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Subjects · Leaving Cert Agricultural Science

Leaving Cert Agricultural Science: Breeds & types

How often Breeds & types 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 5 of the last 5 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2025. banker

Breeds & types, Higher Level(7 marks)

Quick ones on Breeds & types.

(a)Which black, polled beef breed is noted for easy calving and marbled beef?
  1. Belgian Blue
  2. Aberdeen Angus
  3. Charolais
(b)Belgian Blue cattle carry extra muscle because of...
  1. Growth hormone implants
  2. Heavy concentrate feeding
  3. The double-muscling gene
(c)Which dairy breed gives milk with the highest fat and protein %?
  1. Jersey
  2. Norwegian Red
  3. Holstein Friesian
Show the answers

(a) Aberdeen Angus

(b) The double-muscling gene

(c) Jersey

Your turn: Higher Level questions on Breeds & types.

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
2025Q1, Q2b
2024Q2a, Q2b, Q18
2023Q1a, Q1b
2022Q2
2021Q14

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

More Breeds & types questions

Breeds & types, 2 marks

Which large, creamy-white continental beef breed is known for fast growth?

  1. Hereford
  2. Aberdeen Angus
  3. Charolais
Show the answer

Charolais

The Charolais is a heavy French breed with fast growth and a high carcass weight, often used as a terminal sire on suckler cows.

Breeds & types, 3 marks

Which golden-brown French beef breed is noted for high kill-out and fine bone?

  1. Friesian
  2. Limousin
  3. Hereford
Show the answer

Limousin

Limousins have fine bone and lean, well-muscled carcasses, giving a high kill-out and good conformation grades.

Breeds & types, 2 marks

Which terminal sire sheep breed has a white face with no wool on the head or legs?

  1. Texel
  2. Suffolk
  3. Scottish Blackface
Show the answer

Texel

The Texel has a white, clean face and heavy muscling. The Suffolk has a black face and legs, and the Blackface is a horned hill breed.

Ordinary Level

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

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Q1a, Q1b, Q17d
2024Q6a, Q11b
2023Q2
2022Q2a, Q2b, Q11b
2021Q12

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

More Breeds & types questions

Breeds & types, 2 marks

Which is the most common dairy breed in Ireland?

  1. Hereford (a beef breed)
  2. Kerry
  3. Holstein Friesian
Show the answer

Holstein Friesian

Holstein Friesians give high milk yields and make up most Irish dairy herds. Crossing them with Jerseys raises milk fat and protein %.

Breeds & types, 2 marks

Which dairy breed is known for milk very high in fat and protein?

  1. Charolais
  2. Jersey
  3. Holstein Friesian
Show the answer

Jersey

Jerseys are small cows giving less milk but very rich in solids. Jersey-cross cows suit Irish grass-based farms.

Breeds & types, 2 marks

Which beef breed is noted for double muscling?

  1. Belgian Blue
  2. Hereford
  3. Jersey
Show the answer

Belgian Blue

Belgian Blues carry a gene that gives very heavy muscling and a high kill-out. Calving difficulty can be a problem, so bulls are chosen carefully.

Other Agricultural Science topics

All of Leaving Cert Agricultural Science