Name:________________
Date:_________________
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Worksheet
Nutrition Deficiencies
Topic #3041
Ashlee Gibson
Read the situations or symptoms described below. Answer the questions by looking at
the deficiency charts included in the packet. With these situations, we are assuming
everything is caused by some type of deficiency.
1. Uncle Joe has a ewe that has had really stiff joints, if it isn’t arthritis, would there
be any vitamins or minerals you could suggest to check out?
2. The neighbor’s horse has constant diarrhea. By looking at the chart, would this
more likely be a vitamin deficiency or a mineral deficiency? And, what
specifically?
3. Bob’s cow has a few bald spots on her body. He can’t really find anywhere
where she is rubbing. Could you suggest any deficiencies?
4. Triple T Ranch has a horse in their herd that seems to have a constant nasal
discharge. They have ruled out any type of cold or sickness. Look at the chart
and decide what type of deficiency this could be.
5. Would poor, slow or retarded growth be an easily diagnosable deficiency from
this chart? Why/why not?
6. Mrs. Shim has 2 horses in a wooded corral for the winter. In spring she notices
that the horses had chewed the fencing? What would the deficiency be for these
horses?
7. What is anemia?
8. Define the following words found in the chart.
AnemiaCoagulation
Scurvy
Mineralization
Retinol-
Vitamin Deficiencies
Fat Soluble
Vitamins
Vitamin A
Function
Deficiency Signs
Required in retinol for night vision;
needed in epithelial cells that cover body
surfaces; needed for bone growth
Vitamin D
Enhanced calcium and potassium levels
allowing bone mineralization; prevents
tetany
Vitamin E
Promotes health
Vitamin K
Required for blood clotting
Night blindness; dry and
irritated eyes; respiratory
infection; reproductive
problems
Abnormal skeletal
development- lameness,
bowed, and crooked legs;
slowed growth
Failure of the reproductive
system; changed cell
permeability; muscular
lesions
Long blood clot time;
hemorrhages; in severe
cases, death
Thiamin (B1)
Promotes health
Riboflavin
(B2)
Niacin
Functions in coenzymes
Pantothenic
Acid
Needed in energy metabolism
Vitamin B6
Vitamin B12
Help with protein and nitrogen
metabolism; involved in formation of
red blood cells
Need in several enzyme systems
Folacin
Biotin
Used in a variety of metabolic reactions
Needed for several enzyme systems
Choline
Aids in transmission of nerve impulses
Vitamin C
Prevents scurvy; causes several
metabolic reactions to occur
Used by cells in energy metabolism
Anorexia, numbness,
weakness, and stiffness in
thighs, unsteady walk,
edema in feet and legs, and
painful along the spine
Reduced growth rate; skin
lesions; hair loss
Retarded growth; decreased
appetite; diarrhea; vomiting;
dermatitis
Slowed growth; dermatitis;
graying of the hair; fetal
death; skin lesions
Convulsions; lesions around
feet, face, and ears
Anemia, retardation; skin
pigmentation
Slow growth rate; anemia
Scaly skin; abnormalities of
the circulatory system
Fatty liver; hemorrhaging
kidney
Scurvy-edema, weight loss,
and diarrhea
Mineral Deficiencies
Macrominerals Function
Calcium (Ca)
Structural component of the skeleton;
controls the excitability of the nerves
and muscles; required for coagulation of
the blood
Phosphorus (P)
Magnesium
(Mg)
Component of the skeleton providing
structural support; aids in lipid transport
and metabolism
Needed for skeletal growth; needed for
chemical reactions in the muscles
Potassium (K)
Required to move sodium; helps to
uptake glucose and carbohydrates
Iodine (I)
Component of the thyroxin
Deficiency symptoms
Rickets or osteomalacia
develop- the bones become
soft and deformed; milk
fever occurs in cows; blood
clotting time increases
Rickets; depressed appetite;
may chew on wood or other
objects
Anorexia; reduced weight
gain; hyperemia of the ears
and other extremities
Slowed growth, unsteady
walk, overall muscle
weakenss
Goiter- enlargement of the
thyroid gland; dry skin,
brittle hair; young born
Iron (Fe)
Found in the hemoglobin in the blood
Selenium (Se)
Component of numerous enzymes
without hair; reproduction
problems
Amenia- common problem
among newborns; pale
color; shallow breathing;
rough hair; slow growth;
Nutritional muscular
dystrophy