Observation

Question 2 was not popular among candidates and few of them who attempted this question recorded poor marks.
(a) Many candidates had spelling challenges in giving the botanical names of the forage crops and did not follow the scientific nomenclature of writing botanical names. Some candidates could not distinguish between grass and legume in classifying the type of forage; thus losing marks
(b) Few candidates were able to state the importance of grass-legume mixture in livestock
            production as well as the characteristics of rangelands.

The expected answers include:
(a)        Completion of table on forage crops
i           -           Elephant grass
ii          -           Calopo/Calopogonium
iii         -           Legume
iv         -           Stylosanthesgracilis/guianensis/hamata/humilis/scabra
v          -           Legume
vi         -           Guinea grass
vii        -           Grass
viii       -           Mucuna                                                                                                          

           
(b)   (i)  Definition of pasture
A piece of land on which grass and/or legumes/herbage species are naturally found or deliberately grown for feeding livestock

            (ii)  Importance of grass-legume mixture in livestock production
-           Provides variety of forage
-           Provides high nutrient content
-           Conserves soil water/reduces evaporation
-           Grass improves soil structure
-           Controls erosion
-           Yield of pasture is improved
-           Legumes supply nitrogen to the soil, thus enriching it.
-           Increases the energy level for livestock
-           Suppresses the growth of weeds
-           Forage combination is more acceptable to animals                                                                                                               
(c)         Characteristics of range lands
-           Contains variety of forage
-           Provides shade for animals
-           Can withstand trampling by farm animals
-           High regenerative ability
-           Produces high yield of forage crops if properly managed
-           Habours diseases
-           Harbours pests
-           Extensive area of land for grazing/high density
-           Produces abundant seeds
-           Prone to frequent fire outbreak
-           Low nutritive value