HIGH NATIONAL DIPLOMA EXAMINATION 2015 SESSION

OPTION: MANAGEMENT OF FARM ENTERPRISE

Agronomy and animal science

Part one: agronomy
1. When perennial crops are to be gown, cover legume are usually established: list three
species of plants commonly used as cover crop and state the functions of cover crops.
2marks
2. Some crops such as oil palm require a prenursery and a nursery phases before they are
taken to the field, what is the importance of the prenursery crop development?.
2marks
3. What is vegetative propagation and what is its importance in crop production?. 2marks
4. Examine a grain of maize and note the difference between its structure and that of
beanseed 2marks
5. A farmer is growing a new variety of maize for seed, what advice would you give him for
the production of high quality seed?. 2marks
Part two Animal Science
1. Name the two widespread exotic pig breeds in the tropical regions and their main
characteristics. 2marks
2. Name the important vitamins in the animal feeding, what does avitaminose A mean?.
2marks
3. What does PPR mean and what are its symptoms?. 2marks
4. Name the main grasses used in cattle feeding. 2marks
5. What are the factors which favour rabit diseases . 2marks
Answer guide:
Part one agronomy
1. Three species of cover legumes:
 Centrosema pubescens
 Pueraria phaseoloides
 Calopogonium muclunoides

Function of cover legumes:

 they prevent erosion,

 Combat weed growth and
 Add nitrogen to the soil

2. Pre-nurseries are important in that it is practiced in a small area compare to field

nursery and reduces the cost of maintenance of the young plant. In oil palm the pre-
nursery last for about 4-5 months
3. Vegetative propagation is the practice by which planting materials are produced without
the use of sex organs.
Its importance in crop production is as follows: it permits the farmer to produce planting
material identical to the mother plant.
4. The grain of maize comprises mainly three part: the pericarp, the endocarp and the
embryo.
The grain of bean comprises the pericarp and the cotyledons.
While in the grain of maize the reserve food is located in the endosperm, in the grain of
bean it is located in the cotyledons.
5. For the production of high quality seed, the farmer should isolate his farm from the
other farms, especially those producing different varieties of maize. This is because in
maize pollination is mainly crossed.
Part two Animal Science

1. The 2 widespread exotic pig breeds in the tropical regions are: large white and Land race
their mains characteristics are
Large white: fast growth, the length is good, the size is large, the sow is prolific, easrs
uright, shot nose, and white colour
Land race: white colour,flap ears, long body with development hams, sow is prolific.
2. The important vitamins in the animal feeding are as follows: vit A,B 1, B2, B6, B12, C, D, E,
K.
Avitaminose means deficiency of vit a in the animal organism.
3. PPR means Peste des Petits s Ruminants. It is a high mortality disease, symptoms being :
high fever (420), nose discharges and diarrhea, the affected sheep dies in one week, the
vanation is the only treatment.
4. The main grasses used in cattle feeding are:
 Penisectum purpureum (elephant grass)
 Brachiaria ruziziensis
 Trypsacum laxum (guatemela grass)
 Stylosanthew guyanensis
 Desmodium
5. The factors which favours Rabbit diseases are:
 Lack of water
 Ingestion of toxic feeding
 Feeding of unfresh grass or polluted which cause diarrhea
Lack of cleanness and ventilation of rabbit.