Large Animal Nutrition Flashcards
What is the goal of livestock nutrition?
Provide right amount of nutrients at the right time to meet specific requirements
How is the goal accomplished?
Through feed:
Formulation (creating)
Balancing (meeting requirements)
Feed Management (feed quality, processing, delivery)
What are the four primary categories of nutrients?
- Energy
- Protein
- Vitamins
- Minerals
What are the macronutrients?
Energy and protein
What are the micronutrients?
Vitamins and minerals
What is the forgotten nutrient?
Water
What are the four things that nutrient requirements depend on?
- Species
- Stage of Production
- Animal purpose/function
- External factors
What is maintenance for biological functioning and nutrient use?
Maintaining or preserving the animal’s body
Foundation for all other biological processes
Entire life cycle for all livestock
Increase with size and age
Male maintenance requirements > female maintenance requirements
What is growth for biological functioning and nutrient use?
Increasing in body mass and size
Predominantly in young animals
What is lactation for biological functioning and nutrient use?
Milk production: After gestation and parturition
Teats and mammary glands
What is Fetal Development for biological functioning and nutrient use?
Pregnant female animals, sexually mature
Tissue/organ development and maintenance
What is body reserves for biological functioning and nutrient use?
Fat deposition
Increase with age
What is feed?
Vehicle of nutrients
What do we feed animals?
Rations
What are rations?
Mixture of feedstuffs
What are feed ingredients?
Silage
Hay
Straw
Grain
Premix
Supplements
Additives
Water/moisture
What are the two kinds of feedstuff?
Forage and Concentrate
What is Forage Feedstuff?
Plant-based feed
High dry matter (DM) content
Foundation of a ruminant rations
Minimal presence in monogastric rations
What is Concentrate Feedstuff?
Grain-based, lack fibrous plant material
High concentration of nutrients
Readily available nutrients
Foundation of monogastric rations
Easier to digest
What is Silage?
Plant-based, entire crop
High moisture content
Ensiling process (storage + fermentation)
What is Hay?
Annual legume/grass crop
High DM content
What is Straw?
Byproduct of crop harvest
High DM content
What is Grain?
Seed of a crop
Excellent concentrate
What is Premix?
Predetermined mix of vitamins and/or minerals
Specific to animal type
What are Supplements?
High concentration of a specific nutrient
Increase amount of a certain nutrient
Tailored to meet nutritional requirements
What are Additives?
Alter digestive function and animal performance
What is Water/Moisture?
Water source
Natural resources
Feedstuffs
What determines the feedstuff you would give?
Age
Goals/purpose
Feed form/processing requirements
Location
Weather
Soil
Nutrient availability
How do ruminants (+ equine) utilize nutrients from feed?
primary forages
Silage, hay, straw
Ability to digest and degrade fiber + synthesize other nutrients
How do monogastrics utilize nutrients from feed?
Minimal forages, primarily concentrates and byproducts
Explain the gastrointestinal tract of the ruminant?
Esophagus -> reticulum -> rumen -> omasum -> abomasum -> small intestine
What is the role of ruminant microbes?
Rumen fermentation + maintain gut health
What is the role of monogastric microbes?
Hind-gut fermentation + maintain gut health
How are rations made?
Collaboration with nutritionists and nutrition experts
Technology
Ration formulation and balancing softwares
Assess animal performance and reevaluate to make decisions
Experience, science/research, feedstuff availability and affordability
