NCEA Level 2 Agricultural and Horticultural Science (90453) 2009 — page 1 of 8
Assessment Schedule – 2009
Agricultural and Horticultural Science: Describe modification of livestock reproduction
or plant propagation to improve productivity (90453)
SECTION A: AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE
Evidence Statement
Achievement
Achievement with Merit
Describes the
Timing – range of 60–20 days
before expected date of natural
calving, AND
Method – being an injection, one
or two, into the rump of the cow.
Evidence from any part of the
answers to (a) and (b) used
when describing how a
technique, induction or use of
CIDRs, is performed.
Explains that inductions can be
performed at different times on
different cows so that the calving
dates are advanced resulting in
the majority of cows calving over
a shorter timeframe.
Evidence from any part of the
answers to (a) and (b) used
when explaining important steps
when performing a technique,
induction or use of CIDRs.
Q
Achievement with Excellence
ONE
(a)
A1
(b)
The insertion and removal of
CIDRs containing progesterone
controls the onset of the
oestrous cycle and the time of
mating, which controls the time
of calving.
M1
Management advantages
resulting from the use of CIDRs
include:
 the ability to control the time of
calving has financial benefits,
as the time of calving
coincides with peak of spring
growth, thereby maximising
milk production and returns
from milk solids
 a return to a normal calving
pattern in future years; all
cows back to a common
breeding season
 concentrated calving pattern
allows for more efficient use of
casual labour hired to cover
the calving period
 better use of artificial
insemination services, as time
of heat can be accurately
predicted.
Justification for use of CIDRs:
While both techniques are easy
to perform – insertion or
injections – and the initial costs
are similar, it is the end effect of
inductions on cows and their
calves that is of concern and
impacts on productivity.
The high death rates of induced
calves may be compensated by
milk returns, but they cannot
compensate for the backlash of
animal welfare considerations
raised by many people in many
countries. Continued use of a
technique used to correct poor
management decisions which kill
calves will result in consumer
resistance and reduced demand
for milk products.
Conversely, CIDRs are userfriendly and represent good
management decision- making in
order to achieve a commercial
goal, but without the high death
rate of calves and sometimes
cows.
NCEA Level 2 Agricultural and Horticultural Science (90453) 2009 — page 2 of 8
Evidence from any part of the
answers to (a) and (b) used
when describing how a
technique, induction, or CIDRs,
improves productivity.
Evidence from any part of the
answers to (a) and (b) used
when explaining how a
technique, induction, or CIDRs,
improves productivity.
A2
M2
Achievement
Q
Justification highlights the
acceptance of CIDRs as a
technique and the higher
associated costs associated with
inductions, especially those
related to animal welfare issues.
E
Achievement with Merit
Achievement with Excellence
TWO
(a)
Evidence could include:
 a higher number of barren or
dry ewes – no image on
monitor
 a reduced number of ewes
carrying multiple foetuses –
one rather than two images on
monitor.
Evidence from any part of the
answers to (a) and (b) used
when describing how scanning
is performed.
A1
Explanation links dry conditions
to decreased scanning
percentage by either:
 ewes of a lighter weight when
mated and it is known that
lighter ewes have reduced
ovulation rates
 no autumn growth to allow
farmers to “flush” ewes,
thereby no gain in liveweight at
mating – again, lighter ewes
with low ovulation rates.
Evidence from any part of the
answers to (a) and (b) used
when explaining how dry
summer conditions impact on
scanning results.
M1
(b)
Description of how flushing
improves production:
Flushing ewes with high quality
feed prior to and during mating
results in an increase in
liveweight that is associated with
a higher ovulation rate.
Assuming that rams are fertile
and weather conditions are
normal, the potential for a high
lambing percentage is increased,
resulting in more lambs for sale.
Evidence from any part of the
answer used when describing
how flushing improves
productivity.
Explains that the above average
rainfall suggests that over the
late summer – autumn period,
pasture growth would not be
limited, as temperatures will be
high and water for plants is not a
limiting factor. As a result, there
will be surplus pasture growth of
a high quality that can be used
for flushing. Given that these
conditions are likely to occur on
an annual basis, flushing is a
reliable technique on this
property.
Evidence provides an
explanation of the reliability of
flushing on this property.
A2
M2
Both techniques are relatively
cheap to implement and have
minimal farmer involvement. The
extra autumn growth results from
natural factors such as rainfall
rather than expensive irrigation
and scanning. Scanning is
normally performed by
technicians, at a cost of 50c /
ewe, in one day, with farmers
feeding ewes to the scanning
crate.
It can be argued that flushing
ewes does deny the farmer the
opportunity to trade stock on a
short-term basis, thus denying a
source of income, eg buying and
selling lambs. Scanning can
always be carried out, and may
be more beneficial in identifying
twin-bearing ewes in order to
maximise the survival rate of
ewes and lambs.
Flushing impacts on the
NCEA Level 2 Agricultural and Horticultural Science (90453) 2009 — page 3 of 8
ovulation rate, which sets the
upper limit on the number of
lambs that could be born and
sold, and therefore has a very
significant financial implication.
Scanning tells which ewes are
carrying these lambs and at best
can preserve these numbers, but
will not increase them.
Evidence from the comparison of
financial benefits is in favour of
flushing for this property.
E
Q
Achievement
Achievement with Merit
Achievement with Excellence
THREE
(a)
Example: beef production
Example: velvet production
Recording of birth weight, plus
200-day and 400-day liveweight,
using clock face scales for
measuring birth weight and
platform scales to measure 200day and 400-day liveweight.
Evidence from any part of the
answers to (a) and (b) used
when describing how “selection
and recording” for the selected
livestock production system is
performed.
Explanation of how velvet
weight of the selected stag is
ranked with velvet weight of
stags of same age and reared in
a similar environment.
Information on temperament
may be considered. A stag
ranked highly would be a
candidate for selection and use
in breeding programmes.
Evidence from any part of the
answers to (a) and (b) explains
how “selection and recording” is
used in breeding programmes
for the selected livestock
production system.
A1
M1
(b)
Describes the small but
permanent improvement in
performance, in terms of lambing
percentage or wool weight, eg
1–2% per year or 100 gm per
year.
Evidence from any part of the
answer used when describing
how “selection and recording”
improves productivity.
A2
Explains how “selection or
recording” of rams improves the
speed of genetic progress.
Eg Justification of “selection
and recording” over artificial
insemination.
“Selection and recording”
Provided that all animals are
being run under similar
conditions, such as feeding and
health programmes on a farm,
then livestock –especially rams –
that are identified as higher
performers by their performance
in the field, will possess the
genotypes that allow for high
production. A high-performance
ram will mate with many ewes,
therefore the genotype of the
ram contributes half the
genotype of lambs / breeding
ewes and speeds up progress.
The most significant factors
involved are that the farm is a
commercial rather than a stud
sheep farm.
Artificial insemination is
expensive to undertake,
requiring expertise and
equipment outside the scope of
the sheep farmer. On the other
hand, selection and recording
does not require such advanced
knowledge and expertise, but it
does require attention to detail in
order that the data collected is
accurate and reliable. As a result
“selection and recording” forms
NCEA Level 2 Agricultural and Horticultural Science (90453) 2009 — page 4 of 8
The desirable genes will be
concentrated in offspring, and
this influence cannot be changed
by outside factors. As a result,
improvement in performance is
permanent.
Evidence provides an
explanation of how “selection
and recording” produces faster
genetic gains.
M2
the basis of stud farmers’
operations from which
commercial farmers purchase
rams.
Commercial farms will record
poor performers and cull them.
As a result, the “better” genes
are concentrated in the flock and
achieved over time, but at a
lower cost than artificial
insemination. The relatively low
prices being paid for sheep
products means that the
financial viability of high-cost
techniques are questioned,
despite their greater impact on
genetic gain.
Evidence from the comparison
justifies the use of “selection
and recording” on commercial
sheep properties.
E
Judgement Statement
Achievement
Achievement with Merit
Achievement with Excellence
2 A1 / M1
Achievement + 2 M1
Merit + 2 E
2 A2 / M2
Achievement + 2 M2
NCEA Level 2 Agricultural and Horticultural Science (90453) 2009 — page 5 of 8
SECTION B: HORTICULTURAL SCIENCE
Evidence Statement
Q
Achievement with Merit
Achievement
Achievement with Excellence
ONE
(a)
Describes the action taken.
Example:
 removal of fruit flesh
 place seeds in a sink to rinse
under a very slowly running
clean water tap for up to 24
hours
 soak in gibberellin solution
 stratification – period of cold,
then warmth.
A1
Explains how the action starts
the germination process.
Example:
Germination is inhibited by
chemicals in the fleshy part of
the fruit (pericarp) or the fruit
juices. Once the flesh is removed
from the fruit or has been
neutralised and there is nothing
blocking the germination
process, food mobilisation can
begin and the seed is able to
germinate. Stratification removes
abscisic acid (ABA).
M1
(b)
Describes how scarification
produces a quick, reliable
supply of seedlings for the
nursery.
Example:
 breaking dormancy
encourages a more even
germination, and therefore a
more even growth of a batch of
seedlings essential for
commercial production
 all plants will be ready to be
transplanted at the same time
 breaking dormancy will give a
grower a timeframe for the
production of plants.
A2
Explains how scarification
produces quality seedlings for
the nursery.
Example:
 high quality seedlings will be of
a similar size and standard
 all the crop is the same size,
so can be treated / managed
the same
 fewer seeds will need to be
sown to obtain the right
number as dormancy factors
are overcome
 even growth due to even
germination (as dormancy
factors are overcome) will lead
to increased quality, and
consequently higher returns
 breaking dormancy will give
the grower a timeframe for
production of plants. He / she
can then plan ahead to have
the batch of plants of a specific
size available for planting out
at a specific time.
M2
Justifies why scarification is a
more effective technique than
stratification at producing
quality plants in the least amount
of time.
Example:
Scarification can be performed
on many seeds at one time and
in a short time period. As a
result, the germination and
resulting growth processes are
accelerated, whereas
stratification (cold temperature
followed by warm temperature
treatment) is normally carried out
over a longer period of time (eg
weeks or months).
A clear link must be made
between timing of production and
sale of seedlings.
E
NCEA Level 2 Agricultural and Horticultural Science (90453) 2009 — page 6 of 8
Q
Achievement
Achievement with Merit
Achievement with Excellence
TWO
(a)
Describes ONE action taken.
Examples:
 select disease-free material
that shows good plant vigour
 ensure that cuts that are made
at the top of the rootstock and
the base of the scion are the
same in shape and angle
 perform graft in early spring
when buds of the rootstock are
beginning to swell, but before
active growth
 tightly bind the scion and
rootstock with grafting tape
 sterilise equipment.
A1
Explains how the action
improves the success rate of the
grafting technique.
Examples:
 this ensures that there is no
transmission of diseases, such
as those caused by viruses
 this ensures that the
interlocking surfaces make
maximum contact and that
cambium layers are aligned
 this will result in a successful
‘take’, resulting in increased
chance of producing mature
plants when using this
technique
 binding of scion and rootstock
with grafting tape ensures that
moisture is retained, and that
pests and diseases cannot
enter via the wound site.
M1
(b)
Describes how the choice of
dwarf rootstock affects tree
planting density in commercial
apple orchards.
Example:
Dwarf trees can be planted
closer together in the row, while
distance between rows can be
reduced – a higher number of
trees planted per hectare.
Explains how the use of dwarf
rootstock limits the size of trees.
Example:
Rootstock selection determines
the size of the apple plant,
because of the amount of root
mass available to compete for
absorption of water and
nutrients. Therefore a dwarf
rootstock with a small root mass
will ensure smaller- sized trees.
A2
M2
Explains how the use of dwarf
rootstock improves economics of
production.
Example:
Harvesting or strip picking of the
apples will be easier and
quicker, as most of them can be
picked from the ground. The
pickers will not be required to
spend much time up on ladders,
and accuracy when picking will
increase. This reduces the risk of
bruising. Additionally, the lack of
tree height will improve apple
colour, as sunlight will be able to
get through the tree to the lower
fruit. The resulting higher quality
fruit will have more value.
Answer may count towards M2.
E
NCEA Level 2 Agricultural and Horticultural Science (90453) 2009 — page 7 of 8
Q
Achievement
Achievement with Merit
Achievement with Excellence
THREE
(a)
Describes ONE action
taken when using hormone
application on softwood
cuttings.
Examples:
Explains why this action is
important when using
hormone application on
softwood cuttings.
Examples:
 cut below the node at an
angle
 synthetic root promoting
hormones (IBA, NAA)
stimulate adventitious root
formation in softwood
cuttings
 remove lower leaves
 use an appropriate
hormone type /
concentration, OR mix
hormone in an
appropriate concentration
 the cut end is soaked for
24 hours in a dilute
solution of root-promoting
hormone (either IBA or
NAA), or dipped for one
minute in stronger
hormone-liquid
formulations, or the cut
surface is dipped into talc
(powder) formulations of
the same hormones and
excess material shaken
off
 dip cutting in water before
dipping in hormone
powder.
A1
 root formation is essential
for water and nutrient
uptake, and success when
producing plants using this
technique
 node is where there is
active cell division and
auxin production, promoting
cell division and root
production
 higher hormone
concentrations are used in
cuttings that are difficult to
root
 cutting below a node
enhances the natural
hormone concentration,
thus increased cell division
and subsequent root
formation
 sap is flowing through the
plant, cell division is at
maximum rate, and tips are
at high growth rate – all
conducive to root
production
 (for liquid) time to soak in is
required, or hormone will
not penetrate to cambium
cells to increase cell
division and subsequent
root formation
 removing excess hormone
prevents excess
concentration, which would
have a negative effect.
M1
(b)
Describes how hormone
application would improve
growth.
Example:
Hormone-treated softwood
cuttings show a significant
Explains how hormone
application would improve
growth.
Example:
A larger number of
adventitious roots will be
Justifies how the use of root hormone
produces a higher financial return.
Example:
By applying the appropriate hormone in
the concentration required, a larger
number of adventitious roots will be
NCEA Level 2 Agricultural and Horticultural Science (90453) 2009 — page 8 of 8
increase in root formation
compared with untreated
cuttings.
A2
produced. Because of the
increased root surface area,
and the ability to absorb
water and nutrients, the
supply of these important
growth factors is increased,
and provided that
temperature conditions are
appropriate, the growth rates
of the cuttings are enhanced.
M2
produced. Because of the increased
ability to absorb water and nutrients, and
better anchorage in the growing media,
larger and stronger plants will be
produced, and there will be a reduction in
the time required for plants to reach
market suitability. A greater survival rate
will result, especially if the plants are
transplanted, therefore ensuring a larger
number of plants for sale, thus increasing
financial returns. This reduced time
required to produce plants means that
more can be produced in a given time
period, and at different times of the year,
thus increasing financial returns.
E
Judgement Statement
Achievement
Achievement with Merit
Achievement with Excellence
2 A1 / M1
2 M1
Merit + 2 E
2 A2 / M2
2 M2