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3. (a) Describe the desirable signs of health in a farm animal - Leaving Cert Agricultural Science - Question 3 - 2009
Question 3
3. (a) Describe the desirable signs of health in a farm animal. (b) Discuss the factors which contribute to ewe and lamb mortality. (c) Describe how the digestibil... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:3. (a) Describe the desirable signs of health in a farm animal - Leaving Cert Agricultural Science - Question 3 - 2009
Step 1
Describe the desirable signs of health in a farm animal.
Answer
In a healthy farm animal, several signs can indicate their well-being. Firstly, the animal should be alert and active, exhibiting bright eyes and a clean nose and mouth without any discharges. Its body should have a clean hindquarters with no signs of scouring, and it should be walking normally with unlabored breathing. Additionally, a healthy animal maintains a clean and sleek coat, is able to stretch or arch its back comfortably, and is eating normally, reflecting adequate levels of production.
Step 2
Discuss the factors which contribute to ewe and lamb mortality.
Answer
Ewe and lamb mortality can be attributed to a variety of factors. One significant cause is the lack of colostrum intake, which is crucial for newborn lambs. Other important factors include failure to vaccinate ewes, which can lead to exposure to diseases, and conditions such as hypothermia or chill, particularly in harsh weather. Additionally, issues such as twin-lamb disease, predator attacks, and poor birth management like not steaming-up or creep feeding can contribute to high mortality rates. Factors such as inadequate supervision during lambing season further exacerbate these risks.
Step 3
Describe how the digestibility of a grass sward changes during the growing season.
Answer
The digestibility of a grass sward changes significantly throughout the growing season. At the early stages of growth, the grass is rich in sugars, making it highly digestible. As the grass matures, particularly at the leaf stage, the carbohydrate structure shifts. At this point, more of the carbohydrates consist of cellulose, which has a lower digestibility compared to sugars. When the grass reaches around 70% maturity, its sugar content drops below 50%. Consequently, at this point, the digestibility value of grass, often indicated by the Dry Matter Digestibility (DMD), decreases by approximately 0.5% for each day after heading out.