Nutrients, Vitamins & Minerals - Animal Science

Extrusion process

how kibble is created:

1) homogenized dough is shaped and placed into a pressure cooker

2) heat + pressure expand the starch so it becomes easier to chew

3) it is sprayed with a fat layer for palatability

Monosaccharides

these are simple sugars; glucose, fructose, galactose

Disaccharides

these are two linked sugars; lactose, maltose, sucrose

Polysaccharides

these are many linked sugars; starches(highly digestible chain of glucose), glycogen, dextrin’s

Lipids

an organic compound that is insoluble in water, but is soluble in organic solvents

Saturated Lipids

lipids which do not have double bonds; they are saturated with hydrogen atoms

Monounsaturated Lipids

lipids which have one double bond

Polyunsaturated Lipids

lipids which have multiple double bonds; more energy dense

Why does the body need carbohydrates?

1) provides energy to the body and can be converted into glycogen

2) it is necessary for the Central Nervous System to function

3) spares body from using protein for energy

4) can be converted to fat which will give the body an infinite supply of stored energy

What is the primary source of carbohydrates in pet foods?

starch

What ingredients provide starch?

corn, rice, wheat, bran

What ingredients provide fiber?

beet pulp, rice bran, tomato pomace, peanut hulls

How are carbohydrates stored?

1) fat

2) glycogen

What are the benefits of carbohydrates?

1) main energy source

2) promotes health of G.I. Tract

Why does the body need fiber?

1) it is necessary for the overall health of the G.I. Tract

2) the bulk of it aids in digestion; helps with peristalsis

3) it acts as a filler to control the energy density of food but still permits satiety

8 Things to know about Lipids

1) body is capable of storing unlimited amounts of fats

2) necessary for nerve-cell function

3) needed to carry fat-soluble vitamins

4) the body’s primary source of stored energy

5) adds palatability to food

6) has its own nerve & blood supply

7) needed to form bile salts and structural compounds

8) thermoregulation, protection, insulation

3 Types of Lipids

1) Simple Lipids (most common form)

2) Compounds Lipids (combination of lipids & non-lipids)

3) Derived Lipids (formed in body; Cholesterol & fat-soluble vitamins)

What is the most energy dense and digestible nutrient?

fats(lipids)

Essential Fatty Acids

1) N-3 Alpha Linolenic Acid

2) N-6 Linoleic Acid

Arachidonic Acid

something that is derived from animal fats and must be supplemented in a cats diet

What happens when a cat has an Arachidonic Acid deficiency?

1) decreased platelet aggregation

2) thrombocytopenia(platelet deficiency)

3) failure to deliver viable kittens

4) poor coat

5) slowed growth

6) impaired wound healing

7) skin lesions(wounds)

When is there an increased need for energy?

1) young, growing animals

2) gestation

3) lactation

4) prolonged exercise/heavy work

What happens when there is an excess of lipids?

1) obesity

2) steatorrhea (fatty diarrhea)

3) vitamin E deficiencies

What happens when there is a deficiency of lipids?

1) decreased energy

2) skin & coat issues

Why is protein required by the body?

1) provides the essential Amino Acids for protein synthesis

2) supplies nitrogen for the body

What is the function of protein?

1) structural compounds

2) chemical compounds

3) transport/carriers

4) immunity; synthesis of antibodies

Why do dogs and cats need Essential Amino Acids(EAAs)?

for growth and repair of tissues + source of nitrogen

How many Essential Amino Acids are needed for dogs and cats?

dogs: 10

cats: 10 + Taurine

How are Amino Acids stored and utilized?

1) can be used as direct source of energy

2) can be converted into glycogen and stored for later use

3) an unlimited amount can be converted into and stored as fat

Where do cats get Taurine?

1) myocardium (heart muscle)

2) retina (eyes)

Cats and Taurine

1) use for bile salts formation

2) only source for it is animal tissue

3) canned foods use 2x the amount of taurine due to additional processing

Effects of Taurine deficiency

1) Dilative Cardiomyopathy (when the heart muscle becomes larger but thinner)

2) poor reproductive performance

3) blindness

Protein deficiency

1) weight loss

2) slowed growth

3) overall decreased reproduction

4) decreased immunity

Why do cats have an increased need for protein?

Cats do not have a protein reserve so they do not conserve Nitrogen for their Nitrogen pool

Arginine

an Essential Amino Acid needed by cats and dogs that assists in the break down of protein and assists with urea excretion

Signs of deficiency of Arginine

1) vomiting

2) muscles spasms (minor)

3) ataxia (incoordination)

4) hyperesthesia (overly sensitive response to touch)

5) tetany (more severe muscle cramping)

6) coma

7) death

What is the best source for protein?

egg whites

Food Related Factors Affecting Protein Requirements

1) quality of protein

2) amino acid composition

3) generally about 75%-90% digestible

4) energy filling

Animal Related Factors Affecting Protein Requirements

1) activity level

2) health status

3) previous nutritional status

Fat Soluble Vitamins

Vitamins A, D, E, & K are absorbed with fat into the small intestine, excreted in feces like fat

Water Soluble Vitamins

Vitamin C & B complex group, absorbed into the small intestine, excreted through urine

How are water soluble vitamins stored?

they cannot be stored

How are fat soluble vitamins stored?

they are stored in the liver

Thiamine (B1) Vitamin

Deficiency: causes Central Nervous System signs, “stargazing” in chickens

Riboflavin (B2) Vitamin

Deficiency: causes Central Nervous System signs

Niacin (B3) Vitamin

Deficiency: causes diarrhea, rashes, red inflamed skin, sores in mouth

Folic Acid/Biotin

Prevents genetic abnormalities, needed for metabolism, health skin & nails

Deficiency: causes seizures, skin infections, brittle nails, Central Nervous System signs

Pantothenic Acid (B5)

Deficiency: causes slowed growth, impaired movements, burning of hands and feet, severe headaches

Cobalamin (B12)

Deficiency: can lead to IBS(Irritable Bowel Syndrome), pancreatitis, other gastrointestinal problems

Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)

Deficiency: problems with wound healing, cartilage synthesis, anemia and scurvy in monkeys and guinea pigs

Vitamin A

Needed for vision, growth, reproduction, maintenance of epithelial tissues and mucus secretions

Deficiency: pre-formed causes night blindness in cats, impaired growth, reproductive failure, dermatoses

Excess: causes skeletal abnormalities - cervical spondylosis

Vitamin D

Needed for absorption of Calcium and Phosphorus in the body and bone development

Deficiency: causes osteomalacia, rickets

Excess: causes hypercalcemia, bone resorption, tissue calcification

Vitamin E

Acts as an antioxidant, protects Vitamin A from damage, protects Selenium deficiency, and protects unsaturated Fatty Acids from damage

Deficiency: causes reproductive failure, liver necrosis, white muscle disease, pansteatitis in cats

Excess: non-toxic

Vitamin K

Needed for blood clotting

Deficiency: causes increased clotting time, hemorrhaging

Excess: large doses in natural form = nontoxic, large doses in synthetic form = liver toxicity

Macrominerals

Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Sulfur; needed in large amounts

What does excess Sulfur cause?

polio in cows

Microminerals

Iron, Copper, Zinc, Selenium, Cobalt; needed in trace amounts

What does excess Zinc cause?

slowed growth

Why are vitamins needed for the body?

they are necessary for growth and health

Why are minerals needed for the body?

for skeletal support, transport protein, hormone components, and coenzymes