106

[2 marks]Rearing a non-ruminant animal and creep feeding
The creep area in a farrowing pen has an opening that only the piglets can pass through. Why is it built that way?
  1. ASo the piglets can be counted each morning without anyone opening the pen
  2. BSo the sow can be fed her own ration inside it away from the litter
  3. CSo the bedding stays inside the pen when the floor is being washed
  4. DSo the piglets can feed and lie warm without the sow taking their feed

Question 1107

[2 marks]Rearing a non-ruminant animal and creep feeding
Why is creep feed offered to piglets from about a week old?
  1. AIt replaces the iron injection given in the first days of life
  2. BIt makes the piglets heavier so they can be sold at birth weight
  3. CThe sow's milk alone stops meeting their needs as they grow
  4. DIt stops the piglets from suckling and dries the sow off early

Question 1108

[3 marks]Rearing a non-ruminant animal and creep feeding
At what age is a piglet normally weaned on a Zimbabwean smallholding?
  1. A16 to 20 weeks
  2. B1 to 2 weeks
  3. C3 to 4 weeks
  4. D6 to 8 weeks

Question 1201

[3 marks]Housing a young ruminant and artificial insemination
A calf house is being planned for young calves. How should it be ventilated?
  1. AA completely sealed building with no openings at all, so that no cold air gets in
  2. BLarge gaps at floor level so that air moves fast across the bedding
  3. COne small window on the wall that faces the prevailing cold wind
  4. DOpenings high in the walls that change the air without blowing on the calves

Question 1202

[3 marks]Housing a young ruminant and artificial insemination
How should the floor of a young ruminant's housing unit be built?
  1. ASmooth polished concrete laid dead level across the whole pen
  2. BLoose river sand, renewed each time the pen has been cleaned out
  3. CConcrete, laid with a slight slope so urine drains to a channel
  4. DBare earth, so that the urine soaks straight away into the ground

Question 1203

[2 marks]Housing a young ruminant and artificial insemination
Why is a minimum floor space per animal laid down when a calf pen is designed?
  1. AThe building regulations set the price the calves may be sold for
  2. BCalves need room to run at speed in order to develop their bones
  3. CCrowded calves fight, spread disease and grow more slowly
  4. DA larger pen looks better to a buyer coming to view the calves

Question 1204

[2 marks]Housing a young ruminant and artificial insemination
Where should a calf house be sited on a farm?
  1. ADownwind of the pig sty and next to the silage pit for its warmth
  2. BFar out on the grazing so that the calves are away from all the noise
  3. COn high, well drained ground within easy reach of the milking parlour
  4. DIn the lowest corner of the farm where rain water collects after storms

Question 1205

[3 marks]Housing a young ruminant and artificial insemination
One reason for using artificial insemination is that it helps control disease. How does it do so?
  1. ACows are not put to a bull, so venereal infections are not passed on
  2. BThe semen used carries antibiotics that treat the cow as she is served
  3. CThe technician vaccinates every cow against tick borne disease as well
  4. DCows served artificially are kept indoors, away from the tick population

Question 1206

[3 marks]Housing a young ruminant and artificial insemination
Why does artificial insemination speed up the genetic improvement of a herd?
  1. AThe calves born are always twins, so the herd grows twice as quickly
  2. BThe cows come on heat more often once they have been inseminated
  3. CSemen changes the cow's own genes so she milks better in that lactation
  4. DOne proven bull can serve thousands of cows in many different herds

Question 1207

[2 marks]Housing a young ruminant and artificial insemination
A small dairy farmer with fifteen cows uses artificial insemination instead of keeping a bull. What does that save?
  1. AThe cost of feeding, housing and handling a dangerous animal all year
  2. BThe cost of the milking parlour, which is no longer needed on the farm
  3. CThe cost of dipping the herd, since inseminated cows carry fewer ticks
  4. DThe cost of the calf pens, because fewer calves are born on the farm

Question 1208

[2 marks]Housing a young ruminant and artificial insemination
Bull semen is stored in straws inside a flask at about minus 196 degrees Celsius. Name the liquid used to keep it that cold.

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