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Describe the management practices necessary to maximise the growth of housed weanlings during their first winter - Leaving Cert Agricultural Science - Question c - 2016
Question c
Describe the management practices necessary to maximise the growth of housed weanlings during their first winter. Describe a suitable grazing system which might be u... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Describe the management practices necessary to maximise the growth of housed weanlings during their first winter - Leaving Cert Agricultural Science - Question c - 2016
Step 1
Describe the management practices necessary to maximise the growth of housed weanlings during their first winter.
Answer
To maximize the growth of housed weanlings during their first winter, several management practices should be implemented:
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Housing Conditions: Ensure that weanlings are housed in a clean, dry, and well-ventilated environment. Provide adequate space, approximately 1.4 m² per calf or 7 m³ per calf in the barn.
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Nutrition: Offer high-quality feed, including a mix of forage and concentrates. Ensure access to clean, fresh water at all times and consider supplementing with minerals and vitamins as necessary for optimal growth.
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Health Monitoring: Regularly monitor the health of the weanlings. Check for any signs of illness or stress and take immediate action. Vaccination and deworming protocols should be followed as part of preventive health management.
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Grouping: House weanlings in similar size groups to prevent bullying and stress. This can help in maintaining a consistent growth rate among them.
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Record Keeping: Keep detailed records of growth rates and health status to make informed decisions regarding diet and management adjustments.
Step 2
Describe a suitable grazing system which might be used in a beef enterprise to achieve optimum production.
Answer
A suitable grazing system for a beef enterprise aiming for optimum production is the Rotational Grazing System. This system can be set up in the following ways:
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Grazing Methodology: Implement a rotational grazing system where pastures are divided into smaller paddocks. Cattle are moved from one paddock to another, allowing for rest and recovery of the grazed areas.
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Benefits: This method benefits both the animals and the pasture. It helps to manage parasite loads, improves pasture quality, and leads to better nutrient utilization.
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Grazing Management: Rotate cattle to prevent overgrazing and ensure that grass is not grazed too low. Ideally, allow areas to rest for several weeks between grazings to promote regrowth and maintain soil health.
Step 3
Outline the main features of this system.
Answer
The EU beef carcase classification system features the following:
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Grading Criterion: It is a grading system designed to categorize carcases primarily based on the fat cover and the conformation score, indicated from 1 to 5, where a higher score represents better quality.
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Assessment Involvement: The system involves a detailed assessment of the carcase in established factories to ensure compliance with quality standards.
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Market Standards: The classifications are used to ensure that producers meet specific market standards, aiding in price determination and market access.
Step 4
Using this system, indicate a suitable score for a highly productive Continental beef animal and a British crossbred beef animal.
Answer
Under the EU classification system:
- A highly productive Continental beef animal may be scored as E1 or E2, indicating excellent conformation and fat cover.
- A British crossbred beef animal would typically receive a score of R4 or R5, which reflects good quality and conformation.
Step 5
Describe a suitable strategy which could be used to improve the classification of Irish beef cattle in the future.
Answer
To improve the classification of Irish beef cattle in the future, the following strategy could be implemented:
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Genetic Improvement: Crossbreed high-quality beef bulls with continental bulls to enhance the genetic quality of the herd. Focus on selecting traits that improve growth rates and carcass quality.
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Management Practices: Implement improved feeding practices, ensuring that animals are properly fed and managed to reach optimal slaughter weights.
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Data Analysis: Utilize data analytics to monitor growth and classification trends regularly, allowing producers to make informed breeding and management decisions.
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Educational Programs: Develop educational programs for farmers focusing on best practices for breeding, feeding, and animal husbandry to raise awareness and skills in improving beef quality.