Animal Nutrition Obj. 7.01

General Nutrient Information Nutrient: chemical element that aids in the support of life Ration: amount of feed given to an animal on a daily basis

General Nutrient Information Roughage: high in fiber – Hay – Grass – silage

General Nutrient Information Concentrates: low in fiber – Grains – Plant/animal protein – Processed by-products

General Nutrient Information Some livestock producers buy feed that has already been prepared and packaged Some livestock producers mix their own feed ration Rations should be feed according to the animal’s needs

Functions of a Ration Maintenance of vital body functions Growth and increase of bones, muscles and organs Production of milk, eggs, wool, etc Reproduction processes – Gestation, parturition and lactation Fattening is when nutrients are not used Energy for work animals (horses, police dogs)

Nutrients Carbohydrates – Main energy nutrient – Made up of sugars and starches – Found in the largest quantities in livestock feed – Includes cereal grains like corn, oats, rye Corn is most commonly grown grain in the US

Nutrients Fats and Oils – 2.25 times the energy value of carbohydrates – At body temperature, fats are solids and oils are liquids – Extra carbohydrates are stored as fat

Nutrients Proteins – Made up of amino acids – Supply materials to build body tissues – Plant sources include soybean meal, cottonseed meal – Animal sources include meat meal, dried milk

Nutrients Vitamins – Trace organic compounds – Contain carbon – Help regulate body functions – A, B-complex, D,E,K – Can be added as a supplement

Nutrients Minerals – Inorganic materials – Contains no carbon – Used for growth of bones, teeth and body tissue – Can be added as a supplement

Nutrients Water – Makes up 40-80% of an animal’s body – Dissolves other nutrients and carry them to different parts of the body – Most important nutrient – Always given separate from all other nutrients

Nutrients Feed supplements are nutrients that are added to improve palatability (taste) and reduce feed dust – Molasses

Digestive Processes Obj 7.02

Digestive Terminology Digestion is the process of breaking feed down into substances that are absorbed by the body Absorption is the process of digested food going into the bloodstream

Digestive Terminology Ruminants’ stomach is divided into 4 parts – Cattle, goat, sheep – Digest large amounts of roughage – Don’t chew their food completely – Rumination is also known as “chewing cud”

Ruminant Digestion Mouth – Beginning of digestive tract that bites and chews food – Uses saliva that contains enzymes that speed up digestion process

Ruminant Digestion Esophagus – Muscular tube that guides food from mouth to stomach using involuntary muscular contractions

Ruminant Digestion Rumen – Located on the left side of stomach – Largest section – Interior lining resembles carpet – Bacteria changes large amounts of roughages into amino acids

Ruminant Digestion Reticulum – Connected to the rumen – Inside resembles a honeycomb – Take in liquids that soak food for microbial digestion

Ruminate Digestion Omasum – Round, muscular part of stomach with many layers that squeeze feed and removes some liquid – Contains papillae responsible for grinding roughage

Ruminate Digestion Abomasum – Elongated sac at the base of the stomach – Interior lining is smooth – Only functional component of stomach when animal is born – Enzymes and gastric juices act on feed

Ruminate Digestion Small Intestine – Long coiled tube – Partially digested feed is mixed with bile and intestinal juice – Most food nutrients are absorbed from the villi Villi are small hairlike projections

Ruminate Digestion Cecum – Small pouch located between small and large intestine – Has little to no function – Uses microbial action to break down roughage

Ruminate Digestion Large Intestine – Coiled tube that is shorter in length but larger in diameter than the small intestine – Absorbs water and adds mucus to the undigested feed to form feces

Ruminate Digestion Anus – End of digestive tract – Excretes waste

Non Ruminate Digestion Non ruminants are monogastrics, meaning their stomach is only one compartment – Horses, pigs, dogs, cats, poultry Other than just having one stomach, the digestive process is the same

Digestive Accessory Organs Liver – Dark brown structure made of several lobes – Largest gland in the body under the stomach – Produces bile that acts on fats

Digestive Accessory Organs Pancreas – Elongated reddish colored organ that lies against the stomach – Produces digestive enzymes

Digestive Accessory Organs Gall Bladder – Sac like structure filled with greenish fluid – Located near the liver – Produces bile that aids in digestive process

Poultry Digestive System Mouth – Bird’s beak – Peaks food – Poultry has no teeth

Poultry Digestive System Esophagus – Muscular tube that guides food from beak to crop

Poultry Digestive System Crop – Oval sac like structure between esophagus and proventriculus – Stores and softens feed from saliva secretions

Poultry Digestive System Proventriculus – True stomach of a chicken – No real function – Wider than the esophagus

Poultry Digestive System Gizzard – Oval shaped muscular that is purple in color – Located between proventriculus and small intestine – Crushes and mixes feed with digestive juices – Contains grit and gravel to help crush feed

Poultry Digestive System Liver – Dark red in color and made up of several lobes – Accessory organ that produces bile

Poultry Digestive System Small Intestine – Long tube like structure – Mixes juices – Absorbs nutrients

Poultry Digestive System Ceca – Poultry have 2 cecas between small and large intestines (7” in length each) – Contain soft, undigested feed

Poultry Digestive System Large Intestine – Tube like structure large in diameter when compared to intestine – Absorbs water and adds mucus to feed that become feces

Poultry Digestive System Cloaca – Enlarged part of digestive tract located just before the vent – Combines digestive and reproductive tracts for excretion of waste or eggs

Poultry Digestive System Vent – External opening and end of digestive tract – Excretes waste