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Unit notes and practice questions

Grade 11 Agriculture unit 7: Farm Animals Housing

Everything here is for unit 7 of the Grade 11 Agriculture textbook: what the chapter covers, the short notes, practice questions with their answers, and the lesson video where one exists.

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5
Cards
10
Practice questions on unit 7
106–119
The textbook pages for unit 7

What unit 7 covers

  1. 1.Significance of farm animal house
  2. 2.Types of farm animal housing
  3. 3.Guidelines for site selection and house construction

Short notes for unit 7

The cards filed under this chapter on the Grade 11 Agriculture page. Open one at a time.

OrientationSun ExposurePrimary Advantage
East-WestBlocks direct solar radiation insideKeeps feed and water shaded, increases feed intake
North-SouthSun strikes floor under roof on both sidesKeeps unpaved floor areas dry throughout the day

When you use it

Use when selecting the directional alignment of farm animal buildings.

Watch out

East-West orientation protects animals and feed troughs from heat, whereas North-South orientation is chosen specifically to keep floor areas dry.

Drafted from Grade 11 Agriculture, pages 108-122, then checked twice before it went up

StructureTechnical StandardPurpose
Roof HeightMinimum 3 m3\text{ m}Ventilation and removal of noxious gases like CO2\text{CO}_2 and NH3\text{NH}_3
Roof OverhangAt least 60 cm60\text{ cm}Protection against direct solar radiation and rain
FloorCement concrete with non-slippery groovesFacilitates drainage, sanitation, and animal foot safety
Wood WallsPaint preservative every 33 to 5 years5\text{ years}Prevents wood decay and parasite lodgment

When you use it

Use for key construction dimensions and structural requirements of animal shelters.

Watch out

Floor surfaces must have grooves so they are not slippery, and roof overhang must be at least 60 cm to block driving rain.

Drafted from Grade 11 Agriculture, pages 108-122, then checked twice before it went up

Housing SystemMain FeaturesSuitability
Conventional BarnsFully roofed, tied stalls or deep litterHeavy rainfall and temperate climates
Loose HousingFree movement, group pens, self-feedingTropical climates, most parts of Ethiopia
Free RangePasture grazing during day, shed at nightLow-intensity management, fattening animals
Modern FarmsEnriched cages, multi-tier aviary systemsHigh-investment commercial egg and meat production

When you use it

Use to compare the four primary livestock housing systems and their suitability for different climates.

Watch out

Loose housing is preferred over conventional barns in Ethiopia because it is cheaper and well suited to tropical conditions.

Drafted from Grade 11 Agriculture, pages 108-122, then checked twice before it went up

When you use it

Use when evaluating livestock management practices against animal welfare standards.

Watch out

Animal welfare covers mental and physical needs: 1. Freedom from thirst and hunger, 2. Freedom from discomfort, 3. Freedom from disease, pain, or injury, 4. Freedom from distress and fear, 5. Freedom to exhibit natural behaviors.

Drafted from Grade 11 Agriculture, pages 108-122, then checked twice before it went up

When you use it

Use when evaluating location criteria for establishing new animal shelters.

Watch out

Site should be elevated and gently sloping for drainage, separated from residences for odor control, away from highways to prevent disease, and sized to allow future doubling.

Drafted from Grade 11 Agriculture, pages 108-122, then checked twice before it went up

Practice questions on unit 7

10 multiple-choice questions written against this chapter, each with its answer and the reason. Try one before you open the answer.

Question 1

When farm animals are exposed to high environmental temperatures, how do they naturally respond to regulate their body temperature?

  1. A.They reduce their feed intake
  2. B.They increase their milk and egg yield
  3. C.They increase their physical activity
  4. D.They consume less water
Show the answer and why

Answer: A They reduce their feed intake

Why

At high temperatures, farm animals reduce their feed intake to regulate their body temperature. This reduction in feed intake lowers their productivity in milk, meat, and eggs.

Question 2

Which housing system is cheaper to construct, flexible in utility, and especially suitable for the tropical climate found in most parts of Ethiopia?

  1. A.Conventional tie-stall barn
  2. B.Loose housing system
  3. C.Battery cage system
  4. D.Enriched cage system
Show the answer and why

Answer: B Loose housing system

Why

Loose housing allows animals to move freely, is cheaper to construct, easier to expand, and is very suitable for tropical climates like most parts of Ethiopia.

Question 3

According to the five freedoms of animal welfare, providing an appropriate shelter directly satisfies which freedom?

  1. A.Freedom from thirst and hunger
  2. B.Freedom from discomfort
  3. C.Freedom from artificial breeding
  4. D.Freedom from human handling
Show the answer and why

Answer: B Freedom from discomfort

Why

The five freedoms state that providing adequate shelter ensures freedom from discomfort by shielding animals from weather extremes.

Question 4

What is the minimum recommended roof height for an animal house to ensure adequate air movement and ventilation?

  1. A.1 meter
  2. B.2 meters
  3. C.3 meters
  4. D.6 meters
Show the answer and why

Answer: C 3 meters

Why

The roof height should be a minimum of 3 meters high to allow sufficient air circulation and remove noxious gases such as carbon dioxide and ammonia.

Question 5

A farmer is constructing a sloped roof for an animal shed. What is the minimum roof overhang required to protect the animals from sun and rain?

  1. A.20 cm
  2. B.40 cm
  3. C.60 cm
  4. D.120 cm
Show the answer and why

Answer: C 60 cm

Why

The textbook specifies that the roof overhang should be at least 60 cm to provide proper protection from sunlight and rain.

Question 6

If an animal house is constructed with wooden walls, how frequently should the wood be painted with a preservative solution?

  1. A.Every 6 months
  2. B.Every 1 year
  3. C.Every 3 to 5 years
  4. D.Every 10 to 15 years
Show the answer and why

Answer: C Every 3 to 5 years

Why

When wood is used for the walls of an animal house, the farmer should paint it with a wood preservative solution every 3 to 5 years.

Question 7

Which modern poultry housing system uses multiple levels or tiers to provide living space across several levels for egg-laying hens?

  1. A.Hens-aviary system
  2. B.Deep litter system
  3. C.Tie-stall system
  4. D.Free-range pasture system
Show the answer and why

Answer: A Hens-aviary system

Why

The hens-aviary system (also called a multi-tier system) features spacious multi-level tiers that allow laying hens to disperse across different levels.

Question 8

Which of the following is a key feature of conventional tie-stall barns for dairy cattle?

  1. A.Cows are tied in stalls and milked in the same barn
  2. B.Cows are allowed to walk outside freely all day
  3. C.Cows must always be moved to a separate parlour for milking
  4. D.The building has no walls or roof
Show the answer and why

Answer: A Cows are tied in stalls and milked in the same barn

Why

In conventional tie-stall barns, dairy cattle are tied in stalls where they are provided with feed and water, and they are milked in the same barn without needing a separate parlour.

Question 9

Why might a farmer choose a North-South house orientation instead of an East-West orientation?

  1. A.To keep feed troughs under permanent shade all day
  2. B.To allow the sun to strike every part of the floor during the day to keep it dry
  3. C.To ensure that manure is dropped only in shaded areas
  4. D.To completely block natural drafts from entering the barn
Show the answer and why

Answer: B To allow the sun to strike every part of the floor during the day to keep it dry

Why

In a North-South orientation, the sun strikes every part of the floor area at some time of the day, which helps keep the floor area dry, especially when paved floors are too expensive.

Question 10

How is bedding managed in a deep litter housing system for poultry or pigs?

  1. A.All litter is removed and replaced completely every morning
  2. B.Litter is washed with water daily without adding any new materials
  3. C.New layers of straw or sawdust are continuously added as the litter becomes soiled
  4. D.No bedding material is used on the concrete floor
Show the answer and why

Answer: C New layers of straw or sawdust are continuously added as the litter becomes soiled

Why

In a deep litter system, an initial layer of straw or sawdust is spread, and new layers of litter are continuously added by the farmer as the old layer becomes soiled.

The app holds 12 questions on this unit, marked as you go. These are the first 10.

The textbook pages for unit 7

Unit 7 runs from page 106 to page 119 of the Ministry of Education edition.

Ministry of Education edition, English, 270 pages

Download the PDF

All Grade 11 Agriculture short notes

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