Animal Husbandry Paper 2 WASSCE (SC), 2016

Question 4

 

  1. (a) State five objectives of animal improvement.                              [5 marks]
  1. (b) Mention five signs that indicate that a pregnant animal is approaching parturition.                                                                                           

                                                                                                        [ 5 marks ]

  1. (c) Name two disease causing organisms in livestock production.     [ 2 marks ] 

                                

  1. (d) Copy and complete the table below.

Nutrient

One function

One deficiency symptom

Calcium

 

 

Iodine

 

 

Vitamin A

 

 

Vitamin E

 

 

                                                                                                                [ 8 marks ]

Observation

 

This question was also popular among the candidates. In 4(a-c), most of the candidates were able to state the objectives of animal improvement, mention the signs that indicate that a pregnant animal is approaching parturition as well as name disease causing organisms in livestock production but they could not give a function and a deficiency symptom of calcium, iodine, vitamin A and vitamin E as required in 4(d).

The expected answers include:

(4) (d)  Completion of the table

Nutrient

Function

Deficiency symptom

Calcium

-  Bone / teeth / egg shell formation
-  Blood coagulation
-  Composition of body fluid e.g. blood,  milk
-  Enzyme co-factor
-  Homeostasis

-  Rickets
-  Milk fever
-  Thin or shell less eggs
-  Poor hatchability
-  Osteomalacia/ Osteoporosis   

Iodine

-  Thyroxin formation
-  Reproduction
-  Growth / metabolic regulation                  

-  Hairlessness / alopecia
-  Formation of goitre
-  Poor reproduction
-  Retarded growth/ Cretinism

Vitamin A

-  Good vision
-  Cell formation/ growth
-  Disease resistance
-   Anti-oxidant  

-  Low disease resistance    
/ Low immunity
-  Night blindness
-  Scaly skin / rough coat
-  Retarded growth

Vitamin E

-  Reproduction / prevents sterility
Muscle development/ growth
-  Natural antioxidant
-  Pancreatic function    

-  Reproduction failure/ Sterility
-  Abortion
-   Encephalo-malaria
-  Anaemia
-   Stunted growth