Agriculture Paper 2, WASSCE (SC), 2017

Question 5

  1. Discuss anthrax disease under the following headings:

    i.causal organism; ;

    ii.mode of transmission;

    iii.two symptoms;

    iv. two prevention and control measures. [6 marks]

  2. i.List four sources of plant protein in livestock feeds.
    ii.Give three examples of forage legumes that could be found in rangelands in West Africa. [7 marks]
  3. Mention five characteristics of labour as a factor of agricultural production. [5 marks]

Observation

 Many candidates failed to underline the scientific name of the causal organism of anthrax disease which is Bacillus anthracis. Many correctly discussed the mode of transmission, symptoms, prevention and control. In addressing this question, candidates mixed plants and animal protein-sources as required in (i) while in (ii), candidates could not give three examples of forage legumes found in rangelands as requested in the question. Characteristics of labour as a factor of production was not well tackled by many candidates.

The expected answers include:


5(a) Anthrax disease

i. Causal organism
Bacterium/Bacillus anthracis


(b)(i) Sources of plant protein in livestock feeds

- Groundnut cake

- Cotton seed cake/meal

- Palm kernel cake

- Cowpea/groundnut fodder

- Soya bean cake/meal

- Sunflower seed cake/meal

- Cashew nut meal

- Copra cake

- Leguminous forage

(ii) Examples of forage legumes that could be found in rangelands in West Africa

- Centrosema (Centrosema Pubescents)

- Tropical kudzu (Pueraria phaseoloides)

- Stylosanthes (stylosanthes gracilis)

- Calopo (Calopogonum mucunoides)

- Mucuna (Mucuna utilis)

- Alfalfa (Medicago sativa)

(c) Characteristics of labour

- It is mobile

- Has feelings

- It may be skilled or unskilled

- It appreciates with training or development

- It is subject to the law of diminishing returns

- It is a variable asset

- The reward for labour is wages and salaries

- The ownership of labour and use of labour cannot be separated

- The unit of labour is man days or man hours

- The size and quality of labour influence the quality and quantity of output

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