Small Ruminant Nutrition & Systems

These flashcards cover critical concepts in sheep nutrition, metabolic events, physiological conditions, and management practices.

Small Ruminant

A livestock category that includes animals like sheep and goats, which primarily feed on fibrous plant material.

Protein for Sheep

An essential nutrient source, often derived from forage, soybean meal, or pulses.

Lysine

An essential amino acid important for growth and protein synthesis in sheep.

CHO’s

Carbohydrates, specifically starches in grains that serve as energy sources for sheep.

Acidosis

A condition resulting from too much grain in sheep's diet leading to an imbalance in rumen pH.

Urolithiasis

A condition resulting in urinary calculi in sheep, often related to dietary imbalances.

Enterotoxemia

A disease caused by the overgrowth of Clostridium perfringens in sheep, leading to gastrointestinal distress.

Flushing

A dietary management technique aimed at increasing ovulation rates and improving health in sheep.

Body Condition Score (BCS)

A system used to assess the fat and muscle condition of sheep, impacting their nutritional needs.

Gestation

The period of pregnancy in ewes, divided into trimesters with differing nutritional needs.

Rumen Development

The growth and maturation of a sheep's rumen, crucial for digestion of solid food.

Alfalfa

A nutrient-rich forage high in protein, often used in sheep diets.

Grazing

The practice of sheep feeding directly on pasture or forage.

Microbial Protein

Protein synthesized by microbes in the ruminant's stomach from fermentation of feed.

Calcium and Phosphorus Requirements

Essential minerals for sheep that influence reproductive and skeletal health.

Mouthing

A technique used to estimate the age of sheep and goats by examining their teeth.

Feed Acids

Substances like ammonium chloride used in sheep diets to prevent urinary calculi.

Energy Sources

Components of sheep feed that provide the energy necessary for maintenance and production.

Maintenance Energy

The minimum energy required by sheep to maintain their body weight without gaining or losing.

Infant Ruminants

Young ruminants that rely primarily on milk for nutrition before transitioning to solid feed.

Creep Feed

Feed provided to young lambs to encourage early weaning and better growth.

Cracked Grain

A form of processed grain that aids in digestion for lambs when included in diets.

Diet Balancing

The process of adjusting nutritional components in a sheep's diet to meet specific needs.

Pregnancy Toxemia

A metabolic disorder affecting pregnant ewes often due to insufficient energy intake.

Neonate

A newborn lamb or kid, requiring specific nutritional considerations.

Dietary Management

The strategic planning of animal feed to optimize health and production based on physiological status.

Physiological Status

The overall health and metabolic state of an animal, influencing nutritional requirements.

Chemical Composition of Feeds

The breakdown of nutrients in various feed types, essential for crafting balanced diets.

Butyric Acid

An energy source produced during fermentation that supports rumen wall growth.

Flushing Period

The time during which improved nutrition is provided before breeding to enhance reproduction.

Maintenance vs. Production Diets

Diets designed either to maintain daily energy needs or to support growth and production.

Digestive System Development

The changes in the ruminant's stomach structure that occur from birth to maturity.