MEMBERSHIP EXAMINATION JUNE/JULY 2002
ANIMAL NUTRITION (RUMINANT)
PAPER 1
Perusal time: 15 minutes
Time allowed: TWO (2) Hours after perusal
Answer FOUR (4) questions only.
All questions are of equal value.
Subsections of Questions are of equal value unless stated otherwise
1. Veterinarians in Australia and New Zealand commonly diagnose “Pregnancy Toxaemia” or “Ketosis” in dairy cows, “Twin-lamb disease” in ewes and “Acetonemia” in beef cows. Discuss the aetiology, pathophysiology and similarities and differences between these syndromes.
2. Plant matter has a Gross Energy (GE) content between 18 and 19 MegaJoules per kilogram of dry matter. Not all GE is available for physiological work by ruminants/pseudoruminants. Provide a broad outline of the energetic pathway and the losses that occur when plant matter is utilised by ruminants and pseudoruminants.
3. Discuss the importance of homeostasis within the rumen for optimal ruminant/pseudoruminant health and productivity. Include factors that may disturb this homeostatic state.
4. There are many ways to measure the fibre characteristics of feedstuffs. Discuss how measurements of fibre can be used in the formulation of rations for a ruminant and pseudoruminant of your choice and for the prediction of health and productivity.
5. Discuss the most important nutritional goals in the rearing programme from birth to weaning of a young ruminant/pseudoruminant of your choice.
6. Discuss factors that influence the rate and extent of protein degradation within the rumen.
END OF PAPER
MEMBERSHIP EXAMINATION JUNE/JULY 2002
ANIMAL NUTRITION (RUMINANT)
PAPER 2
Perusal time: 15 minutes
Time allowed: TWO (2) Hours after perusal
Answer FOUR (4) questions only.
All questions are of equal value.
Subsections of Questions are of equal value unless stated otherwise
1. a. Discuss the limitations of perennial ryegrass and legume pastures in a pseudoruminant/ruminant production system of your choice. Use examples of other feeds that could be utilised to compensate for these limitations.
OR
b. Discuss how pasture harvest per hectare can influence profitability in a ruminant/pseudoruminant grazing system of your choice.
2. Write notes on THREE (3) of the following four issues as they relate to ruminant/pseudoruminant animals;
i) Pithomyces chartarum (Sporidesmin toxicity).
ii) Endophyte Alkaloid Toxins (“endotoxins”) in perennial ryegrasses (Lolium perenne).
iii) Clostridium botulinum.
iv) Nitrate toxicity.
3. Briefly provide your estimates of the typical Dry Matter, Metabolisable Energy (MegaJoules Metabolisable Energy per kilogram of dry matter) and Crude Protein contents of the following five feeds for ruminants/pseudoruminants. Include notes on the ranges over which these values may vary and some reasons for the variation.
i) Ryegrass pasture.
ii) Maize silage.
iii) Barley straw.
iv) Brewers’ grains.
v) Barley grain
Continued over/Animal Nutrition (Ruminant) Paper 2 2002
Continued/Animal Nutrition (Ruminant) Paper 2 2002
4. Discuss your approach to the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of peri-parturient hypocalcaemia in EITHER a flock of ewes OR a herd of cows.
5. You have been called to investigate a reproductive performance problem in a herd/flock. Discuss the nutritional factors that you would examine in your process of investigating this problem in a ruminant/pseudoruminant production system of your choice.
6. Describe feedbunk design and management factors that you would investigate as part of your examination of a feedlot finishing beef steers. Include a discussion of the potential for feedbunk mismanagement to affect the health and productivity of the animals.
END OF PAPER