Nutrition & Feeding

Nutrition Terms Nutrition ▪ Process by which animals receive a proper and balanced food and water ration so it can grow, maintain its body, reproduces, and perform. Nutrient ▪ substance or part of feedstuff that is necessary for an organism to live and grow. ▪ Also known as a single group of foods of the same general chemical composition that supports animal life ▪ Required nutrients include water, carbohydrates, fats, protein, minerals, and vitamins.

Six Basic Nutrients Water Protein Carbohydrates Fats Vitamins Minerals

Water Most important nutrient Animals can go without food for several days, but can only survive without water for ~3 days Vital for proper body functions Makes up 55-65% of an animal’s body Purposes: ▪ Dissolves and transports other nutrients ▪ aids in digestion ▪ carries waste from the body ▪ Regulates body temperature and supports breathing

Protein Complex nutrients composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen Purpose: ▪ Develop and repairing body organs and tissues (i.e.: muscles, nerves, skin, hair, hooves, and feathers) ▪ Important in the reproduction process of the developing fetus, transmitting DNA, and development of young

Carbohydrates Important in converting of food into energy Carbohydrates are made up of chemical elements carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. Types: ▪ sugars, starch, fiber Purpose: ▪ Supports body functions, breathing, digesting, etc. ▪ Stores fat, and produces heat for body warmth

Fats Contains the same chemical elements of C, H, & O as carbs, but in different combinations Purpose: ▪ Provides energy ▪ contains 2.25 times more energy than carbs/protein ▪ Aid in absorbing fat soluble vitamins ▪ Provide essential fatty acids needed in an animal’s diet

Vitamins Organic substances designated by the letters A, B, C, D, E, and K. Needed for specific biochemical reactions. Needed in very small amounts Purpose: ▪ Needed for regulating the digestive system, absorption, and metabolism

Minerals Inorganic Purpose: ▪ Supply the material for building bones, teeth, the skeleton ▪ Producing body regulators such as enzymes and hormones. Minerals are divided into two Divided into TWO groups 1. Macro minerals ▪seven major minerals needed in largest quantity ▪most likely lacking in the ration 2. Micro minerals ▪nine trace minerals that are only needed in small amounts

Nutrient Deficiency Symptoms Slow Growth ▪ Common w/ALL Water ▪ Body becomes overheated ▪ Slow down in normal body function Protein ▪ Growth and repair of tissues suffers ▪ Anorexia, anemia, edema; slow growth rate, low birth weight, lower milk production, decreased feed efficiency Carbohydrate ▪ Lack of energy/body heat Fat ▪ Lack of energy ▪ Absorption of fat-soluble vitamins is affected Vitamin ▪ Body functions are affected Mineral ▪ Lower rate of gain, feed inefficiency, decreased milk/egg/wool production, decreased reproduction,

Major Way Nutrients are used Maintenance ▪ Rations high in carbohydrates and fats designed to keep animal constant with no gain or loss of weight. Growth ▪ Rations high in energy and protein so as to increase the animal’s body size. Reproduction ration ▪ A ration that contains the largest amount of protein, minerals, and vitamins of any ration ▪ Reproduction rations improve conception rates and breeding ability for males and females and are important for producing live, healthy offspring that have a good birth weight. Lactation ▪ Rations for lactating (milk producing) females encourage large milk production and are high in protein, calcium, and phosphorus (same nutrients contained in the milk). Work and activity ▪ Rations need increased amounts of fats and carbohydrates to supply the extra energy needed to perform (example: hunting dog chasing game).

Nutrition Terms Diet ▪ Feed and water an animal receives ▪ Amount and type is based on: 1 – what animal needs, 2 – what nutrients are in feed ▪ Must be palatable Ration ▪ Feed that contains right proportion of nutrients ▪ “Balanced ration”

Feed Classification Roughages ▪ Leaves & plants Concentrates ▪ Recommended for small animals b/c high in energy & protein ▪ High Energy Diet ▪ Corn, wheat, sorghum, barley, rye, oats ▪ High Protein Diet ▪ Soybean oil meal, cottonseed oil meal, sunflower meal Supplements ▪ If needed

Specific Diets Dogs and Cats ▪The best feed is usually a commercial feed variety ▪Puppies need diets higher in protein than adult dogs and food intake is regulated by activity ▪Cats need twice as much protein as dogs and 10% of their diet should be fat

Specific Diets Rabbits ▪Best to use pellet type of commercial feed and avoid feeding too much leafy green vegetables Pocket Pets ▪Best to use pellet type commercial feed and keep diet consistent ▪If mixing a ration – should have a wide range of food ▪Various diets include: ▪Gerbils – need a little green food in diet ▪Rats – can have dog food substituted ▪Ferrets – eat cat food ▪Mice – will not overeat ▪Guinea pigs – need solid food to dull their teeth and a certain amount of vitamin C

Specific Diets Amphibians and Reptiles ▪Depending on their size, amphibians and reptiles prefer to eat animals ▪Snakes eat mice ▪Turtles eat meat ▪Amphibians eat earthworms and insects ▪Tadpoles will eat pellets of rabbit, dog, or cat food ▪Turtles – pieces of liver will do, but strawberries and other fruits can also be fed ▪Snakes in captivity learn to eat canned dog/cat food ▪Most lizards eat insects

Specific Diets Birds ▪Most birds prefer a diet of seeds ▪Two basic types of seed included in a bird’s diet are cereal seeds and oil seeds ▪Fruit and nectar birds eat oranges, grapes, and apple slices

Specific Diets Fish ▪Diet is affected by water temperature ▪Fish generally eat more when the water temperature is higher ▪Should be given a variety of food so they don’t get bored ▪Shrimp, krill, and plankton can be fed to larger fish ▪Flakes are good for smaller fish ▪Amount fish eats is related to water temperature, kind of fish, and stage of life ▪Feed fish the amount they can eat in a few minutes to avoid contaminating water