Feeds and Feeding 08/19/2026

Definitions

Nutrition

the series of chemical, biochemical & physiological processes which transform food elements into body tissues and activities

Nutrient

any chemical substance that can be used and is necessary for the maintenance, production, and health of animals

Digestion

the combination of mechanical, chemical and enzymatic processes occurring in the gastrointestinal tract (GI) that prepares ingested material for absorption by reducing particle size and increasing solubility (more soluble in water while less soluble in fat)

Absorption

the passage or movement of the end products of digestion (nutrients) through the wall of the GI tract to the general circulation (blood)

Distribution

movement of nutrients from the absorptive sites to the various cells in the body via blood stream

Metabolism

sum of all physical and chemical processes by which living, organized substance is produced and maintained (catabolism- negative; anabolism- positive)

Anabolism

any constructive process by which simple substances are converted by living cells to more complex compounds

Catabolism

any destructive process by which complex substances are converted by living cells to more simple compounds

Excretion

the removal from the body of unusable materials and waste products of metabolism (primary way through urine)

Feedstuff

any material of natural or synthetic origin, fed to animals for the purpose of sustaining them (may or may not contain all the nutrients required by the animal) (limestone- calcium)

Natural

corn, wheat, barley, oats

Natural Processed

SBM, alfalfa meal, wheat bran, corn gluten feed

Synthetic

crystalline amino acids (methionine, lysine HCl), vitamines (Vit. B12, thiamine HCl)

Diet

a combination of feedstuffs used to supply nourishment to the animal

Ration

the amount of a diet consumed by an animal in a 24-hr period

Example

Mix a ton of feed- ton is the diet while 5kg/day is the ration

Supplement

feed or feed mixture used with another feed or feed mixture to improve the nutritive balance of a diet and the performance of the animal (protein, vitamin, mineral)

Concentrate

feedstuff which supplies nutrients high in energy and contains less than 18% crude fiber (SBM, corn, wheat)

Roughage

a feedstuff containing more than 18% crude fiber (fescue, straw, corn silage, bermudagrass hay)