Vocab Flashcards
1
Q
Abomasum
A
the fourth compartment of a ruminant’s stomach, which has functions similar to that of the glandular stomach of non-ruminants
2
Q
Absorption
A
the movement of nutrients (or other compounds) from the digestive tract (or through other tissues such as the skin) into the blood and/or lymph system
3
Q
Acetic acid (acetate)
A
one of the volatile fatty acids commonly found in silage, rumen contents, and vinegar as a result of microbial fermentation
4
Q
Additive
A
an ingredient or combination of ingredients added in small quantities to a basic feed mix for the purpose of fortifying the basic mix with trace nutrients, medicines, or drugs
5
Q
ADF
A
acid detergent fiber; the fraction of a feedstuff not soluble by acid detergent; roughly comparable to crude fiber plus lignin
6
Q
Ad libitum
A
unrestricted consumption of feed or water
7
Q
Alimentary
A
having to do with feed or water
8
Q
Alimentary tract
A
a term synonymous with the digestive or gastrointestinal tract
9
Q
Amino acids
A
the simplest organic structure of which proteins are formed; all have the common property of containing a carboxyl group and an amino group on the adjacent carbon atom
10
Q
Amino acids, essential
A
amino acids that must be present in the diet; they include arginine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine
11
Q
Amino acids, nonessential
A
amino acids that are found in common proteins but may be partly or completely synthesized by the animal’s tissues; they include alanine, aspartic acid, citrulline, cysteine, glutamic acid, glycine, hydroxyproline, proline, serine, and tyrosine
12
Q
Amylase
A
any of several enzymes that can hydrolyze starch to maltose or glucose
13
Q
Antibiotic
A
a substance produced by one microorganism that has an inhibitory effect on another organism
14
Q
Antioxidant
A
a substance that inhibits the oxidation of other compounds
15
Q
Antivitamin
A
a substance that interferes with the synthesis or metabolism of a vitamin
16
Q
Anus
A
the distal opening of the gastrointestinal tract
17
Q
As fed
A
as commonly used by the animal
18
Q
Ash
A
the residue remaining after complete incineration of 500°C to 600˚C of a feed or animal tissue. Only metallic oxides or contaminants such as soil should remain
19
Q
Balanced ration (or diet)
A
a combination of feeds that provides the essential nutrients in the required proportions
20
Q
Basal metabolic rate
A
the basal metabolism expressed in kilocalories per unit of body size; the heat production of an animal during physical, digestive, and emotional rest
21
Q
Beriberi
A
a deficiency (acute) of thiamine, one of the B-complex vitamins
22
Q
Bile
A
a secretion from the liver containing metabolites such as cholesterol and bile acids, which aid in the digestion of fats
23
Q
Biological value
A
the efficiency with which a protein furnishes the required amounts of essential amino acids; usually expressed as a percentage
24
Q
Bomb calorimeter
A
an instrument used for measuring the gross energy (GE) content of any material that will burn
25
Butyric acid (butyrate)
one of the volatile fatty acids commonly found in rumen contents and in poor-quality silages
26
Calorie
the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of water from 14.5°C to 15.5˚C
27
Calorimeter
the equipment used to measure the heat generated in a system
28
Carbohydrate
organic substance containing C, H, and O, with the H and O present in the same proportions as in water. Many different kinds are found in plant tissues; some are vital to animal metabolism
29
Carotene
a yellow organic compound that is the precursor of vitamin A
30
Catalyst
a substance that changes the rate of a chemical but is not itself used up in the reaction The use of platinum in hydrogenating unsaturated fats is an example
31
Cecum (caecum)
a blind pouch located at the junction of the small intestine with the colon (the appendix in humans); it is part of the large intestine
32
Cellulose
a polymer of glucose molecules that is resistant to hydrolysis by most digestive enzymes (except some produced by microorganisms)
33
Cholesterol
the most common member of the sterol group found in blood and many other animal tissues; not present in any plant tissues
34
Cholic acid
a family of steroids comprising the bile acids; they are derived from metabolism of cholesterol by the liver
35
Chyme
a semiliquid material produced by the action of gastric juice on ingested food
36
Chymotrypsin
a proteolytic digestive enzyme secreted by the pancreas
37
Coenzyme
an organic molecule required by some enzymes to produce enzymatic activity; vitamin coenzymes include niacin, pyridoxine, thiamine, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, and folic acid
38
Colon
part of the large intestine; divided into the transverse, descending, and ascending segments
39
Complete feed
a single mixture used as the only source of food for an animal
40
Concentrate
any feed containing relatively low levels of fiber (20% or less) and with 60% or more total digestible nutrients (TDN). Opposite of roughage; or a concentrated source of one or more nutrients used to supplement a feed mix
41
Crude fat
the portion of feed (or other material) that is soluble in ether; also referred to as ether extracts
42
Crude fiber
the fibrous, less digestible portion of a feed
43
Crude protein
total ammoniacal nitrogen x 6.25, based on the fact that feed protein, on the average, contains 16% nitrogen; many nonprotein nitrogen compounds may be included
44
Cud
the solid mass of ingesta regurgitated and remasticated in the process of rumination (synonymous with bolus)
45
Deamination
removal of the amino group from an amino acid
46
Defluorination
having the fluorine content reduced to a level that is nontoxic under normal feed use
47
Degradation
conversion of a chemical compound to one that is less complex
48
Dextrin
an intermediate polysaccharide product obtained during starch hydrolysis
49
Diet
a regulated selection or mixture of feedstuffs provided on a continuous or prescribed schedule
50
Digestibility, apparent
the percentage of a feed or nutrient that is apparently absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract as indicated by intake minus fecal output; it differs from true digestibility in that feces contain substances derived from the body, many microbial products, and various secretions, as well as undigested food
51
Digestibility, true
the percentage of a feed nutrient actually absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract
52
Digestion
the process involved in preparing food for absorption
53
Disaccharide
any of several dimers (contains two simple sugars); for example, sucrose (common table sugar) yields glucose and fructose
54
Dispensable amino acid
synonymous with nonessential amino acid
55
Dry matter
the portion of a feed or tissue remaining after water is removed by drying in an oven
56
Duodenum
the first segment of the small intestine
57
Emulsifier
a material capable of causing fat or oils to remain in liquid suspension
58
Emulsify
to disperse small drops of liquid into another liquid
59
Enzyme
a protein formed in plant or animal cells that acts as an organic catalyst
60
Ergosterol
a sterol found chiefly in plant tissues; on exposure to ultraviolet irradiation, it becomes vitamin D
61
Eructation
belching of gas by ruminants as a normal means of expelling gases of fermentation
62
Esophagus
the passageway (tube) from the mouth to the stomach
63
Excreta
the products of excretion, primarily feces and urine
64
Fat soluble
soluble in fats and fat solvents but generally not soluble in water
65
Feed
any material used as food by an animal; same as feedstuff
66
Fermentation
chemical changes brought about by various microorganisms
67
Fibrous
high in content of cellulous and/or lignin (or in cell walls of NDF; neutral detergent fiber)
68
Fistula
an abnormal passage from some part of the body to another part or the exterior, sometimes surgically inserted
69
Forage
crops used as pasture, hay, haylage, silage, or green chop for feeding animals
70
Fructose
a six-carbon monosaccharide; one of the components of sucrose
71
Galactose
a six-carbon monosaccharide; one of the components of lactose
72
Gallbladder
a membranous sac attached to the liver of farm livestock (except the horse) in which bile is stored
73
Gastric juice
a clear liquid secreted by the wall of the stomach; it contains HCl and the enzymes rennin, pepsin, and gastric lipase
74
Gastrointestinal
pertaining to the stomach and intestine
75
Glucose
a six-carbon monosaccharide found in the blood and as a component of sucrose and maltose and other sugars
76
Glycerol
an alcohol containing three carbons and three hydroxyl groups; a component of fat
77
Glycogen
a polysaccharide found in the liver and muscles as a reserve form of quickly available energy
78
Goiter
an enlargement of the thyroid gland sometimes caused by an iodine deficiency
79
Gross energy
the total heat of combustible material burned in a bomb calorimeter
80
Heat increment
the heat that is unavoidably produced by an animal incidental with nutrient digestion and utilization
81
Hydrogenation
the chemical addition of hydrogen to any unsaturated compound (double bond), often to fatty acids
82
Hydrolysis
the chemical process whereby a compound is split into simpler units with the uptake of water
83
Hypervitaminosis
an abnormal condition resulting from the intake of (or treatment with) an excess of one or more vitamins
84
Ileum
the third section of the small intestine
85
Ingest
to take into the mouth
86
Insulin
a hormone secreted by the pancreas into the blood; it is involved in regulation and utilization of blood glucose
87
Intestinal tract
the small and large intestines
88
Jejunum
the middle portion of the small intestine
89
Kcal
an abbreviation for kilocalorie; 1,000 calories
90
Ketone
a group of chemicals that includes acetone, acetoacetate acid, and betahydroxy butyric acid; they are produced in excess when carbohydrate metabolism is low and fat is being metabolized for energy
91
Lactase
an enzyme present in the intestinal juice that acts on lactose to produce glucose and galactose
92
Lactic acid
an organic acid commonly found in sour milk and silage; it is important in the body during anaerobic glycolysis
93
Lignin
a biologically unavailable polymer that is a major structural component of the cell wall of plants
94
Linoleic acid
an 18-carbon unsaturated fatty acid; one of the essential fatty acids; it occurs widely in plant glycerides
95
Lipase
a fat-splitting enzyme; different lipases are produced by the stomach and pancreas
96
Lipids
substances that are diverse in chemical nature but are soluble in fat solvents
97
Lymph
the slightly yellow transparent fluid occupying the lymphatic channels of the body
98
Macrominerals
the major minerals (in terms of the amounts required in the diet or found in body tissues): calcium (Ca), chlorine (Cl), magnesium (Mg), phosphorous (P), potassium (K), sodium (Na), and sulfur (S).
99
Malnutrition
an overall term for poor nourishment
100
Maltase
an enzyme that splits maltose to produce two molecules of glucose
101
Megacalorie (Mcal)
1,000 kcal or 1 million calories; synonymous with therm
102
Metabolic size
the body weight raised to the ¾ power (W0.75); a means of relating body weight to heat production of an animal
103
Metabolism
the sum of all the physical and chemical processes taking place in a living organism
104
Metabolite
any compound produced during metabolism
105
Metabolizable energy (ME)
digestible energy minus the energy of the urine and combustible gases from the gastrointestinal tract (primarily methane)
106
Methane
a major product of anaerobic fermentation of carbohydrates; found in the rumen
107
Microminerals
the trace elements required by animal tissues that must be in the diet: cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), fluorine (F), iodine (I), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), nickel (Ni), selenium (Se), silicon (Si), vanadium (V), and zinc (Zn). Synonymous with trace minerals.
108
Minerals
as applied to animal nutrition, elements that are essential to the plant or animal and that are found in its tissues
109
Miscible
capable of being mixed easily with another substance
110
Monogastric
the simple stomach; often applied to nonruminant animals, but technically a misnomer because ruminants have only one stomach with four compartments
111
Monosaccharide
any one of several simple sugars
112
Mucosa
the membranes that line the passages and cavities of the body
113
Mucus
a slimy liquid secreted by the mucous glands and membranes
114
NDF
neutral detergent fiber; the fraction containing mostly cell wall constituents of low biological value
115
Net energy (NE)
metabolizable energy minus the heat increment
116
NFE
nitrogen free extract; consists primarily of readily available carbohydrates such as sugars and starches; part of proximate analysis
117
Nonprotein nitrogen (NPN)
any one of a group of nitrogen-containing compounds that are not true proteins that can be precipitated from a solution; ammonia and urea are examples
118
Nutrient
any chemical substance that provides nourishment to the body
119
Oil
usually a mixture of pure fats that is liquid at room temperature
120
Oleic acid
an 18-carbon fatty acid that contains one double bond; it is found in animal and vegetable fat
121
Omasum
the third compartment of the ruminant stomach
122
Oxidation
the union of a substance with oxygen; the increase of positive charges on an atom or loss of negative charges
123
Palmitic acid
a saturated fatty acid with 16 carbon atoms
124
Pancreas
an organ located near the stomach; it produces pancreatic juice, which is secreted into the small intestine via the pancreatic duct. It is also an endocrine gland that secretes insulin and glucagon, hormones that control metabolism of glucose
125
Pentosan
a polysaccharide made up primarily of five-carbon sugars; araban and xylan are examples
126
Pentose
a five-carbon sugar such as arabinose, xylose, or ribose
127
Pepsin
a proteolytic enzyme produced by the stomach
128
Propionic acid (propionate)
one of the volatile fatty acids commonly found in rumen contents
129
Protein
any of many complex organic compounds formed from various combinations of amino acids and, sometimes, other nonprotein components
130
Proximate analysis
a combination of analytical procedures used to describe feeds, excreta, and other agricultural products
131
Ration
a fixed portion of feed, usually expressed as the amount of a diet allowed daily
132
Rennin
a milk curdling enzyme present in the gastric juice of young mammals
133
Reticular groove
a muscular structure at the lower end of the esophagus that, when closed, forms a tube allowing milk to go directly into the abomasum; sometimes referred to as the esophageal groove
134
Reticulum
the first compartment of the ruminant stomach
135
Rumen
the second compartment of the ruminant stomach
136
Ruminant
any of a group of hooved mammals that has a four-compartmented stomach and that chew a cud while ruminating
137
Rumination
the process of regurgitating previously eaten feed, reswallowing the liquids, and rechewing the solids (cud)
138
Satiety
the condition of being fully satisfied with food; the opposite of hunger
139
Saturated fat
a fat that contains no fatty acids with double bonds
140
Starch
a polysaccharide that yields glucose on hydrolysis; found in high concentrations in most seed grains
141
Stearic acid
an 18-carbon saturated fatty acid
142
Sterol
an alcohol of high molecular weight, such as cholesterol; a basic compound used to synthesize many vital chemicals for both plants and animals
143
Stomach
the part of the digestive tract in which chemical digestion is initiated in most animal species. It normally lies between the esophagus and the small intestine
144
Sucrose
a disaccharide (common table sugar) composed of one molecule each of glucose and fructose
145
TDN (Total Digestible Nutrients)
a value that indicates the relative energy value for a feed for an animal
146
Thyroxine
an iodine-containing hormone that is produced by the thyroid gland
147
Triglycerides (fat)
an ester composed of glycerol and three fatty acids
148
True protein
a precipitable protein rather than any of several nonprotein compounds
149
Trypsin
a proteolytic digestive enzyme produced by the pancreas
150
Unsaturated fat
a fat containing from one to three fatty acids that contain one or more double bonds
151
Urea
the chief end product of protein metabolism in mammals; one of the main nitrogenous constituents in urine; a synthetic product sometimes used as a nitrogen source in rations for ruminants
152
Urease
an enzyme that acts on urea to produce carbon dioxide and ammonia; it is present in numerous microorganisms in the rumen
153
Uremia
a toxic accumulation of urinary constituents in the blood due to faulty kidney excretion
154
Uric acid
a nitrogenous end product of purine metabolism; it is the principal nitrogen-containing component in urine of birds
155
VFA
volatile fatty acids; acetic acid, butyric acid, and propionic acid
156
Villi
small threadlike projections attached to the interior of the wall of the small intestine to increase its absorptive surface area (singular: villus)
157
Viscera
the organs of the great cavities of the body, which are removed at slaughter
158
Vitamin
one of a group of organic substances that is essential in small amounts for the lives of animals
159
Vitamins, fat soluble
vitamins soluble in fats. This group includes vitamins A, D2, D3, E (tocopherol), and K
160
Vitamins, water soluble
vitamins soluble in water. This group includes ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and the B complex: biotin, choline, cobalamin or cyanocobalamin, folacin, niacin, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine, riboflavin, and thiamine
