Animal Nutrition

What is animal nutrition?

The dietary needs of domesticated and captive wild animals

Why is animal nutrition important?

Animals need proper nutrition to support their body requirements:– Growth– Maintenance– Work– Reproduction– Lactation

How are nutritional requirements determined?

Digestive System– Ruminant or Non-Ruminant

Feeding Type– Carnivore, Omnivore or Herbivore

Body Requirements

How are nutritional requirements met?

By feeding a balanced diet

What is a balanced diet?

A feeding program that:– Stimulates natural

feeding behaviors– Meets all nutritional

requirements– Is practical and

economical

How are natural feeding behaviors stimulated?

Feeding diets that allow the animal to obtain their food in a similar manner to that in the wild– Where– How– Time– Type

How are nutritional requirements met in the diet?

Providing a diet that consists of the 6 basic nutrients in quantities appropriate for each specific animal species

What are the 6 basic nutrients?

Carbohydrates Fats and Oils Proteins Vitamins Minerals Water

What are carbohydrates?

Nutrients made up of sugars, starches & cellulose

Provide energy– Largest source of energy in a diet

Source– Cereal grains (corn, wheat and oats)– Roughage (alfalfa hay, grasses and plants)– Sugars (Molasses to improve taste & reduce dust)

Corn

What are fats & oils?

Nutrients made up of triglycerides and fatty acids

Provide energy– 2.25 times the energy as carbohydrates

Extra carbs are stores as fat

Carry fat soluble vitamins Source

– Grain & protein concentrates (corn & soybean oil)– Natural feed ingredients (meat, fish, nuts & eggs)

Soybean Oil

What are proteins?

Nutrients made up of amino acids Provide materials for growth

– Body tissues (muscles, skin & hair)

Source– Plant (soybean, cottonseed & alfalfa meal)– Animal (meat & fish meal, dried milk)

Meat

What are vitamins?

Organic compounds, containing carbon, needed in small amounts

Provide materials for body regulation– Water soluble (B-complex & C)– Fat soluble (A, D, E & K)

Source– Pre-mix (powder added to feed, best way to provide)– Natural feed ingredients (fruits & vegetables)

Vitamin C

What are minerals?

Inorganic compounds, containing NO carbon, needed in small amounts

Provide materials for growth and regulation– Bones, teeth & tissues (calcium & phosphorus)– Chemical homeostasis (iron, folic acid & copper)

Source– Pre-mix (powder) or mineral block (separate from feed)– Natural feed ingredients (meat, milk, green vegetables)– Nature (soil & rocks)

Calcium

What is water?

The most important nutrient, essential for the survival of all animals

Provides:– Hydration of body– Transport system for nutrients (dissolves & carries)

Source– Supplied separately from diet

From a clean well or plumbing

H2O

Nutrient Review

Carbohydrates– Provide energy– Sources

Cereal Grains– Corn (most popular)– Oats and Wheat

Roughages– Alfalfa Hay (high energy/fiber)

Sugars– Molasses (increases palatability *taste* and reduces dust)

Nutrient Review

Fats and Oils– Provide energy

2.25x more than carbohydrates

– Carry fat soluble vitamins– Sources

Grain and protein concentrates– Vegetable oil

Natural sources– Meats, nuts and dairy products

Nutrient Review

Proteins– Provide amino acids for growth and development– Sources

Animal– Meat, Bone and Fish meal – Dried milk

Plant– Soybean and cottonseed meal

*The word meal is almost always after the protein source *

Nutrient Review

Vitamins– Regulate body functions– Designated by letters (A, B, C, D, E and K)– Sources

Premix – Most effective source

Natural sources– Fruits and Vegetables

Nutrient Review

Minerals– Regulate body functions– Provide growth of bones and tissues– Sources

Premix– Most certain source

Natural sources– Meats, vegetables, rocks and soil

Nutrient Review

Water– Hydrate the body

Makes up 40-80% of the body

– Regulate body functions– Transport nutrients– Sources

Clean water sources