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Explain how EACH of the following impacts on an extensive production environment: - The upper critical temperature of farm animals - NSC Agricultural Sciences - Question 3 - 2017 - Paper 1
Question 3
Explain how EACH of the following impacts on an extensive production environment: - The upper critical temperature of farm animals. - The lower critical temperature... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Explain how EACH of the following impacts on an extensive production environment: - The upper critical temperature of farm animals - NSC Agricultural Sciences - Question 3 - 2017 - Paper 1
Step 1
The upper critical temperature of farm animals
Answer
The upper critical temperature refers to the maximum temperature at which farm animals can function comfortably.
Exceeding this temperature can lead to heat stress, resulting in several negative impacts on the animals' health. Symptoms of heat stress include increased heart rate, panting, decreased feed intake, and reduced milk production. Animals may also resort to behavioral adjustments such as seeking shade and reducing movement to conserve energy, affecting overall production efficiency. Prolonged exposure can lead to mortality in extreme cases.
Step 2
The lower critical temperature of farm animals
Answer
The lower critical temperature is the minimum temperature below which animals expend energy to maintain their body temperature.
When temperatures drop below this critical level, animals may experience cold stress, which increases their energy requirements. This can lead to a reduction in growth rates and lower milk production as the animals divert energy from growth and reproduction towards maintaining body heat. Additionally, extended exposure to cold temperatures can compromise animal immunity, making them more susceptible to diseases, which negatively impacts overall productivity.