Nutrition, Anatomyand Physiology

Eric Stormer

Virginia Cooperative Extension

Nutrition

The process by which animals eat food and use it to live, grow and reproduce.

“You are what you eat.”

Nutritional Deficiency Diseases

Scurvy - Vitamin C Deficiency

A disease of the skin and gums. Citrus fruits are high in ascorbic acid, and can

prevent scurvy.

Animal Anatomy and Physiology

The internal functions and vital processes of animals and their organs is called Physiology.

The various parts of the body are collectively called Anatomy.

Skeletal System Made of bones

joined together by muscle, cartilage and ligaments.

Provides support for the body.

Protects brain and body organs.

Calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate.

Muscular System

The lean meat of the animal, used for consumption.

May be Voluntary, or Involuntary.

Made largely of protein; nutrients made of amino acids.

Muscular System, Cont’d.

Voluntary muscles: can be controlled by animals to do such things as walk, eat food.

Involuntary muscles: operate in body without control by the will of the animal.

Circulatory System

Provides food and oxygen to the cells of the body, and filters waste materials from the body.

Lymph Glands secrete disease-fighting materials.

Circulatory System

Vitamins, minerals, proteins and carbohydrates are all necessary for the smooth running of the circulatory system.

Carbohydrates are sugars and starches that supply energy.

Respiratory System

Provides oxygen to the blood. Removes waste gases, including CO2. Consists of nostrils, nasal cavity, pharynx,

larynx, trachea and lungs.

What part of the Nervous System are we connecting to here?

Nervous System

Central Nervous System - includes the brain and spinal cord.

Responsible for coordinating the movements of animals, and also responds to all of the senses.

Nervous System, Cont’d.

Peripheral Nervous System: Controls the functions of the body tissues, including the organs. The nerves transmit messages to the brain from the outer parts of the body

Because the nervous system is composed primarily of soft tissues, proteins are very important for health.

Urinary System

Functions to remove waste materials from the blood.

Primary parts are the kidneys, bladder, ureters, and urethra.

Kidneys help regulate the makeup of blood and maintain organs.

Digestive System

Provides food for the body and for all of its systems.

This system stores food temporarily, prepares food for use by the body, and removes waste from the body.

Digestive System - polygastric

Stomachs with more than one compartment.

The rumen is a large compartment, and stores lots of roughages.

B-Complex vitamins are manufactured by bacteria in rumen.

Digestive System - Monogastric

Monogastric stomachs have one compartment.

Found in horses, swine and many other animals.

Rations must be higher in concentrates.

Poultry Digestive System

Actually monogastric.

Food is stored in crop, and passes to gizzard to be ground up.

Rations must be high in food value.

Endocrine System

Endocrine System, Cont’d.

Hormones are chemicals that regulate many of the activities of the body.

Are needed on only very minute amounts. Endocrine system requires proper levels of minerals

to function properly.

Major Classes of Nutrients

Water, Water, Water, Water…

Water’s purposes

Muscles and internal organs contain 75% + Transports dissolved/suspended nutrients. Provides rigidity to the body, cells. Regulates body temperatures. Least expensive nutrient for all animals.

Protein

Major component of muscle and nervous tissue.

Are very complex materials, made of nitrogen compounds called amino acids.

Used continuously to replace dying cells.

Protein Art

Carbohydrates

Composed of sugars and starches.Provide energy and heat.Used for growth, maintenance, work, reproduction, and lactation.Make up 75% of animal rations.

Minerals

Minerals

Serve many functions. Fifteen essential to the health of

animals. They are important parts of soft tissues

and fluids in the body. Endocrine, circulatory, urinary and

nervous systems all require minerals.

Vitamins Used in blood clotting, forming bones, reproducing, preventing nervous system disorders and keeping membranes healthy.

Some are available in roughages and concentrates.

Some are made by the body itself.

Act as catalysts for other life processes.

Crystallized Vitamins

Sources of Nutrients

Are many, and extremely varied. Include roughages, concentrates,

animal by-products, minerals and synthetic nutrients.

Include Proteins, Carbohydrates, Fats, Minerals and Vitamins.

Sources of Proteins

Oil seeds, including soybeans, peanuts, cottonseeds, linseed.

Cereal grains. Good quality legume

hay. Animal protein Urea

Protein Sources, Cont’d.

Alfalfa

Protein Sources, Cont’d.

Clo

ver

Protein, Cont’d.

Carbohydrates

Are found in all plant materials. The major sources of carbohydrates for

animals are the cereal grains. Corn is the most important cereal grain,

followed by wheat, barley, oats and rye. Other carb sources include nonlegume

hays, such as orchard grass and timothy, and also, molasses.

Carbohydrates - Corn

Carbohydrates - Wheat

Carbohydrates - Barley

Carbohydrates - Oats

Carbohydrates - Rye

Carbohydrates – Timothy and Orchard Grass (Pasture)

Carbohydrates – Molasses

Fats

Are needed in fairly small amounts.

Most sources of proteins are fats.

Seldom necessary to identify specific fat sources.

Vitamins and Minerals

Vitamins and Minerals

Are part of normal feeds for all animals. Ruminants manufacture B-Complex

vitamins in their rumens. Exposure to sunlight allows the body to

manufacture Vitamin D. Commercial feeds are formulated for

specific classes of animals and for their needs.

Nutrient Deficiencies - Rickets

Nutritional Deficiencies - Goiter

Nutritional Deficiencies – White Muscle Disease

Nutritional Diseases - Dermatitis

Nutritional Diseases - Perakeratosis

Feed Additives

Non-nutritive substance added to promote rapid growth, increase feed efficiency, or to maintain or improve health.

Growth regulators, Antibiotics.

Antibiotics

Antibiotics are substances used to help prevent or control diseases.

Composition of Feeds

All feeds are composed of water and dry matter.

Water makes up 70% - 80% of most living things.

Dry feeds contain between 10% - 20% water.

Dry feed is made of organic matter, and ash or mineral.

Classifications of Feed Materials

Feed materials may be classified as either Concentrates or Roughages.

Concentrates include feed, or cereal grains – corn, wheat, oats, barley, rye.

Concentrates also include grain by-products; secondary products resulting from the production of a primary commodity.

Example: materials left over from making flour and alcohol.

Roughages – Three Types:

Dry Roughages; most important one is hay. Grass hays include Timothy, orchard grass, bromegrass.

Green Roughages; plant materials high in moisture content, including pasture grasses, root plants.

Silage; feed that results from storage and fermentation of green crops; corn silage is very important.

Roughages – dry, green or silage.