Conserving Leftover Feed

28 Grade 9 Agriculture questions on Conserving Leftover Feed, with worked marking schemes. 28 questions are available on this topic in full.

1. Question 1

   1 mark

   A farmer adds molasses when making silage from leftover forage that is low in sugars. The molasses is added mainly to:

   A. Increase the moisture to 100%

   B. Make the silage taste salty

   C. Provide sugars for fermentation by bacteria

   D. Kill all the bacteria in the silo

   (1 mark)

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2. Question 2

   1 mark

   Well-preserved silage from leftover forage is normally identified by its:

   A. Dry, dusty and powdery texture

   B. Pleasant, sweet-sour smell and greenish-brown colour

   C. Foul rotting smell and slimy black colour

   D. Bright white colour with mould

   (1 mark)

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3. Question 3

   1 mark

   A poultry keeper notices that mash spilled and left in feeders overnight becomes damp and starts to spoil. Which practice best conserves the value of such leftover feed and protects bird health?

   A. Collecting the dry leftover mash promptly and storing it in a clean, dry, covered container for reuse

   B. Mixing the spoilt damp mash back into fresh feed

   C. Adding water to the leftover mash and leaving it in the feeder

   D. Spreading the leftover mash on the wet floor of the house

   (1 mark)

   Marking scheme

   A. Collecting the dry leftover mash promptly and storing it in a clean, dry, covered container for reuse

4. Question 4

   4 marks

   A poultry farmer notices that after each feeding, the layers leave a substantial amount of mash scattered and uneaten in the feeding troughs, which goes to waste.

   (a) Give two reasons why the birds may be leaving feed uneaten in the troughs. (2 marks)

   (b) State two ways the farmer can conserve and make use of the clean leftover feed instead of throwing it away. (2 marks)

   (4 marks)

   Marking scheme

   (a) Reasons for uneaten leftover feed (any 2 = 2 marks): - The troughs are overfilled, so the birds scatter and waste the excess feed. - The feed may be stale, mouldy or unpalatable, so the birds reject it. (Also acceptable: too many birds per trough causing fighting and spillage; wrong trough design allowing scratching/billing out of feed; sick birds eating less.) (b) Ways to conserve and use clean leftover feed (any 2 = 2 marks): - Collect the clean, dry leftover mash, sieve out dirt and re-offer it to the birds at the next feeding rather than discarding it. - Mix the clean leftover feed with fresh feed in small amounts so it is consumed before it spoils. (Also acceptable: keep the leftover feed in a clean, dry, covered container to prevent moulding before reuse; feed measured rations and fill troughs only two-thirds full so little is left over; give surplus clean leftovers to other livestock e.g. as part of pig feed.)

5. Question 5

   1 mark

   After feeding her cattle, a farmer notices a heap of leftover Napier grass and maize stalks at the feed trough each morning. To avoid wasting this feed, which practice should she adopt?

   A. Burn the leftovers to prevent disease

   B. Leave the leftovers in the trough for several days

   C. Chop and mix the leftovers with fresh feed or use them as bedding/compost

   D. Throw the leftovers into the water trough

   (1 mark)

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6. Question 6

   1 mark

   A farmer wants to reduce the amount of leftover feed (refusals) at the trough. Which feeding management practice best achieves this?

   A. Offering very large quantities once a day

   B. Feeding small frequent amounts and chopping feed into smaller pieces

   C. Feeding only long, coarse, unchopped stalks

   D. Mixing soil with the feed to add bulk

   (1 mark)

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7. Question 7

   4 marks

   A dairy farmer in Kiambu often finds that a large amount of chopped Napier grass is left over after each feeding.

   (a) State two reasons why the farmer should conserve this leftover feed. (2 marks)

   (b) Describe two methods the farmer could use to conserve the leftover forage. (2 marks)

   (4 marks)

   Marking scheme

   (a) Any 2 (1 mk each): reduces feed wastage; provides feed during dry season/scarcity; saves money spent buying feed; ensures steady feed supply. (b) Any 2 (1 mk each): Hay-making — dry/cure the forage in the sun to reduce moisture then bale and store in a dry ventilated store; Silage-making — chop, wilt, compact tightly in a silo to exclude air, then seal to allow fermentation.

8. Question 8

   4 marks

   During silage making from leftover forage, air must be excluded from the silo.

   (a) Explain why exclusion of air is necessary. (2 marks)

   (b) State two ways of ensuring air is excluded from the silage. (2 marks)

   (4 marks)

   Marking scheme

   (a) Exclusion of air creates anaerobic conditions that allow the desired lactic-acid bacteria to ferment the forage, and prevents growth of moulds and rotting organisms that would spoil the feed (2 mks). (b) Any 2 (1 mk each): chop the forage into small pieces; compact/press it tightly to remove trapped air; cover with a polythene sheet weighed down with soil or tyres; wilt to the correct moisture before packing.

9. Question 9

   1 mark

   Which of the following is a sign that conserved leftover feed has gone bad and should NOT be fed to animals?

   A. A dry, crisp texture in hay

   B. A sweet, silage-like aroma

   C. A fresh green appearance

   D. Presence of visible mould and a rotten smell

   (1 mark)

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10. Question 10

    1 mark

    If leftover hay is baled and stored while it is still too moist, the MOST likely result is:

    A. A permanent green colour

    B. Growth of moulds and possible self-heating

    C. Improved palatability and higher quality

    D. Faster drying inside the bale

    (1 mark)

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11. Question 11

    1 mark

    Which practice would MOST reduce the amount of leftover feed produced during feeding of livestock?

    A. Chopping fodder and offering it in small, frequent amounts

    B. Feeding the animals only stale feed

    C. Spreading the feed on the wet ground

    D. Placing all the day's feed in the trough at once

    (1 mark)

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12. Question 12

    1 mark

    Which of the following BEST explains why a store for conserved feed should be well ventilated?

    A. To let in rain to keep the feed moist

    B. To allow rodents easy entry

    C. To remove excess heat and moisture that encourage moulds

    D. To keep the feed frozen

    (1 mark)

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13. Question 13

    1 mark

    After feeding dairy cattle, a farmer notices that a lot of good-quality Napier grass is left uneaten in the trough. What is the MAIN reason for conserving such leftover feed rather than throwing it away?

    A. To attract more flies to the feeding area

    B. To reduce wastage and cut down on feeding costs

    C. To increase the moisture content of the feed

    D. To make the feed grow again in the trough

    (1 mark)

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14. Question 14

    1 mark

    During silage making from leftover forage, the material is chopped and compacted tightly in the silo mainly to:

    A. Add oxygen for the animals

    B. Increase the temperature to boiling point

    C. Allow rainwater to enter easily

    D. Remove air and create anaerobic conditions

    (1 mark)

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15. Question 15

    1 mark

    A farmer covers a compacted silage heap with a heavy polythene sheet weighed down with soil or old tyres. The MAIN purpose of the weights is to:

    A. Add nutrients to the silage

    B. Cool the silage with the soil

    C. Exclude air by keeping the sheet firmly pressed down

    D. Increase air circulation inside

    (1 mark)

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16. Question 16

    1 mark

    A poultry farmer collects leftover crushed maize and dried greens. The safest way to conserve this dry poultry feed is to:

    A. Bury it in a moist pit

    B. Leave it in an open sack in the rain

    C. Store it in clean, dry, airtight containers away from moisture

    D. Mix it with water and keep it warm

    (1 mark)

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17. Question 17

    1 mark

    Which container feature is MOST important when conserving leftover dry concentrate feeds to prevent spoilage?

    A. Having many open holes

    B. Being moisture-proof and rodent-proof

    C. Being transparent and colourful

    D. Being made of loosely woven cloth

    (1 mark)

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18. Question 18

    1 mark

    Which of the following leftover feeds is BEST suited for conservation as hay?

    A. Wet brewer's waste

    B. Leguminous fodder such as lucerne

    C. Watery kitchen scraps

    D. Fresh cabbage leaves

    (1 mark)

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19. Question 19

    4 marks

    A learner has made silage from leftover sweet potato vines. State four features they would check to confirm that the silage is well-preserved and safe to feed to animals. (4 marks)

    (4 marks)

    Marking scheme

    Any 4 (1 mk each): pleasant sweet/sour (acidic) smell, not rotten or foul; greenish-brown colour, not black; firm moist texture, not slimy; no visible moulds; palatable so animals eat it readily; acidic (low pH).

20. Question 20

    3 marks

    Outline three practices a farmer can adopt during feeding to reduce the amount of leftover feed produced on the farm. (3 marks)

    (3 marks)

    Marking scheme

    Any 3 (1 mk each): chop fodder into smaller pieces to improve intake; offer feed in small frequent amounts rather than all at once; provide clean feeding troughs to avoid rejection; match the quantity offered to the number and size of animals; feed palatable, good-quality forage.

21. Question 21

    1 mark

    A learner stores dry leftover hay in a raised, well-ventilated store. Keeping the hay off the ground on a raised platform mainly helps to:

    A. Speed up rotting of the hay

    B. Increase the weight of the hay

    C. Attract rodents to the store

    D. Prevent absorption of moisture from the ground

    (1 mark)

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22. Question 22

    6 marks

    Explain three factors a farmer should consider when choosing whether to conserve leftover forage as hay or as silage. (6 marks)

    (6 marks)

    Marking scheme

    Any 3 (2 mks each): Weather/climate — hay needs dry sunny weather to dry the forage while silage suits wet weather; Moisture/type of forage — succulent watery forage suits silage while drier forage suits hay; Available facilities/equipment — silage needs a silo and sealing materials while hay needs drying and baling space; Amount of forage and intended period of storage; Cost and labour available.

23. Question 23

    1 mark

    A smallholder zero-grazing dairy farmer finds that cattle leave behind a lot of uneaten Napier grass stalks in the feed trough every evening. To conserve this leftover feed and reduce waste, the farmer should MOST appropriately:

    A. Burn the leftovers to avoid attracting pests

    B. Throw the leftovers into the river to clear the trough

    C. Chop and compost the leftovers or feed them to other livestock such as goats

    D. Leave the leftovers in the trough for several days

    (1 mark)

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24. Question 24

    1 mark

    A farmer wants to conserve leftover fresh forage so that it does not rot before the next feeding time. Which method is MOST suitable for wet, succulent leftover feed?

    A. Ensiling

    B. Deep frying

    C. Salting in water

    D. Freezing in a fridge

    (1 mark)

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25. Question 25

    1 mark

    When conserving leftover feed, wilting fresh forage before ensiling is done in order to:

    A. Add more water to the forage

    B. Make the forage impossible to compact

    C. Reduce excess moisture to the correct level for good silage

    D. Increase the risk of butyric fermentation

    (1 mark)

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26. Question 26

    1 mark

    The main advantage of conserving leftover feed as silage during the rainy season is that it:

    A. Preserves surplus green feed for use during the dry season

    B. Only works with kitchen leftovers

    C. Makes the feed unfit for animals

    D. Requires the feed to be completely dry first

    (1 mark)

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27. Question 27

    1 mark

    Compared with hay, silage is a more appropriate way of conserving leftover feed when:

    A. The weather is too wet to dry the forage properly

    B. There is plenty of hot sunshine

    C. The forage is already fully dried

    D. The farmer wants a dusty product

    (1 mark)

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28. Question 28

    1 mark

    A student is asked why leftover feed should be conserved on a smallholder farm. Which reason is INCORRECT?

    A. It reduces feed wastage on the farm

    B. It ensures feed availability during scarcity

    C. It increases the toxicity of the feed for animals

    D. It saves money spent on buying feed

    (1 mark)

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