Livestock Nutrition and Health Flashcards

A set of 50 vocabulary-style flashcards covering equine and livestock nutrition, vitamin/mineral deficiencies, and metabolic disorders based on lecture notes.

Trickle Feeding

The evolutionary adaptation of horses for constant forage consumption, where large meals can lead to health issues.

Gastric Ulcers

A condition caused by starch overload or an empty stomach, often indicated by a horse being 'girthy' or irritable.

Laminitis

Also known as Founder; occurs when starch reaches the hindgut and fermentation releases toxins, causing hoof pain.

Walking on Eggshells

A classic clinical symptom of Laminitis in horses.

Horse Starch Limit

The dietary guideline stating a horse should never be fed more than $0.5\%$ of its Body Weight in starch per meal.

Hindgut Microbes

Microorganisms that synthesize Vitamin K and B-vitamins for the horse.

Fat-Soluble Vitamins

Vitamins A, D, E, and K, which are stored in the fat and liver and carry a greater risk of toxicity.

Water-Soluble Vitamins

B-complex vitamins and Vitamin C, which have limited storage and must be consumed daily by monogastrics.

Vitamin K

Known as the 'Koagulation' vitamin because it is necessary for normal blood clotting.

Night Blindness

A condition caused by Vitamin A deficiency, which can also lead to eye lesions.

Vitamin D

The most toxic fat-soluble vitamin; excess intake causes soft tissue calcification.

White Muscle Disease

A disorder caused by a deficiency of Vitamin E and/or Selenium.

Ash

The definition of minerals as inorganic elements containing anything other than C, H, O, or N.

Macro Minerals

Minerals required in large amounts, measured in $g/kg$ or percentage ($\%$).

Micro Minerals

Minerals required in small amounts, measured in $mg/kg$ or $ppm$.

The $2:1$ Rule

The ideal dietary ratio of Calcium to Phosphorus.

Grass Tetany

A condition associated with Magnesium ($Mg$) deficiency, common in ruminants on lush spring grass.

Copper ($Cu$)

A mineral that is fatal in small doses to sheep, who are extremely sensitive to its toxicity.

Cobalt ($Co$)

A mineral required by microbes to create Vitamin B12.

Milk Fever

A condition in post-calving dairy cows characterized by being a 'downer' with cold ears and the head tucked in the flank.

IV Calcium Gluconate

The intravenous treatment used for cows suffering from Milk Fever.

Low DCAD Diet

A nutritional prevention strategy used during the dry period to prevent Milk Fever.

Frothy Bloat

Left-side swelling caused by lush green pasture or clovers, which can lead to death.

Poloxalene

An antifoaming agent used as a treatment or in blocks as a preventive for Frothy Bloat.

Ruminal Acidosis

A condition caused by sudden grain access, resulting in panting, kicking the belly, and the need for a buffer.

Magnesium Oxide ($MgO$)

A buffer used as an oral drench to treat Ruminal Acidosis.

Ketosis

A metabolic disorder in ewes with twins or triplets characterized by weight loss and 'sweet' acetone breath.

Propylene Glycol

A drench used as a treatment for Ketosis in sheep.

Ammonia Toxicosis

A condition caused by urea supplementation with uncoupled energy and nitrogen, leading to tremors and nervousness.

Acetic Acid

The chemical name for vinegar, used as an oral drench to lower pH in cases of Ammonia Toxicosis.

Water Belly

A condition in male small ruminants caused by a low $Ca:P$ ratio and excess Phosphorus, leading to straining to urinate.

Ammonium Chloride

A chemical treatment or preventive used for Water Belly to manage the $2:1$ Ca:P ratio.

Girthy

A behavioral clue indicating a horse may be suffering from Gastric Ulcers.

Vitamin A Deficiency

The primary cause of both night blindness and eye lesions.

Soft Tissue Calcification

The physical result of Vitamin D toxicity.

Selenium

A trace mineral that, when deficient along with Vitamin E, leads to White Muscle Disease.

Inorganic Elements

The chemical classification of minerals, which do not contain Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, or Nitrogen.

B-complex Vitamins

A group of water-soluble vitamins synthesized by hindgut microbes in horses.

$0.5\%$ Body Weight

The maximum threshold for starch intake per meal to prevent digestive upset in horses.

Acetone Breath

A 'sweet' smelling clinical sign used to identify Ketosis in ewes.

Left-side Swelling

A physical sign of gas or foam accumulation in the rumen, specifically associated with Frothy Bloat.

Urea

A non-protein nitrogen supplement that can cause Ammonia Toxicosis if energy is uncoupled.

Starch Overload

A dietary trigger for both Gastric Ulcers and Laminitis in horses.

Dry Period

The specific timeframe when a low DCAD diet should be fed to prevent Milk Fever.

Late Gestation

The period when ewes require higher energy to prevent the onset of Ketosis.

Microbes

Inhabitants of the hindgut or rumen that synthesize vitamins and require Cobalt for B12 production.

ppm

Parts per million; a unit of measurement for micro (trace) minerals, equivalent to $mg/kg$.

Calcium to Phosphorus Ratio

A critical mineral balance that, if too low in Phosphorus, can lead to Water Belly.

Toxins

Substances released during starch fermentation in the hindgut that cause hoof damage in horses.

Eye Lesions

A physical symptom associated with a deficiency in Vitamin A.