HTCSY3
AGRICULTURE
ANIMAL NUTRITION
Nutrition is defined as the science of feeding. The main reason for feeding animal is for them
to gain weight, resist disease as well as increasing their productivity, be it meat, milk, egg etc.
or other bi-products.
Farm animals need feed for growth, repair of worn-out tissues and the general well being of
the animal.
NUTRIENT: A nutrient is any element or compound present in the food and required by the
animal for proper growth and development.
TYPES OF NUTRIENTS
There are six classes of food nutrients which are needed by farm animals for growth and
proper development. They are: 1. Carbohydrate 2. Proteins 3. Fats and Oils 4. Minerals 5.
Vitamins 6. Water.
1. CARBOHYDRATES
Carbohydrate is made up of Carbon, hydrogen and oxygen.
Sources of Carbohydrate: Include: Cassava, yam, cocoyam, potato, plantain, rice, maize,
guinea corn, millet, sorghum, wheat, forage grasses, hay, silage, molasses etc.
Functions of Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates provide energy for growth, reproduction, milk production. Excess
carbohydrate is stored as fat in the animal’s body.
Deficiency in carbohydrate leads to emaciation and general weakness.
2. PROTEIN
Protein is composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and sometimes sulphur, nitrogen and
phosphorus.
Sources of Protein include:
Plant Sources:- Groundnut cake, palm kernel cake, soybean meal, sun flower seed meal,
cashew nut meal, cotton seed meal etc.
Animal Sources Of Protein: Fish meal, blood meal, meat meal, poultry offal meal, shrimp
head meal etc.
Functions of Protein
Protein is essential for animal growth.
Repair of worn out cells or tissues
Essential for the formation of gamates in reproduction
Essential for egg, blood and meat production
Necessary for enzyme and hormone formation
Deficiency may lead to reproductive failure, slow growth rate, kwashiorkor and poor blood,
enzyme and hormone formation.
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3. FATS AND OIL
These are composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. Fats are solid at room temperature
while oils are liquid at room temperature.
Sources of fats include palm oil, palm kernel cake, groundnut cake, coconut meal, linseed
cake, cotton seed cake, milk, lard, tallow etc.
Functions of Fats and Oils:
Ø Fat provide more energy than carbohydrate.
Ø They provide essential fatty acids.
Ø They provide fat-soluble vitamins.
Ø They help in the maintenance of body temperature.
Ø They form part of the cell membrane.
4. VITAMINS
These are organic substance that are also required by animal for proper growth and
development of their bodies.
Vitamins are grouped into two major classes:
a. Fats Soluble Vitamins: These are vitamins that are soluble in fat eg. Vitamins A, B, E
and K
b. Water Soluble Vitamins: These are soluble in water eg. Vitamin C and B-complex.
Members of vitamin B-complex include: Thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pyridoxine,
cobalamine, pantolhenic acid, folic acid etc.
Below are some vitamins including their sources, functions and deficiency symptoms.
VITAMIN SOURCES FUNCTIONS DEFICIENCY
SYMPTOMS
Vitamin A (Retinol) Fish meal, grasses, Proper eye sight (or vision) Night blindness
yellow maize Aids reproductive cell formation
Vitamin C (Ascorbic Grasses, vegetables Formation of connective tissue Scurvy
acid) fruits
Vitamin D Bone meal, fish meal, Bone and teeth formation, egg shell Rickets, soft shelled
(Calciferol) sunlight formation eggs.
Vitamin E Vegetables grasses, Aids reproduction Sterility,
(Egosterol) synthetic Vit. E Antioxidant Premature abortion
Vitamin K Fish meal Aids blood clotting Haemorrhages ie.
(Phylloquinone) Vegetables Inability of blood to
clot on time
Vitamin B 1 Yeast, cereals, green Co-enzyme in energy metabolism Poor appetite
(Thiamine) plants Beri-beri
Vitamin B 2 Green herbage and Co-enzyme in protein and flat Slow growth,
(Riboflavin) Milk products metabolism Dermatitis.
Vitamin B 12 Fish meal Co-enzyme in biochemical Anaemia
(Cobalamine) Milk products reactions,
Formation of red blood cell.
Niacin (Nicotinic Yeast, cereals, grasses Carbohydrate oxidation Reddish tongue
acid)
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5. MINERAL SALT
All farm animals require certain inorganic elements in their diet for their normal growth and
development.
These inorganic elements are called mineral salts.
The mineral requirements of farm animals are divided into two groups. We have the Macro-
elements (Calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, chlorine, sulphur and magnesium) which
are required in large quantities while the micro-minerals (iron, zinc, copper, manganese,
iodine, cobalt, molybdenum, fluorine, bromine, barium etc.) are required in very small
amounts.
The sources of mineral salts are bone meal, oyster shell, lime stone, salt licks etc. Below is a
table of some of these mineral elements with their corresponding sources, functions and
deficiency symptoms.
MINERAL SOURCES FUNCTIONS DEFICIENCY
SYMPTOMS
Calcium Bone meal, oyster shell, Bone formation, teeth Rickets
milk, phosphate formation, egg shell Retarded growth
formation, Blood clothing.
Phosphorus Bone meal, fish meal Bone + teeth formation Rickets
Egg shell formation Lack of Appetite
Magnesium Salt lick Helps nervous system Nervous disorders
Wheat Aids enzymes
Forage, grasses
Sodium and Common salt Regulates acid-base balance Reduced growth and
Chlorine Salt lick Maintain osmotic pressure weight loss
Fish meal Loss of appetite
Sulphur Salt lick Part of protein and amino Poor growth
Fish meal acids
6. WATER
Water is very important in livestock management, be it to the animals or to their immediate
environment.
Sources of Water:- Drinking water from tap metabolic water from food, rain water, water
from rivers and ponds, grasses and fresh fodder.
Functions of Water:
i. Used for drinking purposes
ii. It is needed for food digestion
iii. For dipping/drenching animals against ecto- and endo-parasites
iv. Used for washing or cleaning animals.
v. Used for cleaning floors, pens and other sanitation purposes.
vi. Water is used during milk and meat processing.
vii. It is part of the bodies of animals.
viii. It aids in the maintenance of body temperature
ix. Used for irrigating pasture
x. It is a constituent of meat, milk and egg.
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LIVESTOCK FEED
The food given to farm animals is generally known as livestock feed or simply feed. Farm
animals need feed for growth, repair of worn-out tissues, energy and the general wellbeing of
the animals.
Types of livestock feed
Animal feeds are classified according to the amount of nutrients they contain (chemical
composition), bulkiness and their use.
Animal feeds can be grouped into four main classes:
i. Concentrates (Protein concentrates)
ii. Basal or energy feeds (carbohydrate concentrates)
iii. Roughages
iv. Mineral or vitamin supplements
i. CONCENTRATES
These are feeds prepared from both plant and animal products. They have the following
characteristics:
• High protein content
• Low carbohydrate content
• Low fat
• Low vitamins and minerals
• Low fibre
• They are highly digestible
• Contain additives e.g. Common salt, grit antibiotics etc.
Uses of concentrates
i. Concentrates are used to feed all livestock to enable them produce more meat, milk,
eggs, wool, hide and skin.
ii. They are fed to pregnant animals to enable them maintain the development of the
fetus.
iii. Used in feeding all types of livestock for their proper development and body
requirement.
iv. They are mostly used in feeding non-ruminants because of their high digestibility and
low fibre content
v. They are used to blend other feeds in order to provide balanced rations for livestock at
different stages of growth.
ii. Basal/Energy feeds
These are feeds that are high in energy or starchy foods e.g. Maize, cassava, potato etc. they
are high in a) carbohydrate b) high in fat c) low in protein d) low in vitamins and minerals e)
low in fibre f) they are highly digestible.
iii. Roughages
Roughages contain very high amounts of crude fibre but low in protein, fat and digestible
carbohydrates. Their digestibility is very how. There are two types of roughages.
a) Dry roughage e.g. Hay and straw
b) Wet/succulent roughage e.g., Soilage and silage
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a) DRY ROUGHAGE
i. Hay - Hay refers to the aerial part of a young and succulent plant (grass)that is cut and
dried for feeding animals. It is a cheap source of feed for ruminants during the dry season
when green grass is not available.
ii. Straw - refers to the aerial part of grass or harvested crop that are cut and stored for future
use. Their nutrient content is low but are meant to keep the animals alive.
b) Wet Roughage
i. Soilage - This is obtained from the cutting of fresh and succulent grasses and legumes from
the field and taking then to the animals in their pens. Soilage is also referred to as zero
grazing because the animals are not allowed to go and feed on the grasses in the field but the
grasses are cut and sent to the animals in their pens. The grass is eaten fresh.
ii. Silage - This refers to grass that is cut and preserved for future use while it is green and
succulent. It is fed to the animals during the dry season when green grass is not available.
iv. Mineral/vitamin supplement
These are required in small quantities in feed. They are low in protein, carbohydrate and fibre
but high in vitamins, minerals, antibiotics etc. They helped the animals to develop resistance
against diseases.
RATIONS
A ration is the total quantity of feed given to an animal in a 24-hour period ie. Total amount of
feed per animals per day.
TYPES OF RATIONS
There are different types of rations given to farm animals. They include:
1. Balanced ration - A balanced ration is the feed given to farm animals which contains all
the essential nutrients in the correct quantity and in adequate proportion. In other words, a
balanced ration contains carbohydrate, protein, fats and oils, minerals, vitamins and water in
the correct quantities and proportion.
Balanced rations are given to farm animals for normal growth, lactation, reproduction and
other body activities.
2. Maintenance ration - This is the type of ration given to farm animals which contain just
enough nutrients to enable the animal carry on its normal body activities without losing or
gaining weight.
Examples of maintenance rations include hay and straw that is fed to animals during the dry
season. Maintenance rations can be given to:
- breeding animals when they are not breeding.
- dry or non-lactating animals.
3. Production Ration-Production rations provide more nutrients above what is required for
maintenance in order to make the animals capable of producing more in terms of more milk,
meat, eggs, growth etc. Production ration is usually given to the following categories of farm
animal:
• Lactating animals for more milk production.
• Weaning animal for rapid growth
• Pregnant animals for maintenance of the foetus
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• Fattening animals for extra addition of more meat or flesh
• Broilers for rapid growth
• Layers for more egg production
• Steaming up or flushing for animals before mating in order to produce more gametes
(OVA)
ANIMAL DISEASES AND PARASITES
Disease
Meaning of disease - A disease is any condition in which there is a deviation from the normal
state of health or normal functioning of any or all of the tissues and organs of the animal's
body. In order words, disease can be defined as the absence of normal health due to infection
(presence of pathogens in the body), malnutrition, as well as injuries. A disease can also be
described as any disturbance in the normal life or body functions of an organism which may
affect a particular organ or the whole body and sometimes lead to reduced growth, production
or premature death of the farm animal.
Ø Causes of animal disease
Diseases in farm animals are caused mainly by micro organisms called pathogens.
Examples of these pathogens are: (i) Viruses (ii) Bacteria (iii) Fungi (iv )Protozoa
Other causes include malnutrition and nematodes.
Ø Symptoms of animal diseases
The following symptoms are usually exhibited by sick animals. Certain specific
diseases have specific symptoms and one disease may exhibit more than one symptom.
Below are some common symptoms:
(i) abnormal body temperature (ii) abnormal pulse rate ( iii) abnormal breathing
(iv ) lack of appetite (v) dullness (vi) rough coat (vii) ruffled feathers in poultry
(viii) blood stains in faces (ix) discharge of mucus from nostril or anus (x) diarrhoea
(watery stool) (xi) loss of weight (xii) premature abortion (xiii) increase in
mortality.
PARASITE
A Parasite may be defined as any organism which, during all or part of its life, live at the
expense of another organism called the host. It causes some amount of damage to the host.
A parasite may also be defined as an organism living in or on another organism called the
host. The host is usually bigger and stronger than the parasite. The parasite derives benefit
(food) from the host while the host is harmed or injured during the association. A parasite
which lives inside its host is called ENDOPARASITE which includes tapeworm, roundworm,
liver fluke etc. A parasite which lives on or outside its host is called ECTOPARASITE.
Examples of ectoparasite include ticks, lice, mites etc.
CONTROL MEASURES OF DISEASES AND PARASITES
• Any new stock of farm animals brought to the farm should be quarantined (separated
from the animals already on the farm) to enable the farmer to know whether the new
stock possess disease or not.
• Regular vaccination
• Proper hygiene and sanitation
• Burn or bury infected animals
• Good feeding with well balanced and nutritious food
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• Always select healthy animals that are resistant to diseases.
