Agricultural Sciences 1 June 2019 Common Test

NSC – Marking Guidelines

NATIONAL
SENIOR CERTIFICATE

GRADE 12

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES

MARKING GUIDELINES

COMMON TEST

JUNE 2019

MARKS: 150

This marking guideline consists of 11 pages.

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Agricultural Sciences 2 June 2019 Common Test
NSC – Marking Guidelines

SECTION A

QUESTION 1

1.1
1.1.1 A 
1.1.2 B 
1.1.3 C 
1.1.4 D 
1.1.5 B 
1.1.6 D 
1.1.7 B 
1.1.8 A 
1.1.9 B 
1.1.10 C  (10 x 2) (20)

1.2
1.2.1 A only 

1.2.2 None 

1.2.3 Both A and B 

1.2.4 Both A and B 

1.2.5 None  (10 x 2) (10)

1.3
1.3.1 Vitamin D 

1.3.2 Insulation or ventilation 

1.3.3 Reproductive 

1.3.4 Dystocia 

1.3.5 Impotence  (10 x 2) (10)

1.4
1.4.1 Free range 

1.4.2 Red flag 

1.4.3 Breeding value 

1.4.4 Law of segregation 

1.4.5 Mesoderm  (5 x 1) (5)

TOTAL SECTION A: 45
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SECTION B

QUESTION 2: ANIMAL NUTRITION

2.1 Alimentary canal of a farm animal

2.1.1  Non-ruminant  (1)

2.1.2  Consists of a simple/ single/monogastric stomach  (1)

2.1.3 a) M (1)

b) L (1)

c) O (1)

2.1.4  Has a simple stomach that cannot digest roughages 

 Has no micro-organisms to digest or breakdown cellulose  (2)

2.2 TWO functions of water

2.2.1  Acts as a solvent/assists in the absorption of nutrients 

 Protects some sensitive tissue/serves as a lubricant 
 Moisturising the swallowed food/feed 
 Provides a suitable environment for microbes/flora 
 Prevents constipation 
 Assists in the transportation of nutrients 
 Excretion of waste products  (Any 2) (2)

2.2.2 A vitamin or mineral deficiency

a) Vitamin B1  (1)

b) Zinc  (1)

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2.3 Pearson Square

2.3.1 Calculation:

Maize 9% 27 parts 

17%

Peanut oilcake 44% 8 parts 

Ratio - maize: peanut oilcake meal = 27:8  (3)

2.3.2 Maize percentage to be included in the ration

27 ÷ 35 x 100 
= 77,14/77%  (2)

2.4 Line Graph

2.4.1
Temperature ranges and growth rates of cows
160
140
Growth rate (%)

120
100
80
60
40
20
0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
◦
Temperature (oC)

Checklist/rubric for marking the graph:

Criteria Yes: 1 Mark

1 Line graph 1
2 X-axis correctly calibrated and labelled 1
3 Y-axis correctly calibrated and labelled 1
4 Units in both axes 1
5 Accuracy 1
6 Correct heading 1
(6)
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2.4.2 TWO methods to protect pigs against extreme cold weather

 Shed for sheltering 

 Bedding in a pen 
 Insert heaters in a pen 
 Provide insulation material  (Any 2) (2)

2.4.3 TWO Reasons why cows have better growth at temperature of 5°C

 The presence of papilla in the rumen acts as heating rods 

 Cows have less radiation relative to their size 
 To keep the temperature constant  (Any 2)
(2)

2.5 The scenario below is on production systems

2.5.1 Identification of the production system.

 Extensive farming  (1)

2.5.2 Justification of the answer.

 The farmer had 12 cattle and 1 herder  (2)
 The farmer had 25 hectares of land for his stock 

2.5.3 Name the other production system not in the scenario above.
 Intensive production system  (1)

2.6 Illustration of a flight zone

2.6.1 Indication of letters

a) A (1)

b) C (1)

c) B (1)

2.6.2 Definition of a flight zone

 Flight zone is a distance between the handler and the animal  that
the animal allows before it can attack or run away.  (2)
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QUESTION 3: ANIMAL REPRODUCTION

3.1 Reproductive system

3.1.1  Oogenesis / ovigenesis  (1)

3.1.2  Ovary/ovaries  (1)

3.1.3  The primary oocyte divides by mitosisto form the secondary oocyte
and first polar body.  (2)

3.2 Artificial Insemination (AI)

3.2.1 TWO disadvantages of AI

 Labour intensive procedure 

 Time consuming 
 Incompetent operator can harm/damage cows 
 Diseases can spread quickly/easily 
 Genetic abnormalities can spread quickly/easily 
 Heat detention is difficult under extensive farming conditions 
 Expensive in terms of storage/testing 
 Not always successful 
 Genetic variability is reduced 
 High levels of management is needed 
 Expert knowledge is required  (Any 2) (2)

3.2.2 TWO characteristics of good quality semen

CHARACTERISTICS DESCRIPTION
Viability/mobility 80% 
Colour Opaque/milky white 
Volume 4 – 8 ml 
pH between 6,4 – 6,9 
Percentage of dead sperm cells Less than 15% 
Concentration 1 – 1,5 billion sperms per (2)
ml 
(Any 2)

3.2.3 Functions of the dilutants of semen

(a) Fructose - provides energy for sperm cells  (1)

(b) Glycerol - protects sperm cells against temperature changes  (1)

(c) Antibiotics – protect sperm cells against bacterial growth /

infection (1)

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3.3 Parturition

3.3.1 Stages of parturition as in pictures A and B

A - Ejection/expulsion 
B - Preparatory stage (2)

3.3.2 Incorrect posture of the calf

 Picture B  (1)

3.3.3 Reason

 One leg is stretched towards the vulva and the second leg is folded
back  (2)

3.3.4 Letter that corresponds with the following activities

a) B  (1)
b) A  (1)
c) A  (1)

3.4 Embryo transfer and nuclear transfer

3.4.1 Type of cloning

(1)
 Reproductive cloning

3.4.2 Definition the concept cloning

 To make an identical copy  of the original animal from individual or (2)

cell 

3.4.3 Purpose of Embryo transfer

(2)
 To increase the rate  of genetic improvement of the herd 

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3.4.4 Description of the surgical removal of the embryo.

 Chemical treatment is given to the recipient cows (in mid-oestrus)

the evening before the donor cow is treated with PGF hormone 
 One week after insemination the fertilised ova are washed from the
donor’s uterus using a special salt solution.
 The Foley catheter is used to collect the embryo  (Any 1)
(2)

3.4.5 Differences between Cloning and Embryo Transfer

Cloning Embryo Transfer

Removal of the nucleus Removal of a fertilized
ovum(embryo) 
Produce a copy of the Upgrade the herd
organism (4)

3.5 A reproductive process

3.5.1 B - Umbilical cord  (1)

3.5.2 2 - Fertilisation: the sperm penetrates the ovum or egg cell  to form a
zygote  (2)

3.5.3 1 - Ovulation: it ensures that matured egg cells are released  for the
process of fertilisation  (2)
[35]

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QUESTION 4: BASIC GENETICS

4.1 Monohybrid inheritance

4.1.1 Punnet square of the genotype of the offspring in PAIR 1

 D d

D DD Dd

d Dd dd

Marking guidelines/criteria

• Correct gametes 
• Correct offspring 
• Punnet square (with gametes and offspring)  (3)

4.1.2 Phenotype ratio of the offspring

 3 red: 1 white  OR red : white → 3 : 1 (1)

4.1.3 Breeding pair with dominant alleles

Pair 2  (1)

4.1.4 The percentage of red offspring

PAIR 1: ¾ x 100
= 75%  (2)

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4.2 Patterns of inheritance

4.2.1 C (1)

4.2.2 G (1)

4.2.3 F (1)

4.2.4 B (1)

4.2.5 D (1)

4.2.6 A (1)

4.2.7 E (1)

4.3 Variation

4.3.1 Genetic term responsible for improved yield

 Hybrid vigour  (1)

4.3.2 Importance of variation

 It is the foundation of selection and breeding 

 Parents can produce offspring with desirable characteristics 
(2)

4.3.3 TWO factors influencing variation

 Genes 
 Environment  (2)

4.3.4 Use of TWO cultivars in this breeding program

 Helps to improve plant cultivars 

 Leads to development of new cultivars/cultivars become more
evolved and cope with changing environment  (2)

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4.4 Selection

4.4.1 Definition of heritability

Refers to the degree to which genetics  determine a characteristic and

is expressed as a percentage.  (2)

4.4.2 Description of selection methods

(a) Progeny selection: The animal is selected on the basis of the

offspring  (2)
(b) Pedigree selection: selection based on the animal’s 
ancestors  (2)
(c) Mass selection: Selection based on the animal’s  phenotype
appearance  (2)

4.5 Genetic modification versus conventional hybrids

4.5.1 TWO techniques used to develop genetically modified plants

 Electroporation 
 Micro- injection 
 Bacterial carriers 
 Viral carriers 
 Biolistic 
 Calcium phosphate precipitation 
 Gene splicing 
 Gene silencing 
 Lipofection  (Any 2) (2)

4.5.2 TWO advantages of genetic engineering

 Process is fast 
 More precise 
 Not limited to the crossing of species that are related (Any 2) (2)

4.5.3 Differentiation between:

Conventional hybrid seed

Produced through normal breeding practices 

Genetic modified seeds

Produced through intentionally inserting the desired genes  (2)
[35]
TOTAL SECTION B: 105
GRAND TOTAL: 150

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