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Compare summer grazing and winter fattening as systems for finishing beef animals - Leaving Cert Agricultural Science - Question 3 - 2011
Question 3
Compare summer grazing and winter fattening as systems for finishing beef animals. Describe four qualities a farmer would look for when selecting replacement heifer... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Compare summer grazing and winter fattening as systems for finishing beef animals - Leaving Cert Agricultural Science - Question 3 - 2011
Step 1
Compare summer grazing and winter fattening as systems for finishing beef animals.
Answer
Summer grazing involves using all the available grass to finish cattle without relying on stored feed such as hay or silage. This method typically requires little labor and no housing, leading to reduced costs. Conversely, winter fattening requires that most of the grass is harvested and stored as silage, which necessitates housing for the cattle. This method involves higher labor requirements, as farmers need to manage feed quality and ensure adequate nutrition throughout the winter.
Step 2
Describe four qualities a farmer would look for when selecting replacement heifers for a dairy herd.
Answer
When selecting replacement heifers, farmers should look for:
- Good Feet and Legs: Heifers should have strong and sound feet and legs for longevity and ease of locomotion.
- Udder Development: Replacement heifers should exhibit good udder conformation to ensure proper milk production.
- High Milk Yield Potential: Select heifers from good genetic backgrounds known for high milk yield and fertility.
- Ease of Calving: It is vital that the heifers are easy calvers, as this will minimize complications during birth and enhance the overall herd performance.
Step 3
Explain the underlined term and give an example of FCE for a named farm animal.
Answer
Food Conversion Efficiency (FCE) refers to how efficiently an animal converts feed into body weight gain. For instance, in pigs, FCE can be expressed as a ratio of feed intake to weight gain, such as 3:1, meaning that for every three kilograms of feed consumed, the pig gains one kilogram of body weight.
Step 4
Explain why FCE decreases with age in an animal.
Answer
FCE often decreases with age due to the changes in body composition and metabolic efficiency. As animals mature, they develop more body fat and muscle compared to growth rate, which reduces the efficiency at which feed is converted to muscle. Additionally, older animals require more energy to maintain their body functions than to gain weight, leading to a lower FCE.
Step 5
Explain how a farmer might improve the FCE of his herd.
Answer
A farmer can improve the FCE of his herd by implementing several strategies:
- High-Quality Diet: Providing a balanced diet enriched with the right nutrients and higher energy content can enhance growth rates.
- Reduced Roughage: Minimizing low-energy roughage in the diet while increasing concentrates can result in better feed conversion.
- Breeding Strategies: Selecting for animals with superior genetic traits for growth and feed efficiency can improve FCE.
- Environmental Management: Controlling housing conditions, reducing disease prevalence, and maintaining optimal temperatures can also enhance feed efficiency in farm animals.