Question

unit 5 progress check: mcq
questions 3 and 4 refer to the following.
von thunen model of agricultural land use
and land rent curve with selected activities
distance
1 market town
2 market gardens
3 dairies
4 forest
5 grain crops
6 pasture

which of the following best explains why in the model the amount of land used for dairying is much smaller than the pasture used for beef cattle?
a dairy cows are small in numbers compared to beef cattle and are less costly to transport over long distances as a result of the smaller herd size.
b dairy cows must be kept close to farmhouses, as they require daily milking, and milk must be produced close to consumers, as it is highly perishable.
c dairy cows are more expensive and should be kept close to farmers to prevent theft compared to less expensive beef cattle that can be kept in remote pastures.
d beef cattle are small in numbers compared to dairy cows and are less costly to transport over long distances as a result of the smaller herd size.
e beef cattle must be transported to the market town for frequent feedings and as a result need more space for herding.

Explanation:

The Von Thünen model places more perishable, high-value agricultural activities closer to the market town. Dairying requires daily milking, and milk is highly perishable, so it needs to be near consumers to avoid spoilage and high transport costs. This means it occupies a smaller, closer zone, while beef cattle (which can be raised on remote pastures and are less perishable, transported less frequently) use a larger, more distant zone.

Answer:

B. Dairy cows must be kept close to farmhouses, as they require daily milking, and milk must be produced close to consumers, as it is highly perishable.