Waec Syllabus For Animal Husbandry (ALT A)

Below is this years Waec Syllabus for Animal Husbandry (ALT A). Note that this syllabus is for both internal and external candidates.

Table of Contents

Aims and Objectives

basic animal production practices such as feeding, housing, pest and disease control
the efficient and effective management of animal enterprises
the application of environmentally friendly practices to sustain production
the identification of basic problems hindering the improvement of the Animal Industry
the efficient processing, preservation, packaging, storage and marketing of animals and their products

Scheme of Examination

For candidates in Ghana only

There will be three papers, Papers 1, 2 and 3, all of which must be taken. Papers 1 and 2 will be a composite paper to be taken at one sitting.

PAPER 1:

Will consist of fifty multiple choice objective questions all of which must be
answered within 1 hour for 50 marks.

PAPER 2:

Will consist of six essay-type questions. Candidates will be required to
answer four questions within 2 hours for 80 marks.

PAPER 3:

Will be a practical paper for school candidates or a test of practical paper for
private candidates. The paper will consist of four questions, all of which must
be answered within 2 hours for 60 marks.

REQUIREMENTS

1. Schools offering Animal Husbandry are expected to raise at least one species of farm animal from each of the following groups:

(a) Monogastrics, e.g., poultry, pigs, rabbits.

(b) Ruminants e.g. goats, sheep, cattle.

(b) Non-traditional farm animals e.g. grasscutters, snails

2. It is recommended that the schools should have agriculture laboratories where specimens, equipment and chemicals would be kept.

3. It is also recommended that candidates keep practical notebooks which should contain records of activities undertaken and observations made on the school farm and on field trips and of specimens collected.

Detailed Animal Husbandry (ALT A) Syllabus

INTRODUCTION TO ANIMAL HUSBANDRY

Meaning, scope and importance of animal husbandry
Problems in animal production
Quality and Safety standards of animal food products
Classification of farm animals

ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF FARM ANIMALS

Meaning of the terms
- anatomy, physiology and the external orientation of farm animals
Digestive System
- Comparative anatomy of digestive system of farm animals
- Digestion and Absorption processes in the various classes of farm animals
Central Nervous System
- Parts of the Central Nervous System (CNS) and Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)
- Functions of the ANS
- Endocrine System
  - Endocrine glands and their functions
  - Hormones and their functions
Integumentary, skeletal and muscular systems
Reproductive System
- Anatomy of the reproductive system of poultry and livestock
- Functions of organs and parts of the reproductive system
- Reproductive processes
Circulatory System
- Structure and functions
- Heart and Pulse rate
Respiratory System
- Meaning and Importance of Respiration
- Structure and Functions of the Respiratory System
Excretory System
- Meaning and Importance of the Excretion
- Structure and Functions of the Excretory System
- Excretory Products

ANIMAL HEALTH

Meaning of terms
Signs of good and ill- health
Factors that pre- dispose animals to diseases
Effects of diseases, pests and parasites on animal production
Zoonotic diseases
- their importance and prevention
athogens of farm animal diseases
- Classification of pathogens
- Pathogenic diseases and their economic importance
- Principles for prevention and
  control of diseases of farm animals
- Management practices in the prevention and control of diseases of farm animals
Ectoparasites and endoparasites
- Types and examples
  of parasites
- Structure, life cycle and mode of feeding
- Conditions that influence parasite population
Prevention and control of parasites
Economic Importance of parasites

GENETIC PRINCIPLES AND ANIMAL IMPROVEMENT

Heredity, basic genetic terms and Mendel’s first law of inheritance
Meaning, objectives and benefits of animal improvement
Performance traits of improved and unimproved animals
Methods of animal improvement; advantages and disadvantages
Nutritional and environmental factors affecting animal improvement
Artificial Insemination
- Meaning andvprocess of
  artificialvinseminationv(A.I.)
- Advantages ofvA.I.
- Signs of heatv(oestrus) and
  handling procedures in the
  collection and storage of semen

INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY

Internal and external environment of animals
The role of the nervous and endocrine systems in homeostasis and animal’s response to stimuli
Determination of room temperature, body temperature and respiration rate in farm animals
Effects of climate on farm animals
Modification of animal environment and management pratices to reduce stress on animals

MONOGASTRIC AND DOMESTIC PET PRODUCTION

Poultry production
- Definition and characteristics of
  poultry
- Classes of poultry
- Breeds and types of poultry
- Importance/role of poultry production
- Systems of poultry Production
- Incubation and Hatchery Practices
  - Terminologies
  - Natural and Artificial Incubation
  - Selection of eggs for Hatching
  - Conditions necessary for
    hatching of eggs
  - Incubation Process
  - Candling of Eggs
  - Marketing of the day-
    old chicks
- Management Practices
- Processing and marketing of Poultry
- Prospects of producing the various types of poultry
Pig Production
- Types, breeds and characteristics
- Importance of pig production
- Systems of keeping pigs
- Management practices
- Slaughtering, processing and marketing of pigs
Domestic Pets
- Meaning and Importance of pets
- Management of pets
- Training of Pets
- Marketing of pets

RUMINANT PRODUCTION

Sheep and goat production.
- Common Breeds, Distribution and Characteristics
- Importance of sheep and goats
- Management Practices
- Common parasites and diseases and their control
- Processing and marketing
Beef Cattle Production
- Breeds and characteristics
- Importance of beef cattle
  production
- Common Production Systems
- Planning, production and management of cattle for beef and traction
- General management
  practices
- Processing and marketing
- Major Problems in beef cattle production
Dairy cattle production
- Breeds and features of dairy cow
- Characteristics, sources and importance of milk
- Management practices
- Diseases and their
  control
- Production, processing and marketing of milk and dairy products
- Problems of dairy cattle production in warm climates

RANGE AND PASTURE MANAGEMENT

Introduction to range and pastures
- Basic terminologies in
  pasture and range management
- Types of pasture and their features
- Importance of pastures and forage crops in animal production
- Factors that affect the productivity of different types of pasture
- Major forage crops
- Poisonous plants in pasture
Pasture establishment and management
- Qualities of good pasture and forage species
- Establishment of pasture
- Improving natural Pastures
- Management of cultivated pastures
- Harvesting of forage crops
Forage conservation and utilization
- Forage conservation and
  its importance
- Preparation of hay and silage
- Utilization of crop residue in feeding animals

NON-TRADITIONAL ANIMAL PRODUCTION

Rabbit and Grasscutter Production
- Common breeds
- Importance of producing rabbits
  and grasscutters
- Manangement Practices
- Processing and Marketing
Snail Farming
- Meaning and importance
- External features of Snails
- Types of species
- Site selection
- Management Practices
- Processing and marketing of snails
- Establishing enterprises in animal husbandry
Breeds of Farm Animals
Classification of farm Animals
Anatomy and Physiology of Farm Animals
Animal Nutrition
Animal Nutrition
Diseases of farm animals; their prevention and control
Artificial Insemination
Environmental Physiology
Management Practices
Animal Products and By-products
Range and Pasture Management
Animal Housing and Structures