Module 2: Water as a Nutient

Question 1

what is water

Answer 1

• most essential nutrient for life
• 60% of adult body; 85-87% in milk
• ## greatest daily requirement

Question 2

when is the greatest intake of water

Answer 2

during and after feeding

Question 3

when can water become toxic

Answer 3

drinking to much water to quickly can cause brain swelling and death
- can happen to animals when theres a drought, drinking water to fast after fasting

Question 4

what is aquagenic urticarial?

Answer 4

allergy to water
- affects 1 in 230m people
- itchy skin, hives, rash, skin lesions and respiratory distress after drinking water

Question 5

what are the two basic functions of water

Answer 5

1. major component in body metabolism ( becasue of property of being a universal solvent)
2. major factor in thermoregulation (critical for maintaining body temp)

Question 6

what are the top uses of water (4)

Answer 6

• universal solvent (wide variety of compounds
• transport of nutrients (breakdown and absorption) and waste products ( leaving body in liquid form)
• chemical reactions (aqueous environment, hydrolysis and oxidation
• cushining, lubrication of organs ( cerebrospinal fluid, pericardial fluid, fluid surrounding eye, mucous, saliva)

Question 7

what are two reactions that give the body water

Answer 7

glucose oxidation
peptide bond formation/ hydrolysis

Question 8

what are heat sources in the body

Answer 8

• digestion
• fermentation
• metabolism

Question 9

what is the temperature range the body needs to have

Answer 9

• 37-39
• if the body temp is out of that range the enzymes will die

Question 10

what is the difference between evaporative and non evaporative heat loss

Answer 10

Evaporative:
- most important in livestock
- cutaneous and respiratory (sweating and panting)
Non-Evaporative:
- conduction = heat loss from one object to another
- convention = heat loss through movement of air
- radiation = loss of heat from electro maginetic rnage

Question 11

why is water a good thermoregulator

Answer 11

• high specific heat capacity = water can absorb lots of heat without changing body cell temperature
• high thermal conductivity = heat transfer from deep body tissues to surface (allows heat to come up to skin surface and lungs
• high latenet heat of vaporization - change the state from liquid to vapour (panting, sweating)

Question 12

what are other uses of water in livestock production system besides consumption

Answer 12

• cleaning
• growing feed
• misting/ cooling animals

Question 13

what kind of relationship does water have with protein and fat

Answer 13

its an inverse relationship betwwen protein and water
- the higher the water the more protein usage and the less fat usage
- the lower the water the lower the protein and the more fat used
- because proteins are broken into amino acid and through catabolism urea is excreted through urine

Question 14

is water stored in the body?

Answer 14

no, normal healthy animals will maintain water equilibrium
- unless theres a edema or diarrhea

Question 15

what are water sources for livestock

Answer 15

• drinking or free water (most important)
• water contained in feedstuffs
• metabolic water (from metabolic reactions in the body)

Question 16

what animals have important metabolic uses

Answer 16

• reptiles
• birds
• desert animals
• camals
• bears (during hybernation )

Question 17

what factors affect water requirements

Answer 17

• environmental conditions - temperature (during summer water content increases)
• water content of diet - the more water content goes up - water drinking goes down
• amount, type of feed consumed (protein salt)
• temperature of the water- preference of hot or cold water
• physiological state - dry vs lactating
• health status

Question 18

how does ambient temperature

Answer 18

as temperature increases so does water intake to help with thermoregulation
- bos indicus are more heat tolerant because of higher expression of sweat glands

Question 19

what are symptoms of water deprivation

Answer 19

1. reduced feed intake ( digestion slows down because water is needed in fermentation process to create an aqueous environment
2. increase heart rate
3. increased body temperature (metabolism continous - without thermoregulation internal temp increase
4. increased respiration
5. lack of muscle coordination
6. sunken eyes, shrivelled skin
7. death ( loss of 12% body water)

Question 20

how do you measure water intake

Answer 20

in-line water meters (meaure water flow to water through )
collect data for 5 - 10 days
include water intake from ration if feeding fermented forages

Question 21

water quality checking

Answer 21

• oranoleptic properties (odor tate
• physico- chemical properties (hardness, pH and total dissolved solids)
• presence of toxic compounds (heavy metals, pesticide residues)
• presence of excess minerals or compounds
• presence of bacteria or blue-green algea

Question 22

features of good quality water

Answer 22

• clear and colourless
• low total solids
• no disease organisms or pesticides
• no desirable flavour or odor

Question 23

how do you check water quality

Answer 23

• annual check recommended or suspect water quality problem (change in water intakes; drought, change in odour, taste and appearance )
• take a representative sample (pH nitrates, sulfates, total dissolved solids and bacteria)
• environmental analytical labratories

Question 24

where would you take a water sample from

Answer 24

from the source of where the animal is drinking to dectect early
- water nearby thats supplying might not have the contamination

Question 25

how is water treated to improve water quality

Answer 25

• sand filters to remove algae, OM, trace minerals
• reverse osmosis to remove nitrates, Fe sulfates; reduces hardness and total solids.
• to expensive for use with livestock