Digestive system and animal nutrtion Flashcards
Balanced diet
Contains carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins, minerals and water
Lactating animal
A female animal that is producing milk
Macrominerals
Are required in large amounts in the animal’s diet. Calcium, phosphorus and magnesium are examples.
Microminerals
Are required in trace amounts. Iron and cobalt are examples.
Water
Essential for growth, digestion, reproduction, transport of nutrients in the body, lactation and elimination of waste products. Aids in temperature
regulation and involved in many metabolic processes.
Metabolic processes
Collectively a group of chemical reactions e.g. aerobic respiration, that occurs in an animal’s body.
Dry animal
A cow or another animal that is no longer producing milk.
Monogastric animal
An animal with a single compartment stomach, compared with a ruminant
which has a four chamber stomach, ex. Pigs, horses and humans.
One stomach chamber, cannot digest cellulose, no regurgitation, no fermentation of food.
Produces gastric juices which contain enzymes that breakdown proteins and acids (pH 2) to aid in chemical digestion of food.
Essential amino acids
Amino acids that cannot be manufactured in a monogastric animal’s body and
must be obtained in the diet. E.g. lysine and methionine.
Non-essential amino acids
Amino acids that can be manufactured in the body from other amino acids.
E.g. alanine and glutamine
Deficiency
A lack or shortage of a substance in an animal’s diet.
Mineral bullet
A large pill used to provide a consistent supple of micronutrients to cattle or sheep.
Gross energy
The total energy contained in any feed.
Digestible energy
Is the gross energy minus the amount of energy egested in the faeces.
Metabolisable energy
Is the digestible energy minus the energy lost in the form of methane gas and urine.
Net energy
Is the amount of energy available for use by the animals after subtracting heat lost during digestion and other metabolic processes in the animal’s body.
Maintenance diet
The amount of feed that allows an animal to maintain a good health condition with no loss or gain in weight.
Production diet
The extra amount of feed required to produce 1kg of LWG, 1L of milk, and 1kg of wool or to produce a calf or a lamb. Animals on a production diet must be provided with feed that is more than their maintenance requirements.
Colostrum
The first milk secreted by mammals after giving birth. It is high in nutrients and antibodies and is essential for the survival of the new-born animal.
Bulky feeds
Are high in water or fibre but low in energy. E.g. grass, silage, hay, haylage and kale.
- Acidosis occurs when lack of fibre
Concentrates
Are feeds that are low in water and fibre but high in energy. E.g. cereals, fats, oils, molasses, beet pulp and feed supplements
Advantages of formulated concentration ration
- high energy & carbohydrates
-Seed coat contains fibre
- Can be used to supplement poor quality silage
- Ensures production targets are met easier
Steaming up
The practice of increasing the amount of concentrates being fed to sheep in late gestation in order to prevent twin lamb disease. This ensures a healthy lamb and promotes good milk production.
Co-Enzyme
A compound that binds to an enzyme to catalyse a reaction
More protein is required for
- Young animals (for growth & muscle development)
- Lactating animals ( for milk production)
- Animals in late gestation (Offspring development)
