Observation

This question was popular among candidates although most candidates could not give the sequential steps in establishing an apiary, thus losing marks.
The expected answers include:         

1. (a) (i) Benefits of keeping bees

- Honey production/food
- Employment/job creation
- Prevention of extinction of bees
- For research / education
- Kept for protection/security/defense
- Kept as hobby/leisure
- Bee sting is medicinal
- Source of foreign exchange
- Bees are pollinating agents of crops
- Source of raw materials/propolis/wax/royal jelly
- Income generation/high marketability
- Biodiversity/maintenance of ecosystem

(ii) Steps involved in establishing an apiary

- Site selection/identification of a suitable location
- Clearing of the site/create a stand
- Installation of beehive/set up beehive
- Bait the beehive/stock the beehive with bees
- Inspection for colonization/rebaiting/restocking
- Set up warning signs

(b) (i) Ways of enhancing the productivity of a pig farm

- Ensure proper sanitation
- Minimize food wastage
- Give good quality feed/balanced
- Pest control
- Ensure proper record keeping
- Rear good quality breeds
- Provision of adequate water
- Brooding of piglets
- Regular deworming
- Provision of good housing
- Provision of wallowing facility
- Vaccination
- Training of farm workers
- Control of pests
- Good breeding programme/control of inbreeding
- Culling of diseased/unproductive/aggressive animals
- Sell at appropriate age/adopt good marketing strategy
- Control disease/prevent disease outbreak/biosecurity/isolation of sick animals
- Administration of drugs

(ii) Management practices carried out on piglets from birth to weaning

- Isolation of sick piglets
- Giving of iron injection
- Clipping of needle teeth
- Use of guard rails
- Allowing access to plenty of water
- Ensuring good sanitation
- Prevention of crushing/creep feeding
- Provision of veterinary care
- Provision of nutritious/balanced diet
- Fostering of orphaned piglets
- Proper identification of animals
- Provision of straw as bedding at early age
- Cutting of umbilical cord and apply tincture of iodine
- Castration of males not required for breeding
- Clearing of mucous from the nostril
- Allowing access to colostrum/regular breast feeding