AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES
PAPER 1
GRADE 12 
NSC EXAMS PAST PAPERS AND MEMOS SEPTEMBER 2019
PREPARATORY EXAMINATIONS

MEMORANDUM 

SECTION A 
QUESTION 1 
1.1
1.1.1 B ✔✔ 
1.1.2 C ✔✔ 
1.1.3 B ✔✔ 
1.1.4 A ✔✔ 
1.1.5 D ✔✔ 
1.1.6 A ✔✔ 
1.1.7 B ✔✔ 
1.1.8 C ✔✔ 
1.1.9 C ✔✔ 
1.1.10 D ✔✔ (10 x 2) (20) 
1.2
1.2.1 B only ✔✔ 
1.2.2 Both A and B ✔✔ 
1.2.3 None ✔✔ 
1.2.4 A only ✔✔ 
1.2.5 B only ✔✔ (5 x 2) (10) 
1.3
1.3.1 Biological Value/BV ✔✔ 
1.3.2 Drenching gun/Dosing gun ✔✔ 
1.3.3 Repeated Breeder Syndrome ✔✔ 
1.3.4 Prostate ✔✔ 
1.3.5 Hydrocephalus ✔✔ (5 x 2) (10) 
1.4
1.4.1 Maintenance ✔ 
1.4.2 Battery ✔ 
1.4.3 Super ovulation ✔ 
1.4.4 Acrosome ✔ 
1.4.5 Dry period ✔ (5 x 1) (5)

TOTAL SECTION A: 45

SECTION B 
QUESTION 2: ANIMAL NUTRITION 
2.1 Alimentary canals of farm animals 
2.1.1 Classification of farm animals 

• Diagram 1 – Non-ruminant ✔
• Diagram 3 – Ruminant ✔ (2) 

2.1.2 Reason for each classification 

• Diagram 1 – It has a simple/monogastric stomach/ventriculus/ proventriculus ✔
• Diagram 3 – It has a complex/compound stomach ✔ (2) 

2.1.3 Determination of the age of the animal in Diagram 3 

• Young ruminant/calf ✔ (1) 

2.1.4 ONE feature visible for the age 

• Presence of oesophogal groove ✔
• Underdeveloped rumen/reticulum/omasum ✔ 
• Well-developed abomasum ✔ (Any 1 x 1) (1) 

2.1.5 Justification of animals not digesting crude fibre 

• Diagram 2 – There are no rumen micro-organisms to digest crude   fibre ✔
• Diagram 3 – Rumen is still underdeveloped/not functioning ✔ (2) 

2.1.6 Identification of the letter where rennin is secreted 

• Diagram 1 – B ✔
• Diagram 3 – E ✔ (2)

2.2 Indication of animal feeds 

1. Oilcake meal ✔ (1)
2. Maize meal ✔ (1)
3. Sun dried hay ✔ (1) 
4. Green lucerne ✔ (1) 

2.3 Feed composition 
2.3.1 Classification of feeds 

• Feed A – Concentrates ✔ (1)
• Feed B – Roughage ✔ (1)

2.3.2 Reason for classification 

Feed

• A Low percentage of crude fibre ✔
• High percentage of Total Digestible Nutrients/TDN ✔
• High percentage of protein ✔ (Any 1)

Feed B

• High percentage of crude fibre ✔
• Low percentage of Total Digestible Nutrients ✔
• Low percentage of protein ✔ (Any 1) (2) 

2.3.3 Calculation of nutritive ratio of FEED A 

• Calculation of DNNE’s = TDN (12,5 + 6 + 60 + 1,5 = 80%) 
  80 – 12,5 = 67,5% ✔ 
  Nutritive Ratio = 1 : % digestible non-nitrogen substances  ✔
                                           % digestible protein 
  1 : 67,5 ✔ 
       12,5 
  1 : 5,4 ✔
  OR
• Calculation of DNNE’s = TDN (12,5 + 6 + 60 + 1,5 = 80%) ✔ 
  Nutritive Ratio = 1 : TDN – DP  ✔
                                        DP 
  1 : 80 – 12,5   ✔
          12,5 
  1 : 5,4 ✔ (4) 

2.3.4 Recommendation of FEED A 

• Recommended for growth purpose ✔ (1)
  Reason
• NR is narrow/more protein for growth ✔ (1)

2.4 Process in the alimentary canal 
2.4.1 Identification of the process 

• Absorption of food ✔ (1) 

2.4.2 Name of the part where absorption occurs 

• Small intestine ✔ (1) 

2.4.3 Identification of the type of nutrient transport 

• A – Passive absorption ✔
• B – Active transport ✔ (2) 

2.4.4 Reason for the type of transport 

• A/Passive absorption – Nutrients move along concentration gradient ✔
• B/Active transport – Nutrients move against concentration gradient ✔ (2)

2.5 Feed flow programme 
2.5.1 Identification of the month for culling animals 

• Month 6 ✔ (1) 

2.5.2 Reason 

• Feed available is the lowest ✔
• Supplementary requirement is the highest ✔ (Any 1 x 1) (1) 

2.5.3 Calculation of feed available in tons during month 2 

• 800 kg/ha x 14 ha ✔
  11 200 kg   ✔
    1 000 
  11,2 tons ✔ (3) [35]

QUESTION 3: ANIMAL PRODUCTION, PROTECTION AND CONTROL
3.1 Graph on temperature requirement of broiler chickens 
3.1.1 Deduction of the trend of temperature requirement 

• From week 1 to week 5 it decreases gradually✔
• From week 5 to week 7 it is constant ✔ (2) 

3.1.2 Line graph 

Criteria/rubric/marking guideline 

• Correct heading ✔
• X-axis: Correctly calibrated and labelled (Age) ✔
• Y-axis: Correctly calibrated and labelled (Temperature) ✔ 
• Line graph ✔ 
• Correct units (Weeks and °C) ✔
• Accuracy ✔ (6) 

3.1.3 Equipment that can be used if temperature drops below 10 °C

• Heaters/Infrared lights/Air conditioner ✔ (Any 1 x 1) (1) 

3.2 Bull under stress 
3.2.1 THREE visible signs showing distress 

• Pawing ✔
• Raised hair ✔ 
• Snorting ✔ 
• Raised tail ✔
• Feigned charging movements ✔ (Any 3 x 1)   (3)

3.2.2 Effect of the behaviour to handlers 

• Injury ✔ (1) 

3.2.3 Equipment to calm the bull 

• Electric prodder ✔ (1) 

3.2.4 THREE guidelines for handling large farm animals 

• Avoid yelling at animals ✔ 
• Do not approach animals from a blind spot ✔
• Move animals through a chute that has minimal obstructions ✔ 
• Never prod animals if they have no place to go ✔ 
• Announce your presence by touching it ✔ (Any 3 x 1) (3)

3.3 Production unit/ system 
3.3.1 Identification of the production system 

• Intensive production system ✔ (1) 

3.3.2 Reason 

• Presence of facilities ✔
• Animals are kept in an enclosure ✔
• High capital investment ✔ (Any 1) (1) 

3.3.3 Identification of the letter 

1. C/D ✔
2. B ✔
3. D/C ✔ (3)

3.4 FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE/FMD 
3.4.1 Naming the pathogen 

• Virus ✔ (1) 

3.4.2 Extraction of a term from scenario meaning FMD can be transferred 

• Contagious ✔ (1) 

3.4.3 Key symptom of FMD 

• Blister-like lesions on the tongue/between the toes ✔ (1) 

3.4.4 TWO state actions from the scenario 

• Impose trade regulation ✔ 
• Veterinary services ✔ 
• Quarantine ✔ (Any 2 x 1) (2)

3.5 Parasites 
3.5.1 Choosing the parasite 

1. Nasal worm ✔ (1)
2. Liver fluke ✔ (1) 
3. Bont tick ✔ (1) 
4. Tape worm ✔ (1)
5. Blowfly ✔ (1) 

3.6 THREE basic principles of good health 

• Sanitation ✔
• Controlling pests and parasites ✔ 
• Proper handling of manure ✔ 
• Isolation of sick animals ✔ 
• Vaccination of animals ✔ 
• Good management ✔ 
• Ensure that feeds are not contaminated ✔ 
• Waiting for a withdrawal period before using animal product ✔ 
• Application of correct dosage of medication ✔ 
• Burning carcass of infected animals ✔ (Any 3 x 1) (3) [35]

QUESTION 4: ANIMAL REPRODUCTION 
4.1 Reproductive systems 
4.1.1 Identification of the letter  

1. Diagram 1 – A ✔
   Diagram 2 – D ✔ (2)
2. C ✔ (1) 
3. E ✔ (1) 
4. A ✔ (1) 

4.1.2 Common congenital defect in bulls and cows causing sterility

• Hypoplasia ✔ (1) 

4.1.3 TWO hormones responsible for ovulation 

• Luteinizing hormone ✔
• Oestrogen hormone ✔ (2) 

4.2 TWO senses regulating mating behaviour in bull 

• Smell ✔ 
• Sight ✔ 
• Touch/tactile/contact ✔ (Any 2) (2)

4.3 Artificial Insemination 
4.3.1 Arrangement of the steps during AI chronologically 

• Semen harvesting ✔ 
• Semen examination ✔ 
• Semen dilution ✔ 
• Heat detention ✔ 
• Placing of semen into the reproductive tract of a cow ✔ (5) 

4.3.2 TWO economic benefits of AI for the farmer 

• More female animals can be fertilised by superior male  animals ✔ 
• It is a quick and economic way of improving the herd ✔ 
• Commercial value of herd is improved ✔ 
• No need to buy an expensive bull ✔ 
• Higher conception rate ✔ (Any 2 x 1) (2)

4.4 Cloning 
4.4.1 Identification of the process 

• Cloning/Nuclear transfer ✔ (1) 

4.4.2 Letter of the sheep that is identical to the cloned sheep

• Sheep A ✔ (1) 

4.4.3 Letter of a sheep that will be a surrogate 

• Sheep E ✔ (1) 

4.4.4 Name of the processes in C 

• Enucleation ✔ (1) 

4.4.5 TWO aims of cloning 

• To produce large number of genetically identical animals ✔
• To produce offspring from high quality animals ✔ 
• To preserve superior genetics ✔ 
• To increase the number of endangered species ✔ (Any 2 x 1) (2)

4.5 Gestation stages 
4.5.1 Identification of the process 

• Fertilisation ✔ (1) 

4.5.2 Indication of the stage of pregnancy labelled A 

• Ovum stage ✔ (1) 

4.5.3 Development that occurs at stage C  

• Rapid increase of the uterus✔ (1) 

4.5.4 TWO systems developing at stage B 

• Respiratory system ✔ 
• Digestive system ✔ 
• Uro-genital and vascular system ✔ 
• Central nervous system ✔ (Any 2 x 1) (2) 

4.5.5 TWO reasons for abortion 

• Hormonal or metabolic abnormalities ✔ 
• Malnutrition ✔ 
• Trauma and injuries ✔ 
• Poisoning ✔ 
• Infections ✔ 
• Allergies and twinning ✔ 
• Genetic/chromosomal defects ✔ (Any 2 x 1) (2)

4.6 Parturition 
4.6.1 Indication of the form of presentation 

1.  Anterior presentation ✔ (1)
2. Posterior presentation ✔ (1) 

4.6.2 Presentation that will need vetenary assistance  

• Posterior presentation ✔ (1) 

4.6.3 TWO problems causing difficult birth 

• Deviation of head ✔ 
• Flection of the elbow ✔ 
• Retention of one or both forelegs ✔ 
• Congenital defects/deformities ✔ 
• Twins ✔ (Any 2 x 1) (2) [35] 

TOTAL SECTION B: 105 
GRAND TOTAL: 150