Observation

Question 6 was the least popular question in this paper and many candidates avoided it.

(a)        Although many candidates who attempted Question 6(a) got the gestation period for rabbit and cattle correctly, few of them mistook the gestation period of pig for sheep.
(b)        Only few candidates were able convincingly explain teeth clipping, foster mothering and docking in Question 6(c).
(c)        Most candidates displayed poor knowledge of dystocia as well as its causes in farm animals.

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The expected answers include:

(a)        Completion of table on the gestation period of farm animals

 (b)       Importance of good housing unit for farm animals

• Ensure protection from rain/cold weather/inclement weather
• Protects animals from the direct rays of sunlight
• Restricts movement of animals
• Facilitates accurate record keeping
• Controls pest infestation
• Protects animals from theft
• Protects animals from predators
• Ensures controlled breeding
• Minimizes incidence of diseases
• Minimizes loss of products e.g. eggs
• Minimizes destruction of products
• It eliminates destruction of neighbouring properties
• Elimination of conflict over ownership of animals
• For easy handling

                                                                                                                       
(c)        Explanation of management practices in animal production
(i)         Teeth clipping:

• Cutting of the four canine teeth in piglets
• Helps to prevent injuries to the teat
• Prevents injuries to other piglets during nursing

            (ii)        Foster mothering:

• This is the act in which a nursing dam takes care of young ones as well as her own
• It ensures all young animals have access to care
• It reduces mortality in orphan animals
• Dam could be stressed due to the extra care of additional young ones

(iii)     Docking:

• This is the removal or shortening of the tail of an animal
• It is done to prevent staining of the tail with fecal materials
• It is done to prevent tail biting among pigs

(d)       (i)         Definition of dystocia
This refers to difficult or abnormal birth in livestock

            (ii)        Causes of dystocia in farm animals

• Malpresentation of foetus during parturition
• Small pelvis of the dam relative to the size of foetus
• Foetal abnormalities/ oversize foetus
• Uterine and vaginal rupture
• Under nutrition leading to loss of energy during parturition