Theory question 105
Basic Agricultural Economics(a) Explain the term colostrum.
(b) Draw and label structure of a chicken egg.
(c) Study and complete the table below which illustrates the law of diminishing returns. (Fixed factor: 2 ha of land in every row. Fertilizer 1 to 8 units give total products of 1, 4, 15, iv, v, 48, 49, 49 kg; the marginal products are i, ii, iii, 13, 12, vi, vii, viii kg.)
Show the model answer
(a) Colostrum is the first thick, yellowish milk produced by a mammal for a few days after giving birth; it is rich in antibodies, protein and vitamins and is a laxative.
(b) Labelled diagram showing: shell; outer and inner shell membranes; air space (blunt end); thin and thick albumen; chalazae; yolk; vitelline membrane; germinal disc (blastoderm).
(c) Marginal product = change in total product: (i) 1 kg; (ii) 4 − 1 = 3 kg; (iii) 15 − 4 = 11 kg; (iv) total = 15 + 13 = 28 kg; (v) total = 28 + 12 = 40 kg; (vi) 48 − 40 = 8 kg; (vii) 49 − 48 = 1 kg; (viii) 49 − 49 = 0 kg.
Marginal product = present total product − previous total product.