(a) Define the following terms:
- hay
- silage.
(b)(i) Name two types of pasture.
(ii) State four advantages of establishing a grass-legume pasture.
(iii) State three advantages of rotational grazing. [3 marks]
(c) Draw and label the digestive tract of a hen.
Explanation
a) Definition of the terms hay and silage;
(i) Hay: This is a cut and dried forage (stored) for feeding farm animals
Silage : This is a cut and fermented forage in an anaerobic condition for feeding farm animals
(b) (i) Name two types of pasture
- Grassland.
- Heathland.
- Machair.
- Maquis.
- Moorland.
- Potrero (landform)
- Prairie.
- Rangeland
(ii) Advantages of establishing a grass-legume pasture
- It suppresses weed
- Improves nutritional quality of the forage/balanced diet
- Legumes fertilize the soil for grass to grow/nitrogen fixation
- Optimal usage of the land
- It enhances proliferation of soil fauna and flora leading to
- improved soil structure, texture and aeration
- Reduces evapotranspiration or water loss
- It prevents erosion
- Legume trails on the grass for more production/High yield/
- improved income
- Legume serves as source of protein for the livestock
- It is more acceptable to ruminants
- It reduces leaching
(iii) Advantages of rotational grazing
- Prevents overgrazing
- Allows for the regeneration of grazed forage
- It controls parasites/diseases/pests
- Promotes efficient utilisation of pasture
- Reduces soil compaction/maintenance of soil structure
(c)