NDDB veterinary and executive posts Fodder Production & Grassland Management: practice questions

Question 1 · medium

A green maize fodder crop yields 45 t/ha fresh weight at 22% dry matter. What is its dry matter yield per hectare?

1. 9.9 t DM/ha
2. 35.1 t DM/ha
3. 2.05 t DM/ha
4. 4.5 t DM/ha

Question 2 · medium

A farmer has cut a multi-cut fodder sorghum once and asks when the regrowth can be fed. What is the best advice?

1. Graze it only on frosty mornings, because cold temperatures destroy most of the cyanide in the leaves
2. Feed it as soon as it is 10-15 cm tall, because young regrowth is the most nutritious and safest part of the plant
3. Spray the regrowth with urea solution a day before feeding so that the urea neutralises the cyanide
4. Wait until the regrowth is well grown and near flowering, and do not feed it if drought has stunted it

Question 3 · medium

In north India a berseem crop meant for both fodder and seed is usually managed by:

1. Taking no fodder cut at all, because cutting always ruins the later seed crop
2. Taking fodder cuts until about February-early March, then leaving it to flower
3. Cutting for fodder right through May, then harvesting the seed in the monsoon rains
4. Leaving it uncut until January, then taking the seed crop in February

Question 4 · medium

A fodder calendar for a dairy farm is best described as:

1. A chart of daily milk yield used to set concentrate allowances for each cow in the herd
2. A month-by-month plan of crops, areas, cutting dates and yields set against the herd's needs
3. A list of animals' vaccination and deworming dates kept beside the fodder store records
4. A record of rainfall used only to decide when to sell surplus animals before the summer season

Question 5 · hard

A seed lot of a fodder grass has 90% physical purity and 80% germination. How much of this seed must be sown to supply 10 kg of pure live seed (PLS) per hectare?

1. 13.9 kg/ha
2. 12.5 kg/ha
3. 11.1 kg/ha
4. 7.2 kg/ha

Question 6 · hard

1,000 kg of fresh grass at 20% dry matter is made into hay at 15% moisture. Approximately what weight of hay is obtained?

1. 235 kg
2. 150 kg
3. 250 kg
4. 170 kg

Question 7 · medium

A farmer bales hay at about 30% moisture to save time. What is the main risk?

1. Loss of all minerals by leaching while the hay is in covered storage
2. Clostridial fermentation to butyric acid, as in very wet grass silage
3. Heating, mould growth and possible spontaneous combustion of the stack
4. Excess leaf shatter, because the hay is far too dry when it is finally baled

Question 8 · medium

Haylage in wrapped bales is made at about 40-60% dry matter. Why does a hole in the wrap cause serious spoilage?

1. Haylage ferments less and depends mainly on air exclusion, so air lets moulds grow
2. Haylage contains live clostridia that need air to produce their butyric acid
3. Haylage is preserved by drying only, so rain entering the hole makes it start to ferment
4. Haylage depends on its very low pH of 3.0, and air instantly raises it above 7.0

Question 9 · easy

Using about 4 kg of urea per 100 kg of straw, how much urea is needed to treat 500 kg of wheat straw?

1. 125 kg
2. 20 kg
3. 200 kg
4. 4 kg

Question 10 · medium

In a rotational grazing system each paddock is grazed for 3 days and then rested for 30 days. How many paddocks are needed?

1. 11
2. 9
3. 10
4. 33