| Question |
Answer |
| What is nutrition? |
The series of processes by which an organism takes in and assimilates food for promoting growth and maintaining body tissues and metabolism. "the study of nutrients" |
| What are the three classifications of carbohydrates? |
monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysacharides |
| Nutrient |
Any chemical element or compound in the diet that supports normal growth, reproduction, lactation, or maintenence of life processes |
| What are the six classes of nutrients? |
carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, vitamins, minerals, water |
| Antoine Lavosier |
The father of the science of nutrition. He was a french chemist. He invented the bomb claorimeter |
| What sciences are involved in animal nutrition? |
microbiology, physiology, endocrinology, biophysics, math/stats, genetics, molecular biology, chemistry, biochemistry |
| Carbohydrates |
(CH2O)n whre n is 3 or more. They form the largest part of an animal's diet. They are formed in photosynthesis by plants |
| What are some monosacharides? |
Glucose, Fructose, Galactose |
| What are some disacharides? |
sucrose (glucose + fructose), lactose (glucose + galactose), maltose (glucose + glucose, α linked), cellobiose (glucose + glucose, β linked) |
| What are some polysacharides? |
starch, glycogen, fiber |
| What is the function of carbohydrates? |
It is a source of energy |
| What is the source of carbohydrates? |
Most plant feedstuffs like grains (starch) and forages (cellulose) |
| How are carbohydrates digested by non-ruminants? |
Starch is broken down into glucose and absorbed by the small intestine. Fiber is not digested until it reaches the hindgut |
| How are carbohydrates digested by ruminants? |
starch and fiber are converted to volatile fatty acids (VFAs) in the rumen, and then absorbed throught the papilla of the rumen |
| Lipids |
made of C, H, and O. They are insoluble in water. They have 2.25 times higher energy than carbs. |
| What are the three classifications of lipids? |
Fats, Oils, Others |
| What are the characteristics of a fat? |
Solid at room temperature, and consist of saturated fatty acids |
| What are the characteristics of oils? |
Liquids at room temperature and consist of unsaturated fatty acids |
| What are some other lipids? |
Sterols (cholesterol), phospholipids (cell membrane), waxes (myelin sheath, lanolin) |
| Gastrointestinal Tract (GIT) |
That part of the alimentary canal that includes the stomach and intestines |
| Digestion |
The breakdown of large insoluble molecules into simpler compounds that can pass throught the mucous membrane of the alimentary canal and into the blood or lymph |
| what are the three types of digestion? |
mechanical, chemical, and microbial |
| Alimentary canal |
tube extending from the mouth to the anus through which food passes, is digested, absorbed, and solid wastes excreted |
| Prehension |
taking in of feed or water |
| mastication |
reduction of feed particle size, generally by chewing |
| deglutition |
act of swallowing |
| regurgitation |
casting up of undigested material |
| absorption |
transfer of feed substances from GIT to the circulating blood or lymph system |
| excretion |
removal of wastes |
| Herbivore |
plant based diet |
| carnivore |
animal based diet (meat) |
| omnivore |
both animal and plant based diet |
| What are some animals that are monogastrics? |
Chickens, pigs, turkeys, dogs, cats |
| What are some animals that are ruminants? |
Beef and dairy cattle, sheep, goats, deer |
| What are some animals that are hind gut fermentors? |
horses and rabbits |
| What are the three types of digestive systems? |
monogastric, ruminant, hind gut fermentor |
| monogastric |
simple stomach |
| ruminant |
multi - compartmented stomach |
| hind gut fermentor |
simple stomach, very large and complex large intestine |
| stomach (monogastric) |
a food storage organ that is very acidic (pH 2.0). enzymatic digestion of protein begins here. Contains rennin for curdling of milk protein |
| liver |
Center of metabolic activity in the body, Major role in digestive process it to provide bile salts to small intestine |
| Gall bladder |
attached to underside of liver and is used for the storage of bile |
| mouth |
mechanical breakdown of food by chewing (reduces particle size, increases surface area for action of enzymes) |
| saliva |
added as a lubricant and, in some species, contains amylase to begin starch digestion |
| esophagus |
tube connecting the mouth to the stomach |
| pancreas |
provides a potent mixture of buffers and digestive enzymes to the small intestine to help in digestion of lipids, carbohydrates, and proteins |
| What are the three sections of the small intestine? |
Duodenum, jejunum, and ileum |
| small intestine |
site of final stages of chemical enzymatic digestion. this is where almost all nutrients are absorbed in nonruminents. Lined with villi to increase surface area |
| cecum |
blind pouch (only 1 entry, exit) bacterial fermentation especially in the horse occurs here. Production and absorption of VFAs |
| large intestine |
site of water absorption from the G.I. tract. Bacterial fermentation. Productionand absorption of volatile fatty acids |
| Rectum |
feces formed and expelled through the anus |
| beak |
no lips, no teeth, and no chewing |
| crop (diverticulum) |
pouch attached to the esophagus that provides storage for consumed food. foodstuffs moistend and softened |
| Proventriculus |
Glandular stomach where the first significant amount of digestive juices are added |
| Gizzard (ventriculus) |
a muscular organ used to grind and break up food. May contain grit (small stones) eaten by the animal |
| cloaca |
common chamber into which the digestive, urinary, and reproductive tracts open |
| What organ is the major difference between monogastrics and hind gut fermentors? |
The large intestine is exceptionally large and complex in hind gut fermentors |
| What is special about the large intestine in hind gut fermentors? |
Analogous to the rumen in ruminants. Microbes digest structural carbohydrates (cellulose) to VFAs |
| Stomach (ruminants) |
defining organ of ruminants. Has four compartments: the rumen, reticulum, omasum, and abomasum |
| What is the difference between monogastrics and ruminants? |
The multi-compartmental stomach in rumenants in which microbial digestion occurs |
| What are the compartments of a ruminant stomach? |
Rumen, reticulum, omasum, abomasum |
| rumen |
Large, anaerobic fermentation vat. Houses microorganisms which digest roughages to make VFAs. VFAs are then absorbed. (Papilla assist in the absorption) |
| rumination |
Basically "cud chewing". involves a bolus of previously eaten food carried back into the mouth by reverse peristalsis. Fluid is sqeezed out and reswallowed. Bolus is rechewed and reswallowed |
| Esophageal groove |
tube-like fold of tissue. sucklin motion causes reflex contraction and forms a channel to bypass the rumen and reticulum |
| Why is the esophageal groove so important? |
The rumen and reticulum are still underdeveloped in calves. It also prevents microbial degradation of milk in the rumen |
| Eructation |
"Belching". fermentation of food in the rumen generates enormous quantities of gas. This is how ruminants get rid of fermentation gases. |
| Reticulum |
contains microorganisms. Provides additional area for fermentation. Lining has honeycomb structure. |
| Omasum |
A heavy, hard organ with a lining that has many fold. Function not well understood. May absorb residual VFA's |
| Abomasum |
The true, glandualr stomach. Secretes acids and functions very similarly to monogastric stomach |
| What is the structure of fatty acids? |
Long C chains usually even numbers of C from 16 to 22 C long. Saturated or unsaturated depending on how the atoms are bonded together |
| Describe the structure of a saturated fatty acid. |
Maximum amount of H attached to C because there are no C-C double bonds. forms a straight chain. These chains are tightly packed which is why they form solids |
| Describe the structure of unsatureated fatty acids. |
Where there is a C-C double bond, it forms a kink in the chain. They are packed loosely which is why they are liquid at room temperature |
| Triglyceride |
A glycerol and three fatty acids. Makes up the structure of fats and oils. Makes up the majority of dietary lipids |
| What is the function of a lipid? |
energy storage, insulation, and carrier for absorption of fat soluble vitamins |
| What are the sources of lipids? |
animal products and some plant products(legume seeds, ceral grains and forages) |
| How are lipids digested in nonruminants? |
Digested into fatty acids in the small intestine. Tryglycerides broken down to free fatty acids, and absorbed from the small intestine |
| How are lipids digested in ruminangts? |
Lipids undergo microbial modification in the rumen. Tryglycerides broken into free fatty acids which are then biohydrogenated. Basically unsatureated fatty acids are converted to saturated fatty acids and then it is absorbed through the small intestine |
| Protein |
made of C, H, O, and N (and some S) composed of amino acids |
| what is the structure of a protein? |
Built from amino acids joined by peptide bonds |
| essential amino acids |
Must be supplied in the diet because they cannot be produce by the body or the body can't produce them in high enough quantities |
| What are the functions of protein? |
basic structural unit of the body, used extensively in metabolism, can be used for energy |
| What structural units of the body are composed of protein? |
muscle, connective tissue, skin, hair, nails, hooves, horns, blood |
| What metabolic units of the body are composed of protein? |
enzymes, some hormones, immune bodies |
| What are the sources of protein? |
Animal products, some plant products (legume seeds, ceral grains, forages), non protein nitrogen (ruminants only) |
| Non-protein nitrogen |
Urea can be fed to ruminants because it supplies nitrogen to microbes which use it to make protein |
| How is protein digested in nonruminants? |
Some digestion in the stomach, but mostly in the small intestine. Protein is broken down into amino acids and absorbed through the small intestine |
| How is protein digested by ruminants? |
Microbial fermentation breaks protein into amino acids which are made into ammonia. Microbes use the ammonia to make new amino acids. Microbes wash out of the rumen and are digested in the small intestine |
| Vitamins |
Organic compounds that are metabollically related. They are required for normal metabolism and must be obtained from the diet |
| What are the calssifications of vitamins? |
fat soluble vitamins and water soluble vitamins |
| what are the fat soluble vitamins? |
A, D, E, and K |
| What is the importance of vitamin A, and what happens if there is a deficiency? |
(retinol) involved with retina dim light photoreceptore. a deficiency causes night blindness |
| What is the importance of vitamin D? |
(cholecaliferol) involved with bone mineralization. deficiency causes rickets and osteomalacia |
| What is the importance of vitamin E? |
(tocopherol) prevention of lipid oxidation. deficiency causes muscle degradation causing a form of muscular dystophy |
| What is the importance of vitamin K? |
involved in blood clotting. deficiency causes an inability of blood to clot (swee clover disease, rat poison) |
| Overall, what are the general symptoms of water soluble vitamin deficiency? |
overall weakness and impaired immune function |
| In general, what is the importance of water soluble vitamins? |
used in the metabolism of other nutrients |
| what does niacin deficiency cause? |
Pellagra? skin lesions |
| what does a vitamin B12 deficiency cause? |
pernicious anemia(large red blood celss lose ability to carry oxygen) |
| what does thiamin deficiency cause? |
sometimes caused by too much sulfer in the diet. causes polioencephalomalacia (PEM) messes with animal's brains and they basically go crazy |
| what does vitamin c deficiency cause? |
scurvy, bloody gums, scaly skin |
| what are the water soluble vitamins talked about in class? |
niacin, vitamin B12, folic acid, thiamin, vitamin c |
| Minerals |
inorganic nutrients in feed reffered to as ash |
| what are the classifications of minerals? |
major/macro and trace/micro |
| what are the macrominerals? |
required in relatively large amounts. Ca, P, Na, Cl, Mg, K, S |
| what are the micro minerals? |
needed in very small amounts. Fe, Cu, Mn, Co, I, F, Se, Zn |
| What is the importance of calcium? |
bone mineralization, muscle contraction, blood clotting |
| What are the syndromes of calcium deficiency? |
rickets (young animals), osteomalacia and osteoporaosis, milk fever (porturient paresis) |
| What is the importance of phosphorus? |
bone mineralization, component of phospholipids, component of ATP |
| What happens if there is a phosphorus deficiency? |
rickets, osteomalacia, osteoporosis, pica (abnormal apppetite) |
| Chromosomes |
Rod-like structures in the nucleus that contain the genetic material |
| How many chromosome pairs does a horse have? |
32 |
| How many chromosome pairs does a cow have? |
30 |
| How many chromosome pairs does a sheep have? |
27 |
| How many chormosome pairs does a hog have? |
19 |
| How many chromosome pairs does a human have? |
23 |
| Gene |
small segment of a chromosome the smallest functional unit of inheritance |
| Locus |
location on a chromosome that holds a gene. There is one on each of a pair of chromosomes |
| Complete dominance |
The effect of one allele covers up the effect of the other allele |
| Incomplete dominance |
Each of the three genotypes can be recognized independantly at a locus. IE. red/roan/white coat color in shorthorn cattle |
| Overdominance |
The value of the heterozygous genotype is superior to the two homozygotes |
| Epistasis |
involves the interaction of alleles at two or more loci |
| sex limited inheritance |
only expressed by one sex but the genes are on the autosomes. ie. milk production |
| sex influenced inheritance |
genes are on the autosomes, but gene action is influenced by sex. ie. baldness |
| sex linkage gene action |
action of a gene located on the x chromosome. ie. red/green color blindness |
| polygenic traits |
a trait affected by many genes with no single gene having any overriding influence. ie. milk production, growth |
| heterosis "hybrid vigor" |
an increase in the perfomance of crossbred individuals, over that of purebreds, most noticably in traits like fertility and survivability |
| heritability |
a measure of the relationship between heredity (genotype) and how well those traits are expressed (phenotype). basically, the degree to which the offspring resemble their parents |
Beef Production
