Theory question 101
Animal Improvement and Breeding(a) (i) Explain the term oestrus synchronization as used in artificial insemination. (ii) Name four tools that could be used during the process of artificial insemination. (b) Explain each of the following livestock management practices: (i) vaccination; (ii) feeding ad libitum. (c) Mention one processing technique which could be carried out during each of the following activities in the processing of poultry: (i) pre-slaughtering; (ii) post-slaughtering. (d) Complete the table below.
Common name of animal | young | Weaning period (weeks)
Rabbit | (i) | 4-6
(ii) | Lamb | (iii)
Goat | (iv) | (v)
Cattle | (vi) | 24-30
Pig | (vii) | (viii)
Show the model answer
(a)(i) Oestrus synchronization: using hormones (e.g. prostaglandin, progesterone) to bring a group of females on heat at the same time so they can be inseminated together
(ii) Any four: artificial vagina; insemination gun/pipette/catheter; speculum; straws; liquid nitrogen flask; thawing bath/thermometer; microscope; gloves
(b)(i) Vaccination: giving a vaccine (weakened or killed germs) to healthy animals so they build immunity against a disease
(ii) Feeding ad libitum: making feed (and water) available to animals all the time so they eat as much as they want
(c)(i) Pre-slaughtering, any one: starving/fasting; ante-mortem inspection; weighing; resting (ii) Post-slaughtering, any one: bleeding; scalding; defeathering; evisceration; washing; chilling; packaging
(d) (i) kit/kitten; (ii) sheep; (iii) about 8–16 weeks; (iv) kid; (v) about 8–16 weeks; (vi) calf; (vii) piglet; (viii) about 3–8 weeks
Weaning periods may be given as a range.