AS 91293 annotated exemplars

This annotated exemplar is intended for teacher use only. Annotated exemplars are extracts of student evidence, with commentary, that explain key parts of a standard. These help teachers make assessment judgements at the grade boundaries.

Download all exemplars and commentary [PDF, 794 KB]

TKI Agricultural and Horticultural Science assessment resources (external link)

For Achieved, the student needs to demonstrate understanding of livestock reproductive techniques in commercial production in New Zealand.

This involves describing the steps taken when performing each reproductive technique while referring to the structure of livestock reproductive systems. The steps should be written with sufficient detail that another person could carry them out. All steps are not required but most of them, including the main steps, should be included. The reproductive techniques chosen are artificial insemination (AI) of dairy cattle and flushing and embryo transfer with sheep.

The student has described steps of artificial insemination for cattle with actions and reasons to demonstrate their understanding. The description includes the collection of semen and the insemination process itself.

The steps of flushing ewes prior to mating have been described and explained to show how they influence success of the technique. The explanation for flushing refers to high quality nutrition, including types of feed, the use of Body Condition Scoring and what happens to sheep with scores above and below 3, and the role of the hormone follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). This explanation is sufficient to contribute towards Merit. However, the explanation and role of hormones for at least one other technique is required in order for Merit to be awarded.

The steps of embryo transfer with sheep have been described. The role of hormones progesterone, luteinising hormone and FSH have been included in the description.

For Merit, each step of the process must be explained in detail, focusing on how each step contributes to the success of the technique, and the hormones involved. For AI in cattle, the role of hormones in the AI technique must be included, and the explanation could include why and where the semen should be precisely placed for a successful outcome. For embryo transfer with sheep, the explanation of many of the steps for success of the technique were missing and need to be given for this complicated procedure. Flushing with sheep was explained.

For Merit, the student needs to demonstrate in-depth understanding of livestock reproductive techniques in commercial production in New Zealand.

This involves justifying the use of a selected reproductive technique in terms of timing, quantity and genetic potential, and the economics of production. The reproductive techniques chosen are artificial insemination (AI) and artificial hormone application with cattle.

The student has described each step of AI and artificial hormone application in detail and explained how each step influences its success. Diagrams for both techniques have been used to support the descriptions. The role of oestrogen and luteinising hormone (LH) have been referred to for AI. For artificial hormone application the hormones progesterone, FSH and LH have been referred to.

For Excellence, the student should justify the use of one of the techniques in terms of timing of the use of the technique, quantity, genetic potential and economics of production. This should be explicitly justified and could be made in a final section of the report.

For Excellence, the student needs to demonstrate comprehensive understanding of livestock reproductive techniques in commercial production in New Zealand.

This involves justifying the use of a selected reproductive technique in terms of timing, quantity and genetic potential, and the economics of production. The reproductive techniques chosen are artificial insemination and embryo transfer with cattle.

Only one technique is required to be justified for Excellence. The student has justified the use of artificial insemination and embryo transfer, with artificial insemination being the stronger. For artificial insemination, the justification includes:

• timing – controlling the timing of calving results in calving occurring over a shorter time frame when feed is plentiful in spring
• quantity – a higher percentage of cows become pregnant during the calving window
• genetic potential – access to the world’s best dairy genes is possible
• economics of production – the reduced need for bulls on farm reduces costs, and higher milk yields are produced during the lifetime of the cow.

For embryo transfer, the four areas of timing, quantity and genetic potential, and the economics of production have been covered, but the understanding of the steps could have been improved by:

• including a diagram showing the organs positions relative to each other
• expanding the explanations to include how the steps lead to success of the technique.