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Subjects · Leaving Cert Agricultural Science

Leaving Cert Agricultural Science: Calf rearing & colostrum

How often Calf rearing & colostrum comes up on the Agricultural Science papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.

HL Asked on 2 of the last 5 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2024.

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

Calf rearing & colostrum, Higher Level(8 marks)

Quick ones on Calf rearing & colostrum.

(a)Why must a newborn calf get colostrum within the first few hours?
  1. Colostrum stops the rumen growing
  2. Its gut can absorb antibodies only briefly
  3. Calves cannot drink after 12 hours
(b)What is the main type of antibody in cow colostrum?
  1. Insulin (a hormone)
  2. Haemoglobin (Hb)
  3. IgG (immunoglobulin G)
(c)Why are concentrate and fresh water offered to calves from their first week?
  1. To stimulate rumen development
  2. To replace the colostrum feeds
  3. To shrink the abomasum early
Show the answers

(a) Its gut can absorb antibodies only briefly

(b) IgG (immunoglobulin G)

(c) To stimulate rumen development

Your turn: Higher Level questions on Calf rearing & colostrum.

Higher Level

Asked on 2 of the last 5 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2024.

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Not asked
2024Q16
2023Not asked
2022Q14, Q14c
2021Not asked

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

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
2025Q15d
2024Q5, Q18
2023Q3
2022Not asked
2021Not asked

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

More Calf rearing & colostrum questions

Calf rearing & colostrum, 3 marks

A 40 kg calf should get 10% of its body weight as colostrum. How much is that?

  1. 10 litres
  2. 0.4 litres
  3. 4 litres
Show the answer

4 litres

10% of 40 kg = 4 kg, which is about 4 litres. Use colostrum from the cow's first milking, as it is richest in antibodies.

Calf rearing & colostrum, 2 marks

Scour in young calves is dangerous mainly because it causes?

  1. Lameness
  2. Dehydration
  3. Weight gain
Show the answer

Dehydration

Scour is diarrhoea, so the calf loses water and salts fast. Give oral electrolytes and keep pens clean and dry to stop it spreading.

Calf rearing & colostrum, 2 marks

Why is a calf offered meal and fresh water from its first week?

  1. To develop its rumen early
  2. To replace colostrum
  3. To prevent pneumonia
Show the answer

To develop its rumen early

Meal and roughage start fermentation and growth of the rumen wall. A calf with a working rumen can be weaned off milk sooner.

Other Agricultural Science topics

All of Leaving Cert Agricultural Science