Observation

a) Most candidates were unable to explain malnutrition, weaning, heat period and candling in concise words.

b)Most candidates were unable to explain malnutrition, weaning, heat period and candling in concise words.  

 The expected answers include:

5.(a)   Explanation of terms used in animal productiont

(i) Malnutrition
Malnutrition is a condition which results when an animal is fed on a diet which is deficient in quantity and quality of the essential nutrients in the right proportion.

(ii) Weaning
Weaning is the process whereby young animals are removed from their mothers and fed with feed that is different from their mother’s milk.

(iii) Heat period
It is the period during which the female animal is ready and willing to receive the male animal for mating.

(iv) Candling
This is the process of identifying and separating fertile eggs from non-fertile ones by the use of light.

(b) Distinction between maintenance ration and production ration

Maintenance ration is the amount of feed given to farm animals to keep their live-weight constant.
Whereas
Production ration is the ration that is supplied over and above that required for maintenance for production purpose.

• Slow or retarded growth
• Low production e.g. reduced egg production, decrease in milk yield
• High susceptibility to diseases
• High morbidity rate among older animals
• Physical deformities e.g. rickets, osteomalacia
• Loss in weight/emaciation

• Increases soil erosion
• Destruction of hydrological cycle
• Low soil nutrients
• Loss of soil organic matter
• Leaching
• Reduction in soil microbial activities
• Permanent destruction of indigenous forests
• Desert encroachment/desertification
• Loss of biodiversity/imbalance in the ecosystem
• Destruction of hydrological cycle
• Increase in atmospheric carbon(IV)oxide concentration
• Destruction of micro climate/increased environmental temperature
• Reduces wildlife population in the area