NCEA Level 1 Agricultural Science (90154) 2010 — page 1 of 5
Assessment Schedule – 2010
Agricultural Science: Describe livestock management and livestock physiology important to this
management (90154)
Evidence Statement
Question
Achievement
with Merit
Achievement
Achievement
with Excellence
ONE
(a)
Describes TWO features of
rumen digestion.
Explains TWO features of
rumen digestion.
Examples:
Examples:
The rumen is a large muscular
stomach. The wall is lined with
papillae, which increase the
surface area for absorption of
volatile fatty acids, which
provide the animal with an
immediate source of energy.
The rumen is at a constant
 Rumen microbes (bacteria /
protozoa), which digest
cellulose, are present (in huge
numbers)
 Gases CO2 and CH4 are
produced as a result of
microbial digestion
 Fatty acids are produced from
the breakdown of cellulose /
starch and pass through the
rumen wall
 For microbial digestion to
occur, the rumen needs to be
warm, anaerobic, have a pH
of 7, and a continuous supply
of pasture / feed.
temperature of 37◦C and a pH of
7, which maintains ideal
conditions for the billions of
rumen microbes to break down
plant fibre into microbial protein,
which the animal can digest
later in the digestive tract.
M1
A1
(b)
Describes “chewing the cud”.
Explains “chewing the cud”.
Example:
Chewing the cud involves
bringing undigested grass /
coarse plant material in the
rumen up to the mouth via the
oesophagus.
Example:
The grass is re-chewed using
the molars, then re-swallowed.
Chewing the cud breaks down
fibre / grass into smaller pieces,
which helps speed up the
digestion of the pasture by the
rumen microbes / bacteria.
A1
M1
(c)
Describes what the selected
management practice involves.
Example:
A mixture of fresh leafy pasture
and hay will provide sufficient
feed / energy for cows in late
pregnancy. Cows can be breakfed a strip / break of fresh leafy
pasture each day,
supplemented with hay.
A1
Explains how the selected
management practice is carried
out in terms of:

feed requirements of
pregnant cows

availability of feed for
pregnant cows

labour resources.
Example:
A mixture of fresh leafy pasture
and hay will provide sufficient
feed / energy for cows in late
pregnancy, as they only need a
maintenance diet, to prevent the
Justifies, by giving reasons, the
selected management practice
as better than the other in terms
of:

feed requirements of
pregnant cows

availability of feed for
pregnant cows

labour resources.
Example:
A mixture of fresh leafy pasture
and hay will provide sufficient
feed / energy for cows in late
pregnancy, as they only need a
NCEA Level 1 Agricultural Science (90154) 2010 — page 2 of 5
calf getting too big and causing
calving problems, thereby
reducing the need for close
supervision by staff and the
overall need for labour.
Cows can be break-fed a strip /
break of fresh leafy pasture
each day, supplemented with
hay.
By restricting the amount of
fresh leafy pasture and
supplementing with hay for dry
cows, there will be more fresh
leafy pasture available at
calving.
M1
maintenance diet, to prevent the
calf getting too big and causing
calving problems, thereby
reducing the need for close
supervision by staff and the
overall need for labour.
Cows can be break-fed a strip /
break of fresh leafy pasture
each day, supplemented with
hay.
When feeding hay, Calmag can
be added with molasses to the
hay, to help prevent milkfever
and grass staggers.
By restricting the amount of
fresh leafy pasture and
supplementing with hay for dry
cows, there will be more fresh
leafy pasture available at
calving. Lactating cows have a
higher feed demand, and need
more digestible feed to produce
milk for calves.
E
Question
Achievement
with Merit
Achievement
TWO
(a)
Describes the function of ONE
of vagina and cervix.
Explains the function of BOTH
the vagina and cervix.
Example:
Example:
Vagina / birth canal – receives
the male reproductive organ /
penis.
Vagina / birth canal – receives
the male reproductive organ /
penis during natural mating.
Cervix – protects the uterus
from infection.
Cervix – protects the uterus
from infection and opens / dilates
when giving birth.
A1
M1
(b)
Explains why semen releases
into the uterus.
Explains in detail why semen
releases into the uterus.
Example:
To increase the chance of
sperm reaching and fertilising
the egg.
Example:
The cervix is held through the
rectal wall to help guide the
pistolette (inseminating tube)
into the uterus.
In artificial insemination, the
number of sperm is lower than
in natural mating, as it has been
diluted, therefore the semen
needs to be released high in the
reproductive tract (uterus) to
increase the chance of sperm
reaching and fertilising the egg.
A1
M1
Achievement
with Excellence
NCEA Level 1 Agricultural Science (90154) 2010 — page 3 of 5
Question
(c)
Achievement
with Merit
Achievement
with Excellence
Explains reasons why tailpainting is a more reliable
method than bulling, in terms of:
Justifies, with reasons, the use
of tail-painting as a more
reliable method than bulling, in
terms of:
Achievement
Describes either of:

how to tail-paint

the accuracy of heat
detection

the manageability and cost.
Example:
Using a non-water-based tail
paint, brush or spray a wide
strip over the tail from the hip
bones over the top of the tail.
When cows are on heat other
cows will ride them, rubbing off
the tail paint. Farmers can then
easily identify the cows on heat.
Observing that tail paint has
been rubbed off is quick and
easy to do, and involves little
cost in time.
A1

how to tail-paint

accuracy of heat detection

manageability and cost.
Example:
When cows are on heat other
cows will ride them, rubbing off
the tail paint. Farmers can then
easily identify the cows on heat
and separate these cows at
milking, so they can be
inseminated.
In big herds, relying on
observing heat from bulling may
not be accurate. It is also timeconsuming, as it is hard to
identify which cows are really on
heat when there is a lot of
sexual activity.
Using tail paint is a more
accurate and efficient method of
detecting cows on heat, and
more cows can be inseminated,
with a higher success rate.
This will improve the genetic
potential of the herd, which will
increase the milk production of
the herd over time and increase
the farm’s financial returns.
M1

how to tail-paint

accuracy of heat detection

manageability and cost.
Example:
When cows are on heat other
cows will ride them, rubbing off
the tail paint. Farmers can then
easily identify the cows in heat
and separate these cows at
milking, so they can be
inseminated.
In big herds, relying on
observing heat from bulling may
not be accurate. It is also timeconsuming, as it is hard to
identify which cows are really on
heat when there is a lot of
sexual activity.
Observation of bulling is not
reliable, as many cows will
come on heat for only a short
period of time or during the
night, so heat detection may be
missed.
Using tail paint is a more
accurate and efficient method of
detecting cows on heat, and
more cows can be inseminated,
with a higher success rate. The
more cows inseminated with
semen from genetically superior
sires in the first 4–5 weeks of
mating, the greater the number
of heifer calves which can be
kept from the best cows. This
will improve the genetic
potential of the herd, which will
increase the milk production of
the herd over time and increase
the farm’s financial returns.
E
NCEA Level 1 Agricultural Science (90154) 2010 — page 4 of 5
Achievement
Achievement
with Merit
Describes the steps necessary
to vaccinate sheep.
Explains the necessary steps to
vaccinate sheep.
Example:
Example:
Put stock in the race. Follow
instructions (on the container) to
give stock the correct dose,
using a clean, sharp needle.
Inject the dose under the skin.
Vaccination should be given in
the neck.
Put stock in the race, so they
are easy and safe to handle.
A2
Vaccination should be given in
the neck, as this is a low-value
part of the carcass if damage
does occur. Record when stock
are vaccinated.
Question
Achievement
with Excellence
THREE
(a)
Follow the instructions (on the
container) to give stock the
correct dose, using a clean,
sharp needle. Inject the dose
under the skin (folded, tented) to
prevent damage to muscle.
M2
(b)
Describes a sign a farmer could
observe that would indicate that
drenching is necessary.
Examples:
Sheep would:

be daggy

be losing weight

have poor wool growth

have poor growth rates.
Explains the signs a farmer
could observe that would
indicate that drenching is
necessary.
Examples:

Sheep would have lots of
dags (dirty tails) due to high
worm population irritating
the gut lining, causing
scours.

The sheep would be losing
weight condition, due to low
appetite and scouring.

The sheep would have poor
growth rates, due to low
appetite and scouring.
A2
M2
(c)
Describes why a combination
of the two management
practices is important to achieve
good financial returns, in terms
of:
Explains reasons why a
combination of the two
management practices is
important to achieve good
financial returns, in terms of:

lamb growth rates

lamb growth rates

labour

labour
 drench resistance.
Example:

drench resistance.
Lambs with fewer / no worms
means faster growth rates. As a
result, the lambs can be sold
earlier, increasing farm returns.
Lambs with fewer / no worms
means less pain / irritation for
the gut / intestine, so the lamb
spends more time feeding,
leading to higher feed intake /
better use of nutrients and faster
growth rates.
Using rams with proven
resistance to internal parasites
is a long-term solution to
Example:
Justifies, with reasons, the use
of a combination of the two
management practices as
important to achieve good
financial returns, in terms of all
of:

lamb growth rates

labour

drench resistance.
Example:
Lambs with fewer / no worms
means less pain / irritation for
the gut / intestine, so the lamb
spends more time feeding,
leading to higher feed intake /
better use of nutrients and faster
NCEA Level 1 Agricultural Science (90154) 2010 — page 5 of 5
reducing the frequency of
drenching, and therefore
reducing costs associated with
the drench and labour / time
needed for drenching.
A2
Labour can be reduced by
monitoring stock for worms and
other internal parasites by
observing amount of dags / loss
of weight / regularly weighing
stock and identifying poor / slow
growth rate, or by doing facial
egg counts, and only drenching
when parasite numbers are high
/ increasing / causing poor
growth rates.
Using rams with proven
resistance to internal parasites
reduces the frequency of
drenching, therefore reducing
costs.
Using sires resistant to internal
parasites increases sheep
resistance to internal parasites,
so less drenching is required.
M2
growth rates. As a result, the
lambs can be sold earlier,
increasing farm returns.
Labour can be reduced by
monitoring stock for worms and
other internal parasites by
observing the amount of dags /
loss of weight / regularly
weighing stock and identifying
poor / slow growth rate, or by
doing facial egg counts, and
only drenching when parasite
numbers are high / increasing /
causing poor growth rates. This
reduces the amount of drench
used, decreasing costs and the
time needed to drench lambs.
Using rams with proven
resistance to internal parasites
is a long-term solution to
reducing the frequency of
drenching, and therefore
reducing costs associated with
the drench and labour / time
needed for drenching. Using
sires resistant to internal
parasites increases sheep
resistance to internal parasites,
so less drenching is required.
Drenching is still needed at
times when lambs are under
stress or worm burdens are
higher, especially when lambs
are very young and yet to
develop sufficient resistance.
A combination of both
monitoring stock and drenching
when necessary, as well as
breeding from rams with proven
resistance to internal parasites,
will reduce costs through less
drench used and less time and
labour needed for drenching.
Drenching only when necessary
and drenching correctly will
reduce parasite problems,
maintain fast growth rates, and
prevent problems with drench
resistance. These management
practices together will increase
farm returns.
E
Judgement Statement
Achievement
Achievement with Merit
Achievement with Excellence
2 A1
1 A1
1 A1
2 A2
2 M2
2E