Subjects · Leaving Certificate
Leaving Cert Agricultural Science
What has come up on the Agricultural Science papers (2021–2025), topic by topic, with step-by-step practice at Higher Level and Ordinary Level.
Three quick ones from the Agricultural Science topics that come up most.
- Lungworm
- Liver fluke
- Blackleg bacteria
- Age of the animal
- Fat cover
- Conformation (muscling)
- Aberdeen Angus
- Charolais
- Belgian Blue
Show the answers
(a) Liver fluke
(b) Conformation (muscling)
(c) Aberdeen Angus
Higher Level
400 flash cards and 240 step-by-step drill questions at Higher Level.
What comes up
How many of the last 5 Agricultural Science Higher Level papers asked each topic.
| Topic | Asked | Last seen | How often |
|---|---|---|---|
| Animal health & disease banker | 5 of 5 | 2025 | |
| Soil biology & nutrient cycles banker | 5 of 5 | 2025 | |
| Breeds & types banker | 5 of 5 | 2025 | |
| Farm machinery & technology banker | 5 of 5 | 2025 | |
| Investigations & data banker | 5 of 5 | 2025 | |
| Beef production banker | 5 of 5 | 2025 | |
| Reproduction & fertility banker | 5 of 5 | 2025 | |
| Reseeding & sward composition banker | 5 of 5 | 2025 | |
| Slurry, manure & water quality banker | 5 of 5 | 2025 | |
| Grass growth & grazing most years | 4 of 5 | 2024 | |
| Soil water, air & compaction most years | 4 of 5 | 2025 | |
| Animal genetics & improvement most years | 4 of 5 | 2025 | |
| Climate & emissions most years | 4 of 5 | 2024 | |
| Dairy production & milk quality most years | 4 of 5 | 2025 |
More topics: Animal nutrition & feed efficiency, Markets, policy & food quality, Plant ID & lifecycles, Ruminant & monogastric digestion, Seed, germination & establishment, Weeds, pests & crop disease, Biodiversity & habitats, Sheep production, Cereal & food crop production, Housing, welfare & farmyard, Silage & hay, Soil pH, liming & CEC, Soil testing & fertilisers, Catch & energy crops, Farm health & safety, Plant structure & physiology, Plant breeding & biotechnology, Calf rearing & colostrum, Soil texture & structure, Soil formation & soil types, Organic & regenerative farming.
Try three
Beef production, 3 marks
A 380 kg carcass is paid €5.00/kg plus a 20c/kg bonus. What is its value?
- €1,900
- €2,090
- €1,976
Show the answer
€1,976
Value = carcass kg x (base price + bonus) = 380 x €5.20 = €1,976. Leaving out the bonus gives €1,900.
Soil biology & nutrient cycles, 3 marks
A 50 g dry soil sample loses 6 g when ignited in a crucible. What is its % organic matter?
- 88%
- 12%
- 6%
Show the answer
12%
% OM = mass lost on ignition / dry mass x 100 = 6 / 50 x 100 = 12%. Strong heating burns off the organic matter as carbon dioxide.
Reproduction & fertility, 3 marks
A cow is first seen in heat in the morning. Using the a.m./p.m. rule, when should she be inseminated?
- That evening
- Immediately
- The following evening
Show the answer
That evening
The egg is released after heat ends, and sperm need hours in the tract before they can fertilise. Cows seen in heat in the morning are served that evening; evening ones next morning.
Ordinary Level
300 flash cards and 150 step-by-step drill questions at Ordinary Level.
What comes up
How many of the last 5 Agricultural Science Ordinary Level papers asked each topic.
| Topic | Asked | Last seen | How often |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investigations & data banker | 5 of 5 | 2025 | |
| Reproduction & fertility banker | 5 of 5 | 2025 | |
| Sheep production banker | 5 of 5 | 2025 | |
| Dairy production & milk quality banker | 5 of 5 | 2025 | |
| Breeds & types banker | 5 of 5 | 2025 | |
| Housing, welfare & farmyard banker | 5 of 5 | 2025 | |
| Farm machinery & technology banker | 5 of 5 | 2025 | |
| Soil testing & fertilisers banker | 5 of 5 | 2025 | |
| Animal health & disease banker | 5 of 5 | 2025 | |
| Silage & hay banker | 5 of 5 | 2025 | |
| Weeds, pests & crop disease most years | 4 of 5 | 2024 | |
| Farm health & safety most years | 4 of 5 | 2025 | |
| Markets, policy & food quality most years | 4 of 5 | 2025 | |
| Plant ID & lifecycles most years | 4 of 5 | 2025 |
More topics: Animal genetics & improvement, Animal nutrition & feed efficiency, Ruminant & monogastric digestion, Soil biology & nutrient cycles, Soil formation & soil types, Soil pH, liming & CEC, Soil water, air & compaction, Biodiversity & habitats, Soil texture & structure, Beef production, Grass growth & grazing, Reseeding & sward composition, Calf rearing & colostrum, Seed, germination & establishment, Cereal & food crop production, Organic & regenerative farming, Plant structure & physiology, Climate & emissions, Plant breeding & biotechnology, Slurry, manure & water quality.
Try three
Investigations & data, 3 marks
40 seeds are sown and 34 germinate. What is the percentage germination?
- 34%
- 80%
- 85%
Show the answer
85%
% germination = seeds germinated ÷ seeds sown × 100 = 34 ÷ 40 × 100 = 85%.
Sheep production, 3 marks
50 ewes lambed and produced 85 lambs. What is the lambing percentage?
- 135%
- 170%
- 85%
Show the answer
170%
Lambing % = lambs born ÷ ewes lambed × 100 = 85 ÷ 50 × 100 = 170%. More lambs per ewe means more lambs to sell.
Soil testing & fertilisers, 3 marks
A 50 kg bag of fertiliser is 27% N. How many kg of N does it hold?
- 13.5 kg
- 27 kg
- 5.4 kg
Show the answer
13.5 kg
kg of N = 50 x 27 / 100 = 13.5 kg. The percentage on the bag is the share of the bag's mass that is nitrogen.
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