Observation

a) Few candidates were able to explain flushing, castration and culling as well as state their advantages. Some candidates explained castration as the removal of the male sex organs and confused culling with selection.

b) Majority of candidates were able to give the use of measuring tape but not that of the prismatic compass.

c) Many candidates failed to use conjunction in differentiating between floriculture and aquaculture while others confused floriculture with horticulture.

The expected answers include:

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

(i) Flushing
Flushing is the practice of feeding female animals with good quality feed 2-3 weeks before and after mating with a male animal in order to increase conception rate.

(ii) Castration
This is the process of removing the testicles of a male animal or rendering the testicles unproductive by cutting off blood and nerve connections to the testicles.

(iii) Culling
This is the removal of unproductive/diseased/aggressive birds from a flock.

(b) Advantages of terms
(i) Flushing

- Increases the chances of multiple births
- Improves the health of female animals/prepares the animal’s health for conception
- Enables the female animal to withstand the stress and strains of pregnancy

(ii) Castration
- Prevents indiscriminate mating
- Removes bad/unpleasant/strong odour from the meat of male animals e.g. goat
- Makes male animals docile and easy to handle
- Enhances feed conversion/efficiency ratio/increases carcass weight of male animals
- Improves the quality of meat

- Prevents sexually transmitted diseases

- Prevents perpetuation of undesirable characteristics/traits

(iii) Culling
- Removes unproductive birds from the flock

- Reduces wastage of feed on unproductive/diseased birds
- Removes aggressive/cannibalistic birds from the flock
- Creates more space for productive birds
- Reduces the spread of diseases

(c) Functions of survey equipment

(i) Prismatic compass
- For determining position and displacement - Taking bearings - Measuring angular distances

(ii) Measuring tape
- For measuring lengths (horizontal and vertical)

- Determining definite points on straight lines

- Marking right-angle triangle during farm layout

(d) Difference between floriculture and aquaculture

Floriculture is the production and management of ornamental plants such as trees, shrubs and flowers

While

Aquaculture is the production of fishes and other aquatic animals in different water bodies.