Introduction to Animal Nutrition

Vocabulary flashcards covering foundational concepts of animal nutrition, nutrient classifications, metabolic processes, diet categories, and feedstuff types based on lecture notes.

Essential Nutrient

Nutrients that are required within the diet of the animal to function as normal.

Macronutrients

Nutrients included in diets in large quantities, which include water, carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids.

Micronutrients

Nutrients included in diets in small quantities, which include vitamins and minerals.

Nutrition

Sum of all processes for animals to acquire and utilize food.

Digestion

The process of breaking down food into smaller, soluble pieces so the body can absorb it.

Absorption

The process of digested nutrients moving from the digestive tract into the blood so they can be carried throughout the body.

Excretion

Removal of waste products such as feces, urine, or gas.

Metabolism

The process your body uses to break down nutrients for energy and use them to build and repair tissues.

Anabolism

The process of building larger molecules and tissues from smaller ones.

Catabolism

The process of breaking down molecules to release energy.

Carnivores

Exclusive meat eaters.

Omnivores

Consumers of both meat and plants.

Herbivores

Animals adapted to eat exclusively plant material.

Ruminants

Animals that have 4 compartment stomachs with a large fermentation chamber.

Hind Gut Fermenters

Animals that have a large microbial fermentation chamber after the primary sites of digestion and absorption.

Diet

Sum of total food consumed.

Ration

A specific provision of food provided to an animal.

Balanced Ration

A diet that meets all the required nutrients in the correct amounts and proportions to meet the animals needs.

Forages

Grasses or legumes that animals eat fresh, dried, or fermented.

Commodity

A raw agriculture product that can be bought and sold, like corn or soybeans.

Co-Product Feed

Feed made from leftover materials from another production process, like canola meal or distiller’s grains.

Feed Additive

A small amount of something added to animal feed to provide nutrients, medicine, probiotics, or improve appetite.