Agriculture Paper 2, WASSCE (PC), 2018

Question 5

 

(a) State four ways in which water is essential in animal nutrition.                     (4 marks)
(b)  List two essential mineral elements required in animal nutrition                      (2 marks)
(c) State four functions of mineral elements in in the body of farm animals.       (4 marks)
(d)  Complete the table below on diseases of farm animals.

Disease

Symptoms

Control

      Mastitis

(i)

(ii)
(iii)

    (iv)

Constant cough, stringy sputum mixed with blood in cattle

(v)
(vi)

Newcastle disease

(vii)

(viii)

   (8 marks)              

Observation

This question was fairly attempted by the candidates. Quite a number were able to state the importance of water in animal nutrition. However in question 2(d), most candidates could not give the symptoms and control of the listed animal diseases. There was a clear indication of poor knowledge of the topic by the students.

The expected answers include:
5.(a) Ways in which Water is Essential in Animal Nutrition

  • Water is a nutrient in the body of farm animals
  • It is a solvent in which nutrients are transported round the body
  • It is a medium through which waste products are excreted from the body
  • Most chemical reactions involving enzymatic activities in the body take place in water/body metabolism
  • Loss of water from the surface of the skin and lungs helps in regulating body temperature
  • Water is used in compounding animal feed e.g. pelleting
  • Constituent of fluid and blood
  • Helps in digestion of feed
  • Helps in maintaining body turgidity

(b)  Essential Mineral Elements required in Animal Nutrition

  • Calcium                 - Chlorine
  • Phosphorus               - Iron
  • Magnesium              - Manganese
  • Copper                 - Iodine
  • Sodium
  • Cobalt
  • Nickel
  • Molybdenum
  • Potassium
  • Sulphur
  • Zinc
  • Fluorine                

(c)Functions of Mineral Elements in the Body of Farm Animals

  • Formation and proper functioning of bones, teeth and blood
  • Help in maintaining good heart beat
  • Help in preventing diseases such as piglet anaemia, ketosis, digestive disturbances etc.
  • Maintenance of body fluid pH, osmotic pressure and colloidal state and the permeability of cell membrane
  • Help in blood coagulation
  • Formation of egg shell
  • Aid in the pigmentation of skin e.g. copper
  • Formation of haemoglobin e.g. iron
  • Development and functioning of reproductive system e.g. Manganese
  • Essential for enzyme formation e.g. iron
  • Constituent of hormone thyroxine e.g. iodine     
  • For contraction of muscles
  • Help in proper functioning of the nervous system           

(d)Completion of the table on diseases of farm animals


Disease

Symptoms

Control

Mastitis

- Swollen udder
- Sores on the udder

 

 

- Good sanitation
- Use clean and disinfected milking machines
- Use of antibiotics

Tuberculosis

Constant cough, stringy sputum mixed with blood in cattle

- Isolation of infected animals
- Disinfection of pen and feeding materials
- Destruction of infected animals
- Treat infected animals with appropriate drugs
- Inspect meat or animals before and after  
slaughtering

Newcastle Disease

- Greenish diarrhoea
- Purple comb and wattles
- Paralysis
- Twisting of neck 
(torticollis)
- Somersaulting
- Circular walking
- Difficulty in breathing
- Coughing and sneezing

- Vaccination with Newcastle Disease Vaccine   
(NDV)
- Good sanitation
- Isolation of infected birds
- Slaughter and bury infected bird