ASCI 220: Introductory Animal Nutrition and Feeding - Topic 1

These flashcards cover the introductory concepts of animal nutrition, including biological classification, nutrient types, dietary niches, and the principles of domestication as presented in ASCI 220.

Animal Nutrition

The series of processes by which an animal acquires, processes, digests, absorbs, metabolizes and excretes portions of its external chemical environment for the continual functioning of its internal metabolism.

Organism

Any biological living system that functions as an individual life form, based on the concept of the minimal functional unit of life.

Biological species

Organisms that are capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring, involve prezygotic and postzygotic reproductive isolation.

Nutrients

Any chemical element or compound in the diet that supports maintenance of life processes or normal production processes such as reproduction, growth, and lactation.

Autotrophs

Primary producers (plants, algae, phytoplankton) that produce complex organic compounds from simple inorganic molecules and energy from light or inorganic chemical reactions.

Heterotrophs

Consumers (animals, fungi, etc.) that require food to supply chemical-potential energy and molecular building blocks like carbohydrates, essential amino acids, lipids, vitamins, and minerals.

Ingredient

A component part or constituent of any combination or mixture making up a feed, such as corn or soybean meal.

Feedstuff

Any material of natural or synthetic origin fed to animals for the purpose of maintaining them, providing nutrients, flavor, bulk, or improving product characteristics.

Formulated Feed

Two or more ingredients proportioned, mixed, and processed according to specific specifications.

Ration

The specific amount of feed consumed by an animal within a 24-hour period.

Complete Ration

A nutritionally adequate feed mixture compounded to be fed as the sole ration (excluding water) capable of supporting life or promoting production.

Diet

A feed ingredient or mixture of ingredients, including water, which is consumed by animals.

Nutrient Classes

The six main categories: Water, Carbohydrates, Protein, Fat, Vitamins, and Minerals.

Energy

A property that some nutrients possess, rather than a nutrient class itself.

Feedstuff Class 1

Dry Forages and Roughages.

Feedstuff Class 4

Energy Concentrates.

Feedstuff Class 5

Protein Concentrates.

Atwater's Physiological Fuel Values

Values used to estimate metabolizable energy (ME) where Fat provides $9.00\,kcal\,ME/g$ and Carbohydrates and Protein each provide $4.00\,kcal\,ME/g$.

Mastication

The nutritional process commonly known as chewing.

Deglutition

The nutritional process commonly known as swallowing.

Florivore

An animal that eats plant matter, such as cattle, goats, sheep, or horses.

Omnivore

An animal that eats both plant and animal matter, such as chickens and swine.

Faunivore

An animal that eats animal matter, such as dogs and cats.

Nectarivore

A consumption category of florivores that specializes in eating nectar.

Granivore

A consumption category of florivores that specializes in eating grains and hard dry seeds.

Piscivore

A consumption category of faunivores that specializes in eating fish.

Domestication

A sustained multi-generational mutualistic relationship where one organism assumes control over the reproduction and care of another to increase the fitness of both.

Symbiosis

A close relationship between two different species in which at least one species benefits; includes mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism.

Mutualism

A symbiotic relationship between two species in which both species benefit.

Commensalism

A symbiotic relationship between two species in which one species benefits from the other without affecting it.

Parasitism

A symbiotic relationship between two species in which one species benefits at the expense of the other.

Kingdom Animalia

Multicellular, eukaryotic, heterotrophic, and motile organisms that feature a blastula stage allowing cells to differentiate into specialized tissues.

Phylum Chordata

Animals that possess a notochord, dorsal hollow nerve cord, endostyle or thyroid, pharyngeal slits, and a post-anal tail at some point in their life stages.

Subphylum Vertebrata

Chordates characterized by having backbones.

Binomial Nomenclature

The formal international standard system of naming species using Genus and species, established by Carl Linnaeus.

Hemihomonyms

Identical names (nomina) used for taxa from different nomenclature jurisdictions, such as botanical and zoological codes.

Precocial

A developmental trait in animals characterized by early maturity, often listed as a key trait for successful domestication.