AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES
GRADE 12
PAPER 1 
NSC PAST PAPERS AND MEMOS
SEPTEMBER 2017

MEMORANDUM 

SECTION A 
QUESTION 1 
1.1

1.1.1 D √√ 
1.1.2 B √√ 
1.1.3 C √√ 
1.1.4 C √√ 
1.1.5 D √√ 
1.1.6 A √√ 
1.1.7 C √√ 
1.1.8 A √√ 
1.1.9 B √√ 
1.1.10 A √√ (10 × 2) (20) 

1.2

1.2.1 B only √√ 
1.2.2 A only √√ 
1.2.3 B only √√ 
1.2.4 Both A and B √√ 
1.2.5 None √√ (5 × 2) (10) 

1.3

1.3.1 Ad lib √√ 
1.3.2 Topical √√ 
1.3.3 Bunching √√ 
1.3.4 An-oestrus/sub-oestrus √√ 
1.3.5 Semen √√ (5 × 2) (10) 

1.4

1.4.1 Amylase √ 
1.4.2 Optimum √ 
1.4.3 Leydig √ 
1.4.4 Resorption √ 
1.4.5 Implantation √ (5 × 1) (5)

TOTAL SECTION A: 45

SECTION B 
QUESTION 2: ANIMAL NUTRITION 
2.1
2.1.1 Cattle/Sheep/Goat √ (1) 
2.1.2

1. A √ (1)
2. B √ (1)
3. A √ (1) 

2.1.3 Presence of leaves √ where food particles are grinded finely √ (2) 
2.1.4 Presence of rumen micro-organisms √ which break down cellulose√  into volatile fatty acids √ (3) 
2.2
2.2.1

• Protein rich roughage √ Lucerne hay √
• Carbohydrate rich roughage √ oat hay √ (4)

2.2.2 Maize meal √ (1)
2.2.3 Ration cannot be fed to pigs √ (1)
2.2.4 Ration contains urea √ which cannot be digested by pigs. √ (2) 
2.3
2.3.1 Non-ruminant √ (1) 
2.3.2

• Crude fibre √ was poorly digested √
• High/73% √ of crude fibre was excreted √ (Any 1) (2)

2.3.3

• 7kg - 4kg  ×  100 √ = 42,8 % √ (2)     
        7kg

2.3.4 Only 42,8 % of feed √ has been digested and absorbed √ (2) 
2.4
2.4.1

• Roughage have a higher crude fibre content √
• Concentrates have low crude fibre √ (2) 

2.4.2

• Roughage – less than 60% TDN √
• Concentrates – More than 60% TDN √ (2)

2.5
2.5.1 15 t/ha × 19,6 (ha) √ = 294 tons √ (2)
2.5.2 August √ (1) 
2.5.3

• Feed required is 65t and feed available is 35t √√
• There is a shortage of 30t √√ (Any 1) (2) 

2.5.4 56 + 60 + 85 √ = 201 tons √ (2)

[35]

QUESTION 3: ANIMAL PRODUCTION, PROTECTION AND CONTROL 
3.1
3.1.1

1. : Extensive production system √
2. : Intensive production system √ (2) 

3.1.2

1. : Few animals in a large space/low stocking density √ 
2. Many animals in small space/high stocking density √ (2) 

3.1.3

1. Extensive production system: Subsistence farming √ 
2. Intensive production system: Commercial farming √ (2) 

3.1.4

• Nutrition/feeding √
• Environment √
• Breeding/reproduction √
• Management √ (Any 2) (2)

3.2
3.2.1 Crush √ (1) 
3.2.2

• Administration of medication/dipping/dosing √
• Determining the age of animal √ 
•  Normal management programme  (dehorning/docking/castration/marking) √ 
• Pregnancy testing √ 
• Transportation √ (Any 2) (2) 

3.2.3

• High solid sides √
• Narrow and curved √
• Wide and straight to provide clear path √ (Any 2) (2)

3.3
3.3.1 Always have a red flag √ (1)
3.3.2 Should be in possession of a permit √ (1)
3.3.3 Loading ramp √ (1) 
3.4
3.4.1

1. Bacterial √
2. Blisters on the tongue ,nose, lips in the mouth √ 
3. Protozoan √ 
4. Bont tick √ 
5. Ringworm √ (5)

3.4.2 Notifiable √ (1)
3.4.3 Foot-and-mouth disease √ (1) 
3.4.4

• Restricting the movement of animals/control measures√
• Quarantine the affected animals √ 
• Vaccination programmes/Veterinary services √
• Import bans √
• Legislation √ (Any 2) (2)

3.5
3.5.1 Internal parasite/endoparasite √ (1)
3.5.2 Liver fluke √ (1)
3.5.3 Snail √ (1)
3.5.4 Animal get infested during grazing √ (1)
3.5.5 Anaemia/fasciolosis √ (1) 
3.5.6

• Rotation grazing/resting veld √
• Avoiding wet places during grazing √ 
• Allow animals to graze on clean pastures √
• Integrated pasture management √ (Any 2) (2) 

3.6
3.6.1

• Excessive salivation √ 
• Increased thirst √ 
• Vomiting and regurgitation √
• Constipation √ 
• Aggressiveness √
• Hypersensitivity to touch √ 
• Red and dry mucous membranes of mouth √
• Increased urination and defecation √
• Abnormal pain and diarrhoea √ (Any 1) (1) 

3.6.2

• Provision of fresh water in small amounts at short intervals √
• Give young animals isotonic saline solution/hypertonic dextrose √
• Remove the source of salt poisoning √ (Any 2) (2)

[35]

QUESTION 4: ANIMAL REPRODUCTION 
4.1
4.1.1 Identical twin √ (1) 
4.1.2 They are formed from the fertilisation of one egg cell by one sperm  cell √ (1) 
4.1.3

1. Gender They are of the same sex √ (1)
2. Physical appearance They are identical √ (1) 

4.1.4 Hailurodinase √ (1)
4.1.5 Ovum stage √ (1) 
4.2
4.2.1 Table showing number of cows in oestrus during different time  period 

Marking table with the following checklist: 

(6) 
4.2.2 06:00–08:00 √ (1)
4.2.3 It is 12 hours √ after oestrus signs have disappeared √ (2) 
4.3
4.3.1

• Oogenesis primary oocytes √
• Spermatogenesis primary spermatocytes √ (2) 

4.3.2

• Oogenesis ootids √
• Spermatogenesis primary spermatids √ (2) 

4.3.3

• Oogenesis ovary √
• Spermatogenesis testicles/testes √ (2)

4.4
4.4.1 Vas deferens/seminal tube √ (1)
4.4.2 Prostate gland √ (1)
4.4.3 Epididymis √ (1)
4.5
4.5.1 Dystocia √ (1) 
4.5.2

• Deviation of the head √
• Flection of the elbow √
• Retention of one or both forelegs √
• Hydrocephalus √
• Congenital defects √
• Posterior presentation/position and posture √
• Torsion of the uterus √ (Any 2) (2)

4.6
4.6.1 Cloning √ (1) 
4.6.2

• Sheep 1 Donor √
• Sheep 2 Recipient √ (2) 

4.6.3

1. Reproductive cloning √ 
2. Therapeutic cloning √ (2)

4.6.4 For the production of medicines to treat different diseases √ (1) 
4.6.5

• High quality products ( meat, wool, et cetera) √
• Farmers farm with best animals with desirable characteristics √
• Animals can be bred for disease resistance thus, decreasing the  cost of treatment √
• Extinct and endangered species can be revived √
• One female can produce many clones √ (Any 2) (2)

[35] 
TOTAL SECTION B: 105 
GRAND TOTAL: 150