Solutions to the 2024 Leaving Certificate exam question on page 51 of the Irish Farmers Journal.

Question

Paul recorded the weight of his 52 beef calves. The average weight from birth to 15 weeks is shown in the graph below.

Analyse the graph and answer the questions that follow:

(i) Calculate the average (mean) daily liveweight gain of the calves from birth to 15 weeks.

(ii) As part of the scheme, farmers are eligible for €20 per calf weighted up to a minimum of 50 calves. Calculate the value of the scheme to Paul.

Answers

(i) 125 - 40 = 85

15 x 7 = 105

85/105 = 0.81kg/day

(Possible marks: 6. If a candidate gives 0.81 without showing calculation, award six marks. If the candidate completes two correct calculations, award five marks. If the candidate fives the correct calculation, award four marks.

(ii) €20 x 50 = €1,000

(Possible marks: 4. If the candidate has the correct method, award two marks)

Kill out % and factory prices

Kill out % is the weight of the dressed carcase in relation to the weight of the live animal at slaughter. A dressed carcase will have the head, feet and internal organs removed.

Example

David sent a lamb to the factory at 48kg. The farmer was paid for a dressed carcass of 25kg. What was the kill out %?

Kill out% = 25kg/(48k_S )×100/1= 52.08%

David received a price of €7.20/kg with a bonus payment of 15c/kg for being part of the Quality Assurance scheme. What price did he receive for the lamb?

  • Dressed carcass = 25kg.
  • Total price = Price/kg +Bonus payment/kg x 25.
  • Total Price = (€7.20 + €0.15) x 25.
  • Total Price = €7.35 x 25 = €183.75.

    • Using the above information, answer the following questions from the 2021 Leaving Certificate paper.

    The following is a kill out sheet (lairage docket) for two Aberdeen Angus (AA) heifers and two Limousine (LM) heifers from John's farm. Analyse the sheet and answer the questions that follow.

    (a) Briefly explain the term "conformation".

    (b) As part of the Bord Bia quality assurance scheme, John gets a 20c bonus per kg for each animal in addition to the factory base price. Calculate the total amount John obtained for tag number 215038714153.

    (c) John is also part of the Aberdeen Angus producer group which gives a 15c bonus per kg for inspec cattle (Conformation U+, U=, R+, R=, R-, O+, O= and fat class 2+, 3, 4- and 4=). Calculate which heifers were worth more money to John, the Aberdeen Angus or the Limousine heifers.