Question 5
(a) State five differences between the digestive systems of a goat and a chicken. (5 marks)
(b) Explain each of the following terms as used in animal production:
(i) rumination;
(ii) coprophagy. (4 marks)
(c) Give one reason for carrying out each of the following practices in livestock
production:
(i) creep feeding;
(ii) steaming-up;
(iii) flushing. (3 marks)
(d) (i) State four ways in which rangelands are important. (4 marks)
(ii) List four practices that could be carried out to improve pastures. (4 marks)
Observation
This question was not very popular among the candidates. Candidates’ responses were poor in giving paired differences between the digestive system of a goat and a chicken. Candidates only mentioned goat has lip, chicken does not have lip instead of stating goat has lip and chicken has beak; thereby losing marks. Furthermore, candidates do not understand coprophagy, creep feeding, steaming-up and flushing.
The expected answers include:
5. (a) Differences between the digestive systems of a goat and a chicken
Goat |
Chicken |
- has lip |
has beak |
- has teeth for grinding |
has gizzard for grinding |
- has complex stomach |
has simple stomach |
- presence of rumen |
presence of crop |
- grind food before swallowing |
swallow food without grinding |
- digestion takes longer time |
digestion takes shorter time |
- food is stored in the rumen/stomach |
food is stored in the crop |
- bacterial digestion takes place in the rumen |
bacterial digestion takes place in the caecum |
- complex stomach facilitate regurgitation |
simple stomach facilitate direct digestion |
(b) Explanation of terms
(i) Rumination
- process by which ruminants regurgitates through anti peristaltic movement of fibrous feed, rechew and reswallow the food into the reticulum
- the process of chewing of cud
- it reduces the particle size of digesta for microbial action
- it takes place when animal is resting.
(ii) Coprophagy
- process by which some animals like rabbit reingest their feaces - it helps the animal recover microbial protein and mineral lost from
the caecum
(c) Reason for carrying out practices
(i) Creep feeding
- to supplement the milk of young livestock
- to introduce young livestock to solid feed before weaning
- to facilitate early weaning
(ii) Steaming up
- development of udder and milk synthesis
- it gives pregnant animals strength for parturition
- it gives the foetus the right birth weight / condition
- it enhances the foetal immunity/reduction of foetal/ offspring
mortality
(iii) Flushing
- to increase the chance of conception/ovulation
- to increase the incidence of multiple birth
(d) (i) Importance of rangelands
- ensures all season feeding of livestock
- provide material for forage preservation/hay/silage
- serves as area for livestock to exercise their body
- helps to reduce soil erosion
- it facilitate pasture mating
- reduces cost of feeding for grazing animals
- provide soilage for feeding livestock
- serves as forage bank for establishment of pasture
- provision of grass and legume
(ii) Practices that improve pasture
- reseeding - controlled burning
- fencing/paddocking/controlled grazing - irrigation
- use of manure / fertilizer - weed control
- disease control - pest control
- correct stocking rate - erosion control
- ploughing/pulverization - liming
- planting of resistant varieties of forage