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Subjects · Leaving Cert Agricultural Science

Leaving Cert Agricultural Science: Sheep production

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

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

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

Sheep production, Higher Level(7 marks)

Quick ones on Sheep production.

(a)What causes twin lamb disease?
  1. Low calcium after lambing
  2. Low blood sugar in late pregnancy
  3. A bacterial udder infection
(b)What is the purpose of body condition scoring ewes?
  1. To check their teeth before mating
  2. To judge the quality of their wool
  3. To assess fat reserves and adjust feeding
(c)Why is a raddle fitted to a ram at mating time?
  1. To mark the ewes he has mated
  2. To protect his fleece from rain
  3. To stop him fighting other rams
Show the answers

(a) Low blood sugar in late pregnancy

(b) To assess fat reserves and adjust feeding

(c) To mark the ewes he has mated

Your turn: Higher Level questions on Sheep production.

Higher Level

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

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Q6, Q10, Q17
2024Q6a, Q6b
2023Not asked
2022Q14d
2021Not asked

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

More Sheep production questions

Sheep production, 3 marks

Which is a common reason for culling a ewe?

  1. Having twins the year before
  2. Being in good body condition
  3. A lumpy udder from past mastitis
Show the answer

A lumpy udder from past mastitis

Ewes are culled for udder problems, broken teeth, chronic lameness or poor performance, as they will rear lambs poorly.

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
2025Q12a, Q12b
2024Q15, Q15c, Q15d
2023Q7, Q17
2022Q2b, Q9, Q14
2021Q6, Q18c

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

More Sheep production questions

Sheep production, 2 marks

Flushing ewes before mating means?

  1. Walking them through a footbath before mating
  2. Removing the wool from around the tail
  3. Improving their diet to raise ovulation rate
Show the answer

Improving their diet to raise ovulation rate

Better grass for about three weeks before the ram goes in raises body condition and the number of eggs shed, so more twins are born.

Sheep production, 2 marks

Steaming up ewes means?

  1. Cleaning the lambing shed with steam
  2. Feeding extra meal in late pregnancy
  3. Warming the lambs after birth
Show the answer

Feeding extra meal in late pregnancy

Most lamb growth happens in the last six weeks of pregnancy. Extra meal gives stronger lambs, more colostrum and prevents twin lamb disease.

Sheep production, 3 marks

Twin lamb disease is caused by?

  1. Low blood sugar in late pregnancy
  2. A virus spread by ticks
  3. Too much calcium in the diet
Show the answer

Low blood sugar in late pregnancy

Ewes carrying twins or triplets cannot eat enough energy, so they break down body fat and ketones build up. Steaming up prevents it.

Other Agricultural Science topics

All of Leaving Cert Agricultural Science