Example exam questions for Animal Husbandry course 2012.

Questions highlighted have example answers below.Twelve questions (plus 3 others) will be given in the written exam on July 2.

Dairy cattle

1. Briefly define the following terms; (2 marks)a) DRY COW: not lactating cowb) HERD: group of cows, treated as a unitc) DAM: mother or female parent in a pedigreed) SIRE: father or male parent in a pedigreee) CULL COW: cow to be remove from a herdf) COLOSTRUM: first milk following calving

2. Briefly describe why we use the Body Condition Score tool in managing dairy herds (2 marks)Body Condition Score provides an indication of the amount of fat cover on the dairy cow.

3. Briefly describe 2 cattle behaviours that are important to understand when handling cattle Cows are herd animals. There is a pecking order which is obvious as feeding times or when going to the milking.

4. Briefly describe the importance of colostrum feeding when rearing calves (2 marks) Calves are born with no immunity. Colostrum provides immunoglobulins to prevent disease.

5. Briefly describe the important factors in the management of diarrhoea (scours) when rearing calves (2 marks)Treatment:- Hydration: + Gastric tube

+ Intravenous- Metabolic imbalance: Electrolytes- Antibiotic +/-

6. What treatment should the umbilicus (navel) of the calf receive following birth and why? (2 marks)

The umbilicus should be sprayed or dipped with a 7% iodine solution after birth, to prevent infection and reduce the incidence of joint ill (or joint infection).

Poultry

7. Briefly define the following terms; (2 marks)a) BROILER: is a chicken grown for meatb) LAYER: is a chicken grown and maintained for egg productionc) CHICK: refers to a baby birdd) HEN: is the adult female chickene) COCKERAL: male chickenf) PULLET: is the term used for the immature female layer

8. What is the typical body weight & age at which broiler chickens are slaughtered (1 mark)Body weight: 1,8 kg at 34 days age.

9. List three selection criteria in broiler chicken breeding programs (2 marks) Traits Heritability Growth rate = high Body conformation = high Feather colour = complete Feathering rate = sex linked Reproductive performance = low Resistance to MD = moderate Processing yield = moderate - high Body composition (fat) = high Feed efficiency = moderate

10. What are the important procedures during artificial incubation of chicken eggs (1 mark) Important procedures:

Temperature & Humidity Air exchange Egg rotation

11. Describe how the chicks behaviour will indicate if the brooding temperature is optimal (1 mark) Chicks evently spread. Noise level signifies contentment.

12. Briefly describe three (3) major routes for disease & pathogen transmission in poultry systems (2 marks)1. Poultry:◦ Transfer of birds from rearing area to production area◦ Dead bird disposal2. Other animals:◦ Wild birds◦ Feral and domestic animals, including other livestock & pets◦ Insects◦ Rodents—rats/mice◦ Other domestic birds3. People:◦ Farm personnel and family members living on site◦ Contractors, maintenance personnel, serviceperson, visitors◦ Disease can be transmitted by hands, boots, clothing.

13. List four effective deep litter materials for the floor of housed chickens sheds (1 mark) Wood shavings Sawdust Rice or peanut hulls Sugar cane stalks

14. What is the normal brooder temperature for day-old chickens (1 mark)Normally starts off at day old at 33˚C and should be reduced by about 0.5˚C /day until14-20 days of age.

15. Briefly describe two (2) housing systems for layer chickens (2 marks)Any two of the following:• Sheds with birds housed in cages, in tiers and in back to back rows, with environmental or natural control. Passageways for feeding, egg collection and bird management, and automated watering, feeding and egg collection.

• Barn systems with the hens housed on deep litter in secure and weatherproof sheds with environmental control. The hens do not range out of doors. The hens have access to an enclosed area for laying.

• Free range systems with a large area of land. Care and supervision is difficult, intensive labour is required for feeding and egg collection, there is minimal control over disease (wild bird), internal & external parasites, and no control over lighting. Predation is a problem from rats, cats, foxes,hawks.

16. What is the typical age at which commercial layer hens are culled (1 mark)20 months of age.

17. List three (3) effective deep litter materials (1 mark) Any three of the following:

• Wood shavings• Sawdust• Rice or peanut hulls• Sugar cane stalksChopped straws:• Wheaten or• Oaten stubble chaff• Coconut husks etc.

Pigs

18. What is the name of; (2 marks)a) a male pig in breeding herd (entire male): Boarb) a pig between birth and weaning: Sucker or pigletc) a pig between weaning and 8 weeks age (~30 kg liveweight): Weanerd) a castrated pig: Barrow or castrate

19. Name three (3) desired selection characteristics for reproductive qualities of sows: (1 mark) High pregnancy rate litters per sow per year. Large litter size born alive. High milk production. Earlier breeding – puberty. Short rebreeding interval - weaning to service interval of 5 to 6 days

20. Name three (3) management practices routinely performed of piglets in the first 3 days of life (1 mark)

Routine management practices of piglets: Teeth clipping - canine teeth clipped - prevents damage to litter mates and to sows teats. Ear notch or tattoo – method of identification

Tail docking : reduces ‘tail biting’ and infection Iron supplement : normally by injection

Common to carry out procedures at 1-3 days of age.

21. What is the optimum temperature range (in C) for: (1 mark) ̊� Newborn piglets : 27-350C Suckers : 24-300C Weaners : 20-300C All other pigs : 15-250C

22. Give three (3) advantages for using Farrowing Crates (1 mark) Sow individually housed Management of sow and litter optimal Ease of inspection, supervision, good working conditions. Reduce piglet overlaymortalities by 10%, Sow severely restricted Reduce natural behavior

23. Explain why it is important to provide a creep area for sucker pigs (2 marks)It is important because of accessment to separate thermal environments for the sow and piglets, provide a covered heated creep area.

24. List two (2) strategies to reduce stress on young pigs at weaning (1 mark)Any 2 strategies of the following: Wean in to clean and heated environment Sort pigs by sex and size - into separate pens. In summer wean before it gets too hot Increase weaning age / weight Provide weaned pigs with a high quality, highly digestible high protein weaner feed

25. Name three (3) Grower performance measurement parameters of pigs (1 mark)Any 3 Grower performance measurement parameters of pigs: Growth rate-average daily gain (ADG –grams /day) Feed conversion efficiency (FCE) – how much feed required to produce 1kg of carcass weight Mortality rate - by cause Feed intake: kg/day Pig meat sold; $$, kg of lean meat, backfat Cost of production (COP); $ per kg pig meat produced

26. What is the approximate length of the oestrus cycle and gestation in the sow. (1 mark) Length of the oestrus cycle in the sow: 21 days (18 - 24 Days) Length of the gestation in the sow: 114 days (112 - 116 days)

27. Briefly describe some of the advantages of outdoor pig production (1 mark)• It is relatively cheap to set up • There are fewer sow welfare issues

28. Briefly describe the objectives to be aimed for when housing pigs (2 marks) To achieve environmental control (including temperature, ventilation and humidity) foranimal comfort and optimal performance To reduce labor inputs, especially those associated with; handling, feeding, wastedisposal To reduce disease, by restricting people movement onto the farm and a goodbiosecurity plan.

29. Name two (2) factors that are important for achieving a good conception rate with artificial insemination (1 mark)Any two of the following:• Good heat detection use the back pressure test in the presence of a boar‐• Mate twice 24 hours apart• Provide non slip flooring• Insert catheter gently into the cervix• Invert semen to mix and attach semen bottle and let the sow “suck” in the semen• Keep sow stimulated• Avoid back flow‐• Don’t rush

Small animals

30. To which classification do the following cat breeds belong (2 marks)a) Birman: Semi-Long Hairb) Oriental: Orientalsc) Chinchilla: Persiand) Scottish Fold: British Short Hair

31. You will be given a picture with 12 different dog breeds and you will be asked to name 6 of the breeds. (2 marks)

32. What is the most highly developed sense (sight, smell, taste, touch, hearing) in (1 mark)a) The dog: smell, hearingb) The cat: sight

33. The following statement is True or False. Both dogs and cats are induced ovulators. Explain your answer.

It’s false. Unlike the dog, cats are "induced ovulators" which means that it is the act of mating that stimulates the release of luteinizing hormone and ovulation (release eggs from the ovaries)

34. Describe two (2) reasons why people have pets (1 mark)Any two of the following (wording can be different – as long as the points are covered):

Companionship Protection Strengthening the family group Acceptable substitutes for human relationships Self esteem Children and the Elderly