Livestock Flashcards
What role does vitamin D play on health?
Elevates Ca:P to a level that supports normal mineralisation of bones
What problems arise when there is a deficiency in vitamin D?
Reduced calcium and phosphorus levels which results in fragile bone and teeth and reduced production.
What positive effects does vitamin C have on cattle?
Increases milk yield, milk quality and stimulates mastitis recovery.
What is pregnancy toxaemia?
A form of ketosis where there is a build up of ketones broken down from fat because not enough glucose is coming from the diet.
Why does pregnancy toxaemia happen
Pregnant cows require a lot of energy to maintain their developing calves. If the diet is insufficient or the cow is not eating enough this problem happens
Why do ketones build up during pregnancy toxaemia?
A certain amount of glucose is needed for maintenance. If not enough is supplied then fat is broken down into ketones to be utilised by the liver and turned into energy. But if the ketones going to the liver exceeds the amount of glucose in the liver to utilities it then the ketones build up and become toxic.
What does pregnancy toxaemia affect
Liver becomes enlarged, pale and fatty. The build up of ketones in the blood effect the brain and then the animal stops eating.
What is milk fever?
Hypocalcaemia: low calcium in the blood
How does hibernation happen
Instead of the carbs digested used as energy, fat reserves are converted into usable energy and enter the cellular respiration cycle via glycolysis and pyruvate steps
In hibernation how is the pyruvate converted to acetyl CoA?
Done via the phosphorylation of PDH which is inhibited by PDK-4. Reducing the combustion of CHO
What mechanisms is ATP produced by in hibernation
Beta oxidation of fat reserves
Name 2 components of animal growth
Genotype (hereditary) and phenotype (environmental impacts)
What is compensatory growth
A period of malnutrition that is increased to proper nutrition which sees the animal utilising food better and also growing quicker
How is hay digested in a horse
Hay is a fibre, which cannot be digested in their own and requires enzymes to break down the polysaccharide bonds where the caecum bacteria then break it down into VFA which is absorbed via gluconeogenesis in the liver.
How is grain digested in a horse?
Grains contain starch which are soluble and hydrolysed. Grains are highly palatable but horses struggle with the high carbs and low fibre content which can cause colic.
What is a mechanisms for milk fat depression
Biohydrogenation
What is milk fat depression?
The process by which farmers essentially get low fat milk
How is milk fat depression done
By feeding the cows high concentrate diets, where the saturated FA are turned into an unsaturated end product
How does stress influence vitamin requirements
Stress brings of flight or fight responses where digestion stops. Therefore less vitamins are synthesised and absorbed and requirements are increased.
What are the 5 types of antioxidant nutrients
Vitamin C Vitamin E Selenium Flavonoids Carotenoids
How do antioxidants work
They neutralise free radicals and prevent damage to DNA and tissue
How does vitamin C work as an antioxidant
It works by being an electron donor for the free radicals which stabilised it and reduced oxidative stress
Cu, Mo and S relationship
Mo + S = reduced Cu levels
This happens because Cu tries to get rid of Mo which causes diahrroea
Why do humans absorb iron efficiently
Humans are omnivores therefore have a high iron and vitamin c diet. Where the vitamin c increase iron absorption
By how much does vitamin c increase bioavailability of iron
300%
Why are enzymes important feed addictives
Enzymes liberate additional energy from food and improve digestion of raw material and protein. Which overall reduces feed costs
Define complete feed
Nutritionally adequate
Define concentrate
Intended to be diluted. Such as grain
Define basemix
Contains all required minerals and vitamins
Define premix
Contains all other missing ingredients and nutrients to make a feed complete
