Animal Science Lecture Notes – Nutrition, Reproduction, Disease, Genetics, Marketing (Vocabulary Flashcards)

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards drawn from the lecture notes, covering nutrition, digestion, reproduction, genetics, disease, marketing, and related topics.

Alimentary canal

The complete digestive tract from mouth to anus where digestion and absorption occur.

Ruminant

An animal with a four‑chambered stomach (rumen, reticulum, omasum, abomasum) that ferments roughages with microbes.

Non‑ruminant

An animal with a simple stomach and no rumen, lacking specialized microbial digestion of roughage.

Rumen

The fermentation chamber of a ruminant where microbes digest roughage and produce volatile fatty acids.

Reticulum

A honeycomb stomach of ruminants; stores foreign objects and participates in regurgitation.

Omasum

The ‘leaf’ stomach of ruminants where water absorption and further grinding occur.

Abomasum

The true or glandular stomach of ruminants; site of chemical digestion with enzymes like renin and pepsin.

Alimentary canal of a pig

Digestive tract of a pig, including mouth, esophagus, stomach, and intestines with corresponding glands.

Salivary amylase

An enzyme in saliva that begins the digestion of starch into maltose.

Pepsin

A proteolytic enzyme in the stomach that digests proteins into peptides.

Renin

An enzyme in the stomach that converts caseinogen to casein in pigs (part of gastric digestion).

Succus entericus

Digestive juice secreted by the intestinal glands in the small intestine.

Liver

Largest gland; produces bile which neutralizes stomach acid, emulsifies fats, and aids fat absorption.

Bile

Alkaline digestive juice produced by the liver; emulsifies fats and aids digestion.

Pancreas

Gland that secretes pancreatic juice containing enzymes for digestion in the small intestine.

Gland of Liberkun (liberkuhn)

Glands in the small intestine that secrete digestive juice (succus entericus).

Gastric juice

Juice produced by the stomach containing acid (HCl) and enzymes for digestion.

pH (mouth)

Alkaline pH in the pig’s mouth creating an environment suitable for amylase.

Ph of stomach (pig)

Acidic; stomach environment is acidic to aid digestion.

Compartmental stomachs (ruminants)

Rumen, reticulum, omasum, abomasum—the four stomach compartments of ruminants.

Villi

Finger-like projections in the small intestine that increase surface area for absorption.

Lacteal

Lymphatic vessel in the villi that absorbs absorbed fats.

Blood capillary

Capillaries in the villi that absorb glucose, amino acids, vitamins, minerals.

Active absorption

Energy‑requiring transport of nutrients from low to high concentration.

Passive absorption

Nutrient uptake by diffusion down a concentration gradient, without energy use.

Gland of the liver

Liver; produces bile for digestion and fat emulsification.

Duodenum

The first part of the small intestine where many digestive enzymes act.

Jejunum

The part of the small intestine primarily for nutrient absorption; contains villi.

Ileum

The final section of the small intestine where absorption continues.

Caeca (fowl)

Pouches in birds that participate in fermentation and digestion; involved in absorption.

Cloaca

Common posterior opening in birds where digestive, urinary, and reproductive tracts discharge.

Digestive enzymes (list)

Enzymes like sucrase, maltase, lipase, trypsin that digest carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.

Glandular stomach

Proventriculus in birds; secretes gastric juices including pepsin.

Gizzard

Ventriculus in birds; muscular stomach that grinds food (often with grit).

Bird beak

Part of the fowl’s digestion; helps collect and intake food.

Crop

Storage/softening chamber in birds before digestion.

Glands of liberkuhn

Intestinal glands that secrete digestive juices (succus entericus) in the small intestine.

Digestibility

The proportion of ingested feed that is absorbed and utilized by the animal.

Digestibility coefficient

Percentage of feed digested and absorbed; used to assess feed quality.

Biological value (BV) of protein

An index of protein quality based on amino acid profile and nitrogen availability.

Essential amino acids

Amino acids that cannot be synthesized by the animal and must be supplied in the diet.

Non-essential amino acids

Amino acids that can be synthesized by the animal and do not need to be supplied.

Non-protein nitrogen (NPN)

Nitrogen sources (e.g., urea) that ruminants can convert to microbial protein.

Gross energy (GE)

Total energy content of feed prior to any losses.

Digestible energy (DE)

GE minus energy lost in feces; the energy available for digestion.

Metabolic energy (ME)

GE minus energy lost in feces, urine, and gases; usable for metabolism.

Net energy (NE)

GE minus energy losses in feces, urine, gases, and body heat; usable for maintenance and production.

Nutritive ratio (NR)

Ratio of digestible protein to other digestible nutrients in a feed.

Roughage

Bulky, high-fiber feeds (e.g., hay, straw) typically high in crude fiber.

Concentrates

Energy-dense, low-bulk feeds (grains, meals) with low crude fiber.

Amino acids (building blocks)

Molecular units that join to form proteins.

Minerals (macro vs micro)

Minerals required in large (macrominerals) or small (microminerals) amounts.

Vitamins (fat‑soluble and water‑soluble)

Essential micronutrients; fat‑soluble: A, D, E, K; water‑soluble: B vitamins, C.

Vitamin A deficiency (night blindness)

Lack of vitamin A leading to impaired vision in low light.

Vitamin D deficiency (osteomalacia/rickets)

Insufficient vitamin D causing weak bones in growing animals.

Vitamin K

Vitamin important for blood clotting.

Mineral deficiencies (examples)

Common deficiency diseases such as rickets (Ca/P), anemia (Fe), goitre (I).

Digestibility coefficients example

Example calculation: 74.4% digestibility indicates 25.6% excreted.

Protein supplement (NPN)

Non-protein nitrogen sources (like urea) used to supplement ruminant protein.

Growth stimulants

Substances used to influence growth rate: tranquilizers, antibiotics, thyroid regulators, hormones.

Pearson square method

A simple tool for balancing two feed ingredients to meet a target protein/DP:TDN ratio.

Oestrus cycle

The hormonal cycle in female mammals controlling fertility and receptivity.

Ovary

Female reproductive organ producing ova and hormones.

Oviduct (Fallopian tube)

Tube through which ova travel from ovary to uterus; site of fertilization.

Uterus

Female organ where embryo implants and gestation occurs.

Cervix

Lower part of the uterus that forms a passage to the vagina; dilates during parturition.

Vagina

Birth canal in female; receives semen during mating.

Clitoris

Female erectile organ, part of the external genitalia.

Vulva

External female genitalia; protects the vaginal opening.

Estrogen

Female sex hormone that stimulates oestrus and maintains reproductive function.

Progesterone

Hormone that maintains pregnancy and prepares the uterus for implantation.

Oogenesis

Egg formation in the female reproductive system.

Fertilization

Fusion of sperm and egg to form a zygote.

Chorion, Amnion, Allantois

Embryonic membranes forming the placenta and protecting the embryo.

Placenta (including chorion, amnion, allantois)

Membrane/organ enabling nutrient, gas exchange between mother and embryo.

Mating (natural vs artificial insemination)

Natural mating involves animals mating; artificial insemination uses collected semen.

Embryo transfer (ET)

Transferring fertilized embryo from donor to recipient animal.

Cloning

Breeding to produce genetically identical offspring from a donor.

Colostrum

First milk produced after calving; high in nutrients and antibodies.

Lactation

Milk production period following parturition.

Udder anatomy

Mammary gland structures involved in milk production and secretion.

Oxytocin

Hormone that stimulates milk ejection during milking.

Abortion

Termination of pregnancy before normal birth.

Dystocia

Difficult birth due to fetal or maternal factors.

Husbandry (best management) factors in breeding

Management practices affecting reproduction (nutrition, health, housing).

Pathogen

Disease-causing organism (virus, bacteria, fungi, protozoa).

Virus

Pathogen that causes contagious viral diseases; some are zoonotic.

Zoonotic

Diseases that can be transmitted between animals and humans.

Notifiable disease

Disease that must be reported to authorities when detected.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD)

Highly contagious viral disease affecting cloven-hoofed animals; vaccinate/quarantine as control.

Newcastle disease (NCD)

Avian viral disease affecting poultry; vaccination and biosecurity are key.

Bacteria

Microorganisms that can cause bacterial diseases; many infections respond to antibiotics.

Protozoa

Single-celled parasites causing diseases; vectors include ticks in some cases.

Fungi

Mold/fungal pathogens; ringworm is a common zoonotic fungal disease.

External parasites

Parasites living on the outside of the animal (ticks, mites, lice, blowfly).

Ticks (blue-tick, bont‑legged tick, bont tick)

Ectoparasites with different host numbers in their life cycles; vectors of disease.

Mites

Ectoparasites causing skin irritation and mange; live on the skin of hosts.

Lice (sucking vs biting)

External insects feeding on blood or tissues; cause irritation and disease transmission.

Blowfly

Fly whose larvae (maggots) cause myiasis; control via docking, shearing, dipping.

Nasal worm

Parasite living in nasal passages causing discomfort; external parasite category.