Animal Nutrition.docx

20.Animal Nutrition    Animals must have a balanced diet composed of carbohydrate, protein, fat, vitamins, minerals, and water. The functions of each of these are critical in animal health.      Nutrient Functions   Carbohydrate Energy for growth and produces heat   Protein Growth and build...

20.Animal Nutrition    Animals must have a balanced diet composed of carbohydrate, protein, fat, vitamins, minerals, and water. The functions of each of these are critical in animal health.      Nutrient Functions   Carbohydrate Energy for growth and produces heat   Protein Growth and building muscle    Fat Insulation and excess energy   Minerals Calcium for bone, teeth, and milk   magnesium for energy   iron for haemoglobin   Vitamins Metabolic processes   Water growth, digestion, and reproduction    Carbohydrates are broken down into Monosaccharides which has one sugar unit, e.g. Glucose  Disaccharides which has two sugar units e.g. Lactose and Polysaccharides which has many sugar units e.g. Starch & cellulose    Essential amino acids cannot be manufactured in the animal body they must be obtained in their diet.   Non-essential amino acids can be manufactured in the body.     Bulky Feeds are high in water or fibre but low in energy. These include grass, silage, hay, root crops and forage crops (kale). If fibre is to low acidosis may occur. Bulky feeds are usually fed alongside concentrates.     Concentrate are low in water or fibre but high in energy. This includes many of your cereals in bags of meal barley, Maize and wheat. They give high amounts of carbohydrates and energy to the animal. Mainly used for finishing off cattle and reaching target weights.     Beef ration is given to cattle to ensure it reaches slaughter weight. Beet pulp barley, wheat and maize are a high source of fibre. Soya bean meal is given as protein.     Dairy ration is given to dairy cows before calving or early lactation as they are high in energy and protein this includes barley maize and soya beans.     Sheep ration is given to ewes due to lamb in the final 6-8 weeks. It helps prevent twin lamb disease. This process is known as steaming up. Ingredients are similar to beef and dairy but are given in different ratio      Pig ration is different to cattle and sheep as pigs have one stomach and need less fibre. Pig ration is grounded up finely for digestion.     Energy requirements of animal feed.   Undigested materials in faeces and urine cause loss of energy in animals   Metabolic Energy is the energy in animal feed that is convert into live weight gain LWG, milk or wool. Metabolism is of all the chemical reactions that happen in an animal e.g. respiration, digestion, etc.