TNPSC Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science (Degree Standard), Code 396 · India · Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission
Original practice questions written to the published syllabus · not past papersBreeds, housing, feeding, breeding and record keeping for cattle, buffalo, sheep and goats: the husbandry a field veterinarian advises on every day.
In the exams: Nepal NLEV Animal Husbandry 15 items (its largest block); PRC Zootechnics 12%; ICAR AICE-JRF core group 05; ICAR AIEEA-PG 14 (LPM); RPSC Part A (breeds and home tracts of Rajasthan); TNPSC LPM 20
How our questions for TNPSC Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science, Code 396 spread across the units of Livestock Production Management I: General Principles and Ruminants. Difficulty: 6 easy, 35 medium, 0 hard.
| Livestock statistics and the livestock census | 5 | |
| Breeds and home tracts of cattle and buffalo | 5 | |
| Breeds and home tracts of sheep and goats | 4 | |
| Feeding management | 4 | |
| Breeding management | 3 | |
| Reproduction management | 3 | |
| Care of calves and heifers | 3 | |
| Dentition and ageing | 3 | |
| Livestock economics | 3 | |
| Housing and shelter management | 2 | |
| Care of pregnant and lactating animals | 2 | |
| Farm records | 2 | |
| Clean milk production | 1 | |
| Identification methods | 1 |
Choose an answer, then open the working. Each explanation says why the right answer is right and why the others are not.
Which feature was introduced for the first time in India's 20th Livestock Census?
C. Digital data entry on tablet computers
The 20th census was the first recorded online on tablets, and it counted animals by breed. Poultry, household-based enumeration and separate buffalo counts were all part of earlier censuses.
Further reading: DAHD, 20th Livestock Census All-India Report (2019)
The FecB (Booroola) mutation that raises ovulation rate in sheep is found in which Indian breed?
A. Garole
Garole of the Sundarbans carries FecB in the BMPR1B gene and is highly prolific; the Booroola Merino is thought to have received the gene from Bengal sheep. Nellore and Deccani are mutton breeds and Magra a carpet-wool breed, none known for FecB.
Further reading: Sastry & Thomas, Livestock Production Management; ICAR Handbook of Animal Husbandry
Heifers are best bred when they reach approximately what proportion of mature body weight?
D. 55-65%
A common guide is to breed at about 55-65% of mature weight. Puberty occurs at about 40-45%, and about 80-85% is the target at first calving.
Further reading: Dairy heifer-rearing guidelines
Using the Indian rule of thumb, a cow on good roughage yields 10 kg milk daily. With a maintenance allowance of 1.5 kg concentrate and 1 kg concentrate per 2.5 kg milk, how much concentrate should she get?
D. 5.5 kg
Concentrate = maintenance + milk/2.5 = 1.5 + 10/2.5 = 1.5 + 4.0 = 5.5 kg. 4.0 kg omits maintenance; 6.5 kg uses the buffalo ratio of 1 kg per 2 kg milk (10/2 = 5, plus 1.5); 25 kg multiplies instead of dividing.
Further reading: Sastry & Thomas, Livestock Production Management; ICAR Handbook of Animal Husbandry
A buffalo gives 10 kg milk daily. Using a maintenance allowance of 2 kg concentrate and 1 kg concentrate per 2 kg milk, what is her daily concentrate allowance?
C. 7 kg
Allowance = 2 + 10/2 = 2 + 5 = 7 kg. 6 kg uses the cow ratio of 2.5 (2 + 4); 5 kg omits maintenance; 22 kg multiplies 10 by 2 and adds 2.
Further reading: Sastry & Thomas, Livestock Production Management; ICAR Handbook of Animal Husbandry
Feeding extra concentrate to a pregnant cow during the last 6-8 weeks of gestation is called:
B. Steaming up
Steaming up supports late fetal growth, udder development and reserves for lactation. Flushing is extra energy around mating; challenge feeding raises concentrate in early lactation; creep feeding is for young stock.
Further reading: Sastry & Thomas, Livestock Production Management; ICAR Handbook of Animal Husbandry
Well-made maize silage is preserved mainly by:
C. Lactic acid from anaerobic fermentation, lowering the pH
Silage is packed airtight so lactic acid bacteria ferment sugars and lower the pH. Butyric acid indicates poor, clostridial fermentation; drying below 15% moisture describes hay.
Further reading: Sastry & Thomas, Livestock Production Management; ICAR Handbook of Animal Husbandry
Using the guide of about 10% of body weight as early colostrum, how much colostrum does a 40 kg calf need within its first several hours?
A. About 4 litres
10% of 40 kg = 4 kg, about 4 litres. 0.4 L is 1%; 10 L confuses 10% with 10 litres; 1 L is far too little for adequate passive transfer.
Further reading: Calf-rearing texts
A dairy herd has a 365-day calving interval and a 60-day dry period. Approximately what percentage of cows will be in milk at any time?
B. About 84%
Lactation length = 365 - 60 = 305 days; cows in milk = 305 / 365 x 100 = 83.6%, about 84%. 16% is the dry fraction; 120% divides the interval by the lactation.
Further reading: Sastry & Thomas, Livestock Production Management; ICAR Handbook of Animal Husbandry
Which cost usually forms the largest share of the cost of milk production?
B. Feed and fodder
Feed commonly accounts for about 60-70% of the cost of milk production in Indian studies, which is why feeding efficiency drives profit.
Further reading: Sastry & Thomas, Livestock Production Management; ICAR Handbook of Animal Husbandry
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