Animal Digestion Part #2

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

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

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

Non Ruminants n Foragers: Horse, rabbit n Non-Foragers: pig, poultry

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pearson Square

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