Animal husbandry - Nutrition

nutrition is important for

• optimal health

• vital for companion animals - as they are unable to source their own nutritional needs.

• failure - medical impact e.g. obesity

Energy

• power for cells to function

• energy content - carbohydrates, fats & proteins

• water - has no energy value

gross energy - maximum amount of energy released from food

digestible energy - energy available from food once be absorbed into body minus faecal losses.

metabolizable energy - energy utilised from by tissue minus energy lost in faeces, urine & gas. need to carry out chemical process to maintain life.

4 basic macronutrients

• proteins

• fats/lipids

• carbohydrates

• dietary fibre

  energy producing nutrients

carbohydrates

• Function = energy production & storage, regulation of blood glucose, & spare use of protein for energy

• simple sugars - monosaccharides e.g. glucose

• complex sugars - disaccharides e.g. lactose

• starches - polysaccharides e.g. starch

when need extra carbohydrates? - pregnant, working animals, illness e.g. diarrhoea

deficiency? - lethargy, decrease in activity.

excess? - obesity.

cats - can not have vegetarian or vegan diet as they are carnivores, unable to utilise high amount of carbs, always have high protein diet.

Dietary fibre

• Function = low energy content (prevents obesity), regulation of bowel movement, increase bulk and water intestinal content.

• edible parts of plants

• soluble - dissolves in water to form gel, fermented in colon

• insoluble - does not dissolve in water.

when need extra dietary fibre? = to correct obesity

deficiency? = teeth health (constantly erupting helps grind e.g. horses, rabbits, guinea pigs)

excess? = affect digestion e.g. constipation or excessive faecal output

fats/lipids

• Function = provision of storage of energy, insulation and cushioning or organs, & absorption of fat-soluble vitamins.

• most calorie rich macronutrient

• increase palatability, odour & texture

• saturated, monounsaturated, polyunsaturated

• carries fat-soluble vitamins A,D,E,&K

when need extra fat? - younger animals need more energy

deficiency? - poor skin/coat conditions, too thin, poor performance

excess? - obesity

reduction? - overweight

proteins

• Function = protection against infection, energy source, & tissue growth and repair.

• do most of the work in cells

• horses, dogs, rabbits require 10 amino acids

• cats require 11 amino acids

• variety of amino acids essential for - tissue repair, body maintenance, growth and development

• protein digestion occurs in - small intestine

when need extra protein? = illness or infection require more, pregnancy

deficiency? = poor skin condition dull & weak, loss of muscle, Ademar

excess? = obesity

cats require high protein, require taurine in diet to synthesis in body

dogs require lower protein than cats as they can digest and absorb carbohydrates

basic micronutrients

• vitamins - organic nutrients

• minerals - inorganic nutrients

Macrominerals

• sodium, chloride, phosphorus, magnesium, sulphur, potassium, & calcium

• collectively called ASH

Microminerals

• iron, copper, zinc, iodine

• collectively called ASH

Vitamins

• most can not be synthesised (take in diet)

• fat-soluble (toxicity risk) - A,D,E,K , can be stored, excess means overload

• water-soluble (poorly stored) - C&B complex,

water

• most important nutrient - essential for metabolic processes, digestion, temperature regulation

• can not survive without water

• 7% water loss = leads up to dehydration e.g. skin tenting

• 15% water loss = leads to death, cause organ failure

• daily water requirements = 50-60ml per kg in 24 hours

Factors stimulating appetite

• hunger

• age

• exercise

• health

• hormones

Feeding behaviours -

dogs = omnivores, hunt for their food in packs

cats = carnivores, solitary, eat small, frequent meals, don’t like to share

horses/rabbits etc = herbivores, herd grazes, forages, eat small amounts, roughage often