Animal Digestion

What are Nutrients? Parts of food which provide for growth, maintenance, body functions Carbohydrates (CHO) Fats Proteins Vitamins Minerals Water

What is a Ruminant? Animals with more than one stomach Chew their cud (re-chew food) Cows, sheep, goats Cows have four stomach

Why don’t cattle need as much B vitamins? Microorganisms in the stomach of the cow make their own B vitamins Can also make some proteins if given the right kind of Nitrogen

NonRuminants Foragers: Horse, rabbit NonForagers: pig, poultry

How much to feed? Depends on function of animal Pregnant, Lactating, Working, Growing How often to feed Depends on stomach size & rate of metabolism Stomach size is relavant to amount of feed fed Mink = 4-6 times/day, Cows = 1-2 /day

What foods give energy? Carbohydrates (starch & cellulose) & Fats Fat = 2 1/2 times energy of CHO Energy is major part of a feed ration Up to 90% of a ration for a steer Measured in Kilocalories or TDN (Total Digestible Nutrients)

What are Proteins? Used to build muscle, body tissue Made of amino acids Ruminants can make some proteins Simple Stomachs need specific amino acids

What are Minerals? Natural elements which regulate certain body functions Na, Ca, P, Fe, Cu, K, Mn, Mg, Zn, Mo, Se, I, Co Most are trace minerals

What are vitamins? Compounds responsible for certain functions Fat Soluable = A, D, E, K Water Soluable = B, C

What are additives? Antibiotics: disease prevention Coccidiostats: control parasites Xanthophyll: makes egg yolks yellow Hormones: increase growth Tranquilizers: calm nerves (cattle, turkeys) Antioxidants: prevent feed from getting rancid Pellet Binders: keep in pellet form Flavoring Agents: make taste better

Livestock Feeding Roughage = high fiber, low energy Concentrate = low fiber, high energy

How is a ration balanced? Pearson square: balance a ration using any two ingredients for one nutrient How much Soybean Meal (44% Protein) should be mixed with Barley (13% Protein) to get a mixture that is 16% protein?

Pearson Square

Pearson Square Soybean Meal = 3 parts Barley = 28 parts Total Parts = 31 Soybean Meal = 3/31 or 10% Barley = 28/31 or 90% If mixing a ton (2000#) SBM = 200#, Barley = 1800#