ANS Lesson 9

Nutrition

Nutrition

is the study of how the body uses the nutrients in feed to sustain life and for productive purposes.

Depending on the type of enterprise, the cost of feed and feeding is ___-___%

of the total cost of livestock production.

45-75%

Monogastric nutritionists

focus on one-stomached animals such as poultry, swine, horses, dogs, cats, fish, rats, mice, monkeys, and some zoo animals.

Ruminant

nutritionists specialize in animals that have a rumen such as sheep, goats, and beef/dairy cattle.

Water

• Body will die more quickly from water deprivation than from the deprivation of any other nutrient

-Example uses:

• Lubricant and solvent

• Regulator of body temperature;

• Transporting medium in body fluids,

• Participant in metabolic chemical reactions

Carbohydrates

• Largest single percentage of nutrient content in most feedstuffs

-Uses include:

• Energy for muscular movement [i.e., heartbeat, walking, breathing, digestive contractions, etc.]

• Break down of carbohydrates produces body heat

• Extras are converted to fat and stored in the body.

Types of carbohydrates.

-Sugars, starches

• Simple carbohydrates

• Grains are easily digestible

• Provide animals with energy

-Cellulose and Lignin

• Complex carbohydrates, fiber

• Digestion requires microbial fermentation in rumen or hindgut

• Major carbohydrate found in forages such as fresh pastures, silage, and hay

Proteins (macronutrient)

• Components of lean tissue, enzymes, hormones, and body metabolites

• Comprised of amino acids

• Large supplier of nitrogen

• Excess nitrogen will be excreted with urine

• Any additional excess is converted to energy (carbohydrates or fats)

Protein cannot be stored in the body as _______.

protein

Proteins (Non-ruminant animals)

• Can not synthesize the essential amino acids

• Essential amino acids must come from their feedstuff

Proteins (ruminant animals)

• Obtain the essential amino acids thru the work of the rumen microbials

Animal needs vary based

on age, use, and species/breed

• Common feedstuff: oil seed meals (soybean meal), fishmeal, alfalfa meal and dried skim milk

Fats (lipids; macronutrient)

• Esters of fatty acids and glycerol

• Energy source

• Storage as fatty acids

• Carriers of fat-soluble vitamins and amino acids

• Common feedstuffs: tallow, lard, horse fat, and various vegetable oils

Vitamins (micronutrient)

• Organic compounds needed by the body in very small amounts

• Humans have commercially prepared vitamin supplements that are heavily used in modern feed formulations

Vitamins are classified as:

• fat-soluble vitamins - involved in regulating body functions such as vision, blood clotting, tissue maintenance, and growth (i.e., bone development)

• water-soluble vitamins - mostly for metabolic regulations

Minerals (micronutrient)

• Inorganic compounds needed by the body in very small amounts

• Comprise bones, teeth and have roles body’s enzyme systems

-Supplemental minerals are provided in various forms:

• Salt and trace mineralized salt

• Oyster shells

• Lime

• Bone meal

General use of nutrients: Production

output of products such as eggs, milk, and wool

• Energy needs vary

General use of nutrients: Maintentance

basal metabolism (heart beating, respiration), constant body temperature and weight

General use of nutrients: Finishing

- final growth and fattening phase of the production of meat animals

• Feeds heavy on carbohydrates and fats

General use of nutrients: Work

- like draft animals

• Carbohydrates most cost-effective to increase energy in diets