Animal Nutrition

Prehension refers to

Taking in of food and/or water 

In ruminants, when does the rumen begin to function? 

6-8 weeks

The four steps of rumination are:

Regurgitation 

Remastication 

Reswallowing

Resalivation 

Generally speaking, the esophagus can move food in both directions 

True

The only purpose of saliva is to lubricate food prior to swallowing 

False

Postgastric Fermentation refers to: 

Fermentation that occurs in the cecum and/or colon 

Please list the three sections of the small intestine 

Duodenum, Jejunum, Ileum

What is a mineral?

An inorganic substance used in bodily function

Minerals are classified into these two categories:

Macro and Micro

There are _______ major macro minerals needed by the body 

7

Minerals can be excreted or secreted by the body through which of the following? 

Sweat, urine, feces, animal products

Minerals are absorbed by either _ or _ absoprtion

Active/Passive

Prehension

Taking food and water in

Mastication

The process of chewing food to break it down into smaller pieces for easier digestion.

Regurgitation

Bringing swallowed foodstuff back up esophagus and into mouth

Digestion

Breakdown of food particles into suitable products for absorption

Absorption

Transfer of substances from GIT to blood or lymph system

Excretion

Removal of waste products

Rumination

Process that allows the animal to ingest forage and feed properly and complete the chewing process at a later time

Foregut Function

Ingestion/storage of feed

Midgut Function

Mechanical/chemical/enzymatic digestion (nutrient absoprtion)

Hindgut Function

Water/ion reabsorption and fermentation of remaining feed.

Ruminant teeth

No upper incisors, dental pad, molars allow lateral movement only

Nonruminant herbivores teeth

Incisors for nipping, angled molars, angled jaws, move circularly for grinding food

Carnivore teeth

Canines highly developed, sharp molars

Omnivore teeth

Incisors for biting, canines for tearing, flat molars for grinding

Salivary Glands

Moistening of food, lubrication, some digestive enzymes, antimicrobrial factors

Rumen

Largest component, storage, soaking, mxing, fermentation

Papillae

Increase surface area for absoprtion of nutrients

Rumen liquor

Fluid filled portion of rumen

Rumen mat

Lighter feedstuff (fluffy)

Rechew

solid particles, less air, more moisture, dense

Suckling Reflex

Esophageal groove to shuttle milk directly into the omasum

Reticulum

Not completely separate from rumen, microbes present, traps foreign objects, aids in digestion

Omasum

Absorbs water soluble nutrients

Abomasum

"True stomach”, where protein digestion occurs.

Duodenum

Recieves secretions from the pancreas and liver, balances pH

Jejunum

Nutrient absorption

Ileum

Vitamin B12 absorption, nutrient absorption further

Cecum

Little to no function in ruminants but plays a role in fermentation in non-ruminants.

Colon

Largest part of intestine with functions in water absorption and feces formation.

HCL in Monogastric

Breaks down feedstuff into mush substance

Pregastric Fermentation

Ruminants

Postgastric Fermenters

Animals that ferment feed in the large intestine, including horses and rabbits, allowing for digestion of fibrous materials.

Horse large intestine has what

Sacculationthat aids in fermentation and digestion

Crop of a bird

is an enlarged muscular pouch located at the base of the esophagus that stores and moistens food before it enters the stomach for digestion.

Gizzard of a bird

is a muscular organ that grinds up food, often containing small stones or grit, aiding in the mechanical digestion process.

Minerals are essential when…

when removal of the mineral from the diet results in an
abnormality that disappears when the mineral is added back

Minerals are responsible for

bodily structures (bone/teeth), activation of vitamins, immune function

Many minerals are toxic at relatively low levels of intake

nonessential (lead, mercury), and essential (copper, selenium)

Cool People Play Soccer Cause Strong Muscles

Calcium, Phosphorous, Potassium, Sodium, Chloride, Sulfur, Magnesium

When calculating diet, make sure to know interactions

Cu/Zn and Ca(Mg,Zn)

Active Transport

Transcellular (ATP)

Passive Transport

Paracellular (Tight junction gaps)

Calcium

Most abundant in tissues, bone structure

Ca sources

Minerals (limestone), animal sources (milk, fish meal), roughages (alf)

Calcium Regulation

Parathyroid Hormone (PTH)

Ca Deficiency

Rickets, osteoporosis, mishapen bones, lameness

Milk Fever

a metabolic disorder in dairy cows typically occurring around calving, characterized by low blood calcium levels, leading to weakness and inability to stand (IV Ca fixes)

Phosphorus

85-90% in bones, essential for energy production and cellular function.

P Deficiency

Rickets/osteoporosis, splay feet in chickens

Magnesium

60% in bones, enzyme activation

Mg Deficiency

Hypomagnesium Tetany (early lactating, cows on grass)

Grass Tetany

Low blood Mg, nervousness, tremors/twitching of face, staggering gait

Sodium and Chlorine

Essential electrolytes, keeps body electrically neutral, osmotic pressure balance

Na/Cl deficiency

Lactation (secreted in milk), rapid growth, high temps/hard work

Na/Cl Sources

Minerals (saltlick), animal sources (meat/bone meal), and cereal grains

Potassium

Plants have higher levels of K (banana!) and veggie protein 1-2.5%

K Deficiency

Rare, but can lead to muscle weakness, poor growth, and heart issues.

Sulfur

Components of feathers, wool, cartilage, skin, birds and sheep need increase in molting

Trace Minerals

Microminerals, need small amount

Iron

Essential for hemoglobin/myoglobin (50:20)

Iron Deficiency

Most common deficiency in the world, related to blood loss (menstration, anemia, GI parasites)

Iron Toxicity

Hemochromatosis and Hemosiderosis

Hemochromatosis

Genetic disorder increasing iron absorption

Hemosiderosis

caused by long term over-consumption
of iron resulting in large deposits of iron storage protein
(hemosiderin) in liver and other tissue

Iron Toxicity in dogs

Ingestion of prenatal vitamins, fertilizer, hand
warmers, oxygen absorbers leads to bloody diarrhea, vomiting, and damage to organs

Copper Toxicity

Sheep are more susceptible than cattle due to lower Cu requirements

Zinc Functions

T-cell development for immune system

Zinc Deficiency

Lesions on the skin, disorders of hair/feathers, and night blindness

Iodine

Essential component of thyroid hormone

Iodine Deficiency

Goiter (enlarged thyroid gland), cretinism (fetal development issues)

White Muscle Disease

A nutritional deficiency in selenium, leading to heart
enlargement replacing the muscle tissue
with fibrous tissues (Vit E. Selenium Injection can fix)

Vitamins Function

Not metabolic fuels (like glucose or fatty acids) or structural
nutrients (like amino acids)

Do vitamins provide energy?

NOPE

All vitamins are metabolically essential

True

Vitamins cannot…

Be synthesized by the body in adequate amounts to meet needs

Fat Soluble Vitamins include

A, D, E, and K

Water Soluble Vitamins include

B and C

Fat Souble are

Absorbed with dietary fat across the small intestine and stored in body fat.

Water soluble are

Absorbed in water and not stored in large amounts in the body (filters out in urine)

Units of measure for fat include

Inernational unit (IU) and ICU

Units of measure for water include

MCG, MG, NG

Vitamin A

Retinal, Retinoic Acid, Retrinol, and B Carotene (yellow/orange foods)

Vit A Roles

VISION! Supports immune function, protein synthesis, cell differentation, and bone growth/remodeling

Cell Differententiation

The process by which unspecialized cells develop into specialized cell types (more=goblet, less=scale)

Vitamin D Sources

Not found naturally in much food, sunlight and sun cured forages

Vit D Functions

Bone development, calcium absorption/reabsorption

Vitamin E sources

Cereal Grains and some animal sources

Vit E Functions

Antioxidant (free radical scavenger) and stablizing the reactions