Observation

This question was least popular among candidates and many of them avoided it. Although candidates who attempted the question were able to state the advantages and disadvantages of castrating livestock, majority of them were unable to draw the digestive system of a domestic fowl. Many candidates also do not know the functions of parts of the chicken digestive system.
The expected answers include:       

(a) Advantages of castration in livestock production

- Prevents indiscriminate mating/breeding control
- Increased animal weight/growth improvement
- Improved meat quality
- Animals are docile for easy handling
- Removal of male odour
- Improvement of market value

Disadvantages of castration in livestock production

- Blood may be lost in the process
- If not well treated, wound may persist
- There could be excess deposit of fat
- Wound may become infected
- Desirable traits may be lost
- It is stressful/painful to the animal
- Death may occur

(b) (i) Drawing of digestive system of domestic fowl


(ii) Functions of parts

Beak - Picks the feed
- Moistens the feed

Oesophagus/gullet/gut/throat - Passage for feed from mouth to crop

Crop - Temporary storage of feed
- Further moistening of feed

Proventriculus - Secretion of gastric juice/digestive enzyme
- Digestion of proteins

Gizzard - Grinding of feed

Ventriculus - Mixing/churning of feed

Small intestine - Digestion of feed

- Secretion of digestive enzymes
- Absorption of nutrients

Large intestines - Absorption of water

Pancreas - Secretion of pancreatic juice

Liver - Secretion of bile

Gall bladder - Storage of bile

Caeca/caecum - Microbial fermentation
- Absorption of water

Rectum - Absorption of water
- Collection of feacal material

Cloaca/anus/vent - Passage for droppings