Animal Nutrition

the role of nutrition in the

support of animals life
By:
JONNIE F. HUERVANA, Ph. D.
Objective 1

Discuss the six basic

nutritional requirements of
animals.
Nutrition

Nutrient- single group of

foods of the same general
chemical composition that
supports animal life
There are six basic nutrient
Water
More important nutrient
than any other nutrient
makes up 55-65% of an
animal’s body
Water
 Aides in digestion
 Transports nutrients
 Regulates body temperature
 Carries waste from the body
 Supports respiration
Proteins
Complex nutrients composed of
carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and
nitrogen
Develop and repairing body organs
and tissues
muscles, nerves, skin, hair, hooves,
and feathers
Proteins
 Production of milk, wool,
and eggs
 Reproduction process of the
developing fetus
 Developing the young
 Transmitting DNA
 Carbohydrates
 Converting of food into energy
 Made up of chemical elements
 Carbon
 Hydrogen
 Oxygen
 Supports breathing and digesting
Carbohydrates
 Production of heat for body warmth
 Stores fat
 Types of carbohydrates
 Sugars
 Starch
 fiber
Fats
Chemical elements of
Carbon
Hydrogen
Oxygen
Same elements as
carbohydrates but different
combinations
Fats
Fats contain 2.25 times more energy
Aid in absorbing fat-soluble vitamins
 A, D, E and K

Providesthe essential fatty acids

needed in an animal’s diet
Vitamins
Organicsubstances
needed for specific
biochemical reactions
 A,B, C, D, E and K

Needed in small amounts

Vitamins
Regulation of body glands
Digestive system
Absorption
Metabolism
 The chemical processes occurring within a living cell or
organism that are necessary for the maintenance of life. In
metabolism some substances are broken down to yield
energy for vital processes while other substances, necessary
for life, are synthesized.
Minerals
Supply the material for building
the skeleton and producing
regulators such as enzymes and
hormones
Divided into 2 groups
Macro
Micro
 Macro vs. Micro
Macro
Seven major minerals needed in
largest quantity and most likely
lacking in the ration
Micro
Nine trace minerals needed in
small amounts
Macro-minerals
Phosphorus
Calcium
Potassium
Sodium and chlorine
Sulfur
Magnesium
Micro-minerals
Iron Zinc
Iodine Molybdenu
Copper m
Cobalt Selenium

Manganese Fluorine
Objective 2

 Determine symptoms related to

nutrient deficiencies in animals
Nutrient Deficiencies

 Nutrition
 Process by which an animal receives and balanced
food and water ration
Grow
Maintain its body
Reproduce
Perform
 Nutrient
 substance that is necessary for an organism to live
and grow
Nutrient Deficiencies

 Slow growth
(common of all nutrients)
 Water deficiency
 Overheating
 slowdown in normal body functions occurs
 Carbohydrates
 lack of energy
 Lack of normal body functions
 loss of body heat
Nutrient Deficiencies

 Proteins
 Normal growth development and repairing of body
organs ex: muscles, nerves, skin, hair, hooves, and
feathers suffers
 Protein deficiency may result
 Anorexia
 Anemia
 Edema
 Slow growth rate
 Low birth weight of young
 Lower milk production
 Decreased feed efficiency
Nutrient Deficiencies

Fats
Provides energy
aids in absorption of fat-soluble
vitamins
Vitamins
variousbody functions will suffer when
vitamins are lacking
Depends on the vitamins in question
Nutrient Deficiencies

Mineral deficiency
low rate of gains
poor feed efficiency
decreased reproduction
decrease in milk, meat,
eggs, and wool production
 Nutrition and
Digestion of Animals
Analyze the digestive process and
feeding requirements for
animals
Objective 3

 Discuss
the digestive process in
a ruminant’s digestive system.
 Ruminants
Considered as “forage consuming”
Ruminants have one stomach with
multiple compartments
Food is acted on by millions of
bacteria and microorganisms
Transform low-quality protein and
nitrogen compounds
essential amino acids
http://www.ca.uky.edu/agripedia/Classes/ASC106/media/RUMEN.GIF
Four compartments
Rumen
largestcompartment
contains bacteria &
microorganisms
aidsin the digestive
process
 Rumen Papillae

http://education.vetmed.vt.edu/Curric
ulum/VM8054/Labs/Lab21/IMAGES/ru
men%20copy.jpg
Reticulum
Second compartment
aides in the formation of cud for
regurgitation
Also known as the hardware
stomach because it collects nails
or pieces of wire
 Reticulum

http://www.cvmbs.colostate.edu/ilm/outreach/necropsy/images/reticulum1.jpg
 Reticulum

http://arbl.cvmbs.colostate.edu/hbooks/pathphys/digestion/herbivores/retic.jpg
 Omasum
Third compartment
removes water from food
Looks like the folds of a
book
 Omasum

http://courses.washington.edu/vertebra/453/photos/gut_photos/m
ammal_digestive_photos.htm
 Abomasum

 Fourth compartment
 Referred to as the “true stomach”
 Breaks down food material
 muscular movement
 secretes digestive juices
 The material then passes into the small
intestine
http://www.yourdictionary.com/images/ahd/jpg/A4abomas.jpg
Objective 4

 Explainthe digestive process in

a non-ruminant’s digestive
system
Non-Ruminants
Single-stomached
Mono-gastric
includes all of the small animals
Swine
Dogs
Rabbits/Horse
Birds
Rabbits/Horse
Non-ruminant herbivores
Consumes large amounts of
roughage
Large cecum and colon between
the small and large intestines
contains bacteria
 Rabbit Digestive
System

http://courses.washington.edu/vertebra/453/photos/gut_photos/mammal_digestive_photos.htm
Rabbits
Rabbits eat undigested feces
Coprophagy
Usually occurs late night or early
morning
Makes use of undigested material
so they can make full use of
bacteria in cecum
Birds
Lack teeth
Saliva is added to aid in
swallowing
Very little breakdown in the
mouth
Gizzard
Largest digestive organ
Grinds and crushes
Digestive System- Bird

http://www.biologycorner.com/resources/bird_anatomy.jpg
Digestive Process of Non-
Ruminants
 Food is broken down in mouth (except birds)
 Passes to the stomach
 Small Intestine
 Primary site of absorption
 Large Intestine
 Absorption of Water
 Addition of mucus
Objective 5

 Distinguish
between feeding
programs of the animal
Nutrient Use
Maintenance
keeping constant
no gain or loss of weight
usually high in carbohydrates and
fats
Growth
increase in body size
rations high in energy and protein
Nutrient Use
Reproduction
failures are a major result from
poor nutrition
Contains a large amount of
protein, minerals, and vitamins
Improper nutrition can affect
conception rates and breeding
ability
Reproduction
Babies that are
underweight at birth, or
which become an aborted
fetus are often the result
of improper nutrition to
female during gestation
Nutrient Use

Lactation
time during which
females are producing
milk
Requires the proper
nutrients to have large
milk production
Lactation
Diet high in protein,
calcium, and phosphorus.
The same nutrients
contained in the milk are
the same needed by a
lactating female
Nutrient Use

 Work and activity

Increased amounts of fats and
carbohydrates are needed in a
working diet to supply the
extra energy needed
Hunting dogs need special diets
because they require energy to
chase after game
 Feeding Terminology
 Diet
 Feed and water that an animal uses
 Amount and type of feedstuff is based upon:
 Animal Needs
 Kind of and amounts of nutrients contained in
feed
 Palatability- digestible and appeals to the
animal
 A good nutritious feed is only good if it is
eaten
Feeding Terminology
Feed classifications
Roughages (or forages)
made up of leaves and the
plants tender stems
Feeding Terminology
 Concentrates
recommended for small
animals as a regular part of
their diet
High energy
Corn, wheat, sorghum, barley,
rye, oats
High protein
 Soybean meal, cottonseed oil meal, sunflower meal
Feeding Terminology
Supplements
contains a specific nutrient
Ration
feed that contains the right amount
and proportion of nutrients
Birds
 Diet mostly consists of seeds
 Including cereal seeds and oil
seeds
 Fruit and nectar birds
eatoranges
Grapes
apple slices
End of Presentation