Ceist Eile

Ceist Eile is in development. Features, questions and prices may change while we refine it.

Subjects · Leaving Cert Agricultural Science

Leaving Cert Agricultural Science: Beef production

How often Beef production comes up on the Agricultural Science papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.

HL Asked on 5 of the last 5 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2025. banker

OL Asked on 3 of the last 5 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2025. most years

Beef production, Higher Level(8 marks)

Quick ones on Beef production.

(a)In EUROP carcass grading, what does the letter describe?
  1. Fat cover
  2. Conformation (muscling)
  3. Age of the animal
(b)A 380 kg carcass is paid €5.00/kg plus a 20c/kg bonus. What is its value?
  1. €2,090
  2. €1,900
  3. €1,976
(c)What is compensatory growth?
  1. Faster growth after a period of restricted feeding
  2. Growth caused by hormone implants in the ear
  3. Growth of muscle in place of fat as animals age
Show the answers

(a) Conformation (muscling)

(b) €1,976

(c) Faster growth after a period of restricted feeding

Your turn: Higher Level questions on Beef production.

Higher Level

Asked on 5 of the last 5 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2025. banker

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Q5, Q16
2024Q15
2023Q11
2022Q7
2021Q8, Q14

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Beef production questions

Beef production, 2 marks

What is a store animal?

  1. One ready for immediate slaughter
  2. A cow kept only for breeding
  3. One sold to be finished by another farmer
Show the answer

One sold to be finished by another farmer

Stores are growing cattle bought by finishers, who add weight and fat before slaughter.

Beef production, 3 marks

Why is calving heifers at 24 months a target in suckler herds?

  1. It raises the fat score of the calves at sale
  2. It raises lifetime output and cuts rearing costs
  3. Heifers cannot calve after 30 months of age
Show the answer

It raises lifetime output and cuts rearing costs

Calving at two years means fewer non-productive months, more calves per cow and lower rearing costs, if heifers are well grown.

Beef production, 3 marks

Why are suckler calves fed meal for a few weeks before weaning?

  1. It reduces weaning stress and weight loss
  2. It dries off the cow before the calf leaves
  3. It prevents all pneumonia after weaning
Show the answer

It reduces weaning stress and weight loss

Calves already eating meal lose less weight and suffer less stress at weaning, so growth is maintained.

Ordinary Level

Asked on 3 of the last 5 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2025. most years

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Q1b, Q16, Q18
2024Not asked
2023Q10a
2022Q11b
2021Not asked

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Beef production questions

Beef production, 2 marks

In EUROP carcass grading, the letter describes the carcass's?

  1. Fat cover (fat score)
  2. Age (in months)
  3. Conformation (shape)
Show the answer

Conformation (shape)

E is the best conformation and P the poorest. A separate number from 1 to 5 describes fat cover, with 1 the leanest.

Beef production, 3 marks

Compensatory growth means cattle?

  1. Put on fat only when they are housed
  2. Grow faster after a period of restricted feeding
  3. Grow slowly for the whole of their life
Show the answer

Grow faster after a period of restricted feeding

Store cattle on a cheap winter diet grow very fast on spring grass and catch up. This lets farmers save on winter feed costs.

Beef production, 2 marks

In a suckler beef system, calves are reared?

  1. On their own mothers until weaning
  2. On milk replacer from birth
  3. Indoors on meal only
Show the answer

On their own mothers until weaning

The calf suckles its mother until weaning. The calves are then sold as weanlings or kept and finished for beef.

Other Agricultural Science topics

All of Leaving Cert Agricultural Science