FEED NUTRIENTS
Agriscience 332
Animal Science
#8647-A
TEKS: (c)(3)(B)
Photo by Lynn Betts courtesy
of USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
Introduction
Feeding livestock requires the
producer to supply adequate
amounts of nutrients to the
animals based on their
nutritional needs, not just
giving animals any available
feed.
Photo by Lynn Betts courtesy
of USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
Livestock and poultry require
adequate amounts of nutrients
from six classes for growth,
maintenance, finishing, work,
reproduction, and lactation.
Photo by Lynn Betts courtesy
of USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
The producer must consider
the animal’s nutritional needs
based on the species and
function of the animal when
selecting feeds.
The producer must also
consider availability and cost
of feeds.
Photo by Lynn Betts courtesy
of USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
Any food that sustains life
contains nutrients which the
animal converts into useful
forms via the digestive system.
Blood absorbs nutrients from
the digestive system and carries
them throughout the body.
Photo by Lynn Betts courtesy
of USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
Nutrients pass through capillary
walls and enter body cells to
provide nourishment and
energy for life processes.
Photo by Lynn Betts courtesy
of USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
Nutrients can either be essential
or non-essential, depending on
the class of the animal.
An essential nutrient is one that
the body cannot produce and
must be supplied by the feed.
Photo by Lynn Betts courtesy
of USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
A non-essential nutrient is one
that can be synthesized in the
body.
Classes of Nutrients
There are six classes of
nutrients that must be supplied
by daily feed rations.
Photo by Lynn Betts courtesy
of USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
• Protein
• Minerals
• Carbohydrates
• Vitamins
• Fats and Oils
• Water
Protein
Proteins are complex organic
macromolecules that always
contain carbon, hydrogen,
oxygen, and nitrogen; some
also contain sulfur or
phosphorus.
Photo by Lynn Betts courtesy
of USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
Proteins consist of one or
more chains of amino acids
and are the fundamental
components of all body cells.
Photo by Lynn Betts courtesy
of USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
Proteins make up enzymes,
hormones, antibodies, and
other substances necessary
for proper body function.
Proteins are essential for
growth and repair of tissues.
Photo by Lynn Betts courtesy
of USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
Proteins can be obtained
from feeds containing meat,
fish, egg, milk, and legume
products.
Photo by Lynn Betts courtesy
of USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
During digestion, proteins are
broken down into amino acids,
which are carried by the blood
to the body’s cells.
Photo by Lynn Betts courtesy
of USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
Non-ruminant (single stomach)
animals can manufacture 12 of
the 22 amino acids required.
They cannot store the amino
acids in their bodies, so they
must get the other 10 amino
acids daily in protein feeds.
Photo by Lynn Betts courtesy
of USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
Ruminants can manufacture
all amino acids required by
their bodies, as long as they
have a nitrogen source from
which the microbes in the
rumen can construct essential
amino acids.
Photo by Lynn Betts courtesy
of USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
Sources of Protein:
There are two sources of
proteins, plant protein and
animal protein.
Photo by Lynn Betts courtesy
of USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
Plant proteins come directly or
indirectly from plants.
Sources of plant proteins
include soybean meal,
cottonseed meal, linseed meal,
and alfalfa meal.
Photo by Lynn Betts courtesy
of USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
Animal proteins are usually
by-products of fish, dairy, and
meat processing plants.
Sources of animal protein
include tankage, meat scraps,
fish meal, and dried milk.
Photo by Lynn Betts courtesy
of USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
Because of BSE (Mad Cow’s
Disease), in 1997 the FDA
prohibited the use of
mammalian protein in the
manufacturing of feeds for
ruminants.
Photo by Lynn Betts courtesy
of USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
Classes of Proteins:
Proteins are classified based
on digestibility as either crude
protein or digestible protein.
Photo by Lynn Betts courtesy
of USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
Crude protein is the total
amount of protein contained in
a feedstuff, including digestible
and non-digestible.
Photo by Lynn Betts courtesy
of USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
Digestible protein is the
percentage of the crude protein
that can be easily digested by
the animal.
An animal digests approximately
80% of the crude protein in
feedstuff.
Photo by Lynn Betts courtesy
of USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are organic
compounds that contain only
carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen,
usually in a 1:2:1 ratio.
Photo by Lynn Betts courtesy
of USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
Carbohydrates are produced by
photosynthetic plants; they
include sugars, starches,
celluloses, and gums.
Carbohydrates, which can be
found in feed grains, serve as a
major energy source for
animals.
Carbohydrates make up almost
75% of an animal’s ration;
excess carbohydrates produce
fat in an animal.
Photo by Lynn Betts courtesy
of USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
Types of Carbohydrates:
There are two types of
carbohydrates based on
digestibility, nitrogen-free
extract and crude fiber.
Photo by Lynn Betts courtesy
of USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
Nitrogen-free extract consists
of sugars and starches, such
as those found in grains.
It is highly digestible and
considered the more soluble
form of carbohydrate.
Photo by Lynn Betts courtesy
of USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
Crude fiber comes from highly
fibrous plants and cannot be
easily digested by animals.
Photo by Lynn Betts courtesy
of USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
Fats and Oils
Like carbohydrates, fats and
oils provide energy for animals.
Fats and oils are the densest
forms of energy, providing 2.25
times more energy than
carbohydrates, and are derived
from plants and animals.
Photo by Lynn Betts courtesy
of USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
At room temperature, fats are
solids and oils are liquids.
Animals require only small
amounts of fats and oils, but
they are very important
nutrients in the ration.
Photo by Lynn Betts courtesy
of USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
Minerals
Minerals are inorganic elements
that are necessary for the
maintenance of life and good
health.
Photo by Lynn Betts courtesy
of USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
Some minerals are essential
components of body tissues,
while others help regulate
metabolic activities.
Minerals are divided into two
groups, based on their
availability and animals’ needs.
• Macro minerals
• Trace minerals (micro)
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of USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
Macro minerals are required in
larger quantities than trace
minerals and must be supplied
in the feed ration.
An overabundance of any
macro mineral is harmful to
the animal.
Photo by Lynn Betts courtesy
of USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
Macro Minerals:
• Calcium (Ca)
• Phosphorus (P)
• Sodium (Na)
• Chlorine (Cl)
• Potassium (K)
Photo by Lynn Betts courtesy
of USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
• Magnesium (Mg)
Calcium and phosphorus are
the most abundant of the
minerals in a feed ration.
All biochemical reactions
require calcium and
phosphorus.
Photo by Lynn Betts courtesy
of USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
The calcium to phosphorus
ratio (1.5 to 1) is important in
feed rations.
Calcium is necessary for
heartbeat regulation, blood
clotting, muscle contractions,
and bone and teeth
maintenance.
Photo by Lynn Betts courtesy
of USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
Phosphorus is an essential
constituent of protoplasm,
bones, and teeth.
Photo by Lynn Betts courtesy
of USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
Sodium and chlorine are
usually found together as
sodium chloride (NaCl or
common salt).
Salt helps maintain acidity
levels in body fluids and
proper pressure in body cells.
Photo by Lynn Betts courtesy
of USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
Hydrochloric acid, which is
produced by the stomach,
contains chlorine.
Photo by Lynn Betts courtesy
of USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
Potassium helps maintain
proper acid levels in body
fluids and pressure in body
cells.
Potassium is also required in
some enzymatic reactions in
carbohydrate metabolism
and protein synthesis.
Photo by Lynn Betts courtesy
of USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
Magnesium is necessary for
utilizing energy in the body
and for bone growth.
Photo by Lynn Betts courtesy
of USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
Trace minerals or microminerals are needed by
animals in very small
amounts, but are essential
for performing many body
functions.
Photo by Lynn Betts courtesy
of USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
Trace minerals:
• Copper (Cu)
• Zinc (Zn)
• Fluorine (F)
• Iodine (I)
• Manganese (Mn) • Cobalt (Co)
• Selenium (Se)
• Molybdenum (Mo)
Photo by Lynn Betts courtesy
of USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
• Iron (Fe)
Trace minerals are involved in
performing the following body
functions:
• Growth of bones, soft tissues,
and teeth;
• Blood and body fluid
processes;
• Vitamin utilization;
Photo by Lynn Betts courtesy
of USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
• Regulation of chemical
processes;
• Reproduction;
• Digestion;
• Body tissue repair;
• Release of body heat for
energy needs;
Photo by Lynn Betts courtesy
of USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
• Muscle activity; and
• Internal organ functioning.
Photo by Lynn Betts courtesy
of USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
Vitamins
Vitamins are organic compounds
needed in small amounts by the
body for growth, maintenance,
reproduction, and lactation.
Unlike minerals, vitamins do not
build body tissues.
Photo by Lynn Betts courtesy
of USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
Vitamins are obtained naturally
from plant and animal feedstuff.
Photo by Lynn Betts courtesy
of USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
There are two types of
vitamins based on solubility
and storage in the body:
• Fat-soluble vitamins, and
• Water-soluble vitamins.
Photo by Lynn Betts courtesy
of USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
Fat-soluble vitamins can be
stored in the body.
Large amounts of fat-soluble
vitamins can be deadly to an
animal.
Photo by Lynn Betts courtesy
of USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
Fat-soluble Vitamins:
• Vitamin A
• Vitamin D
• Vitamin E
• Vitamin K
Photo by Lynn Betts courtesy
of USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
Water-soluble vitamins
cannot be stored in the body.
It is important that there is a
regular intake of adequate
amounts of water-soluble
vitamins.
Photo by Lynn Betts courtesy
of USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
Water-soluble Vitamins:
• Thiamin (Vitamin B1)
• Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)
• Pyridoxine (Vitamin B6)
• Vitamin B12
• Folic Acid
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of USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
• Biotin (Vitamin H)
• Choline
• Inositol
• Niacin (Nicotinic Acid)
• Pantothenic Acid
• Vitamin C
Photo by Lynn Betts courtesy
of USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
Water
All animals require water for
body functions.
Water is the largest component
of bodies, constituting
approximately 50% of body
mass.
Photo by Lynn Betts courtesy
of USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
Water is necessary for the
following body functions:
• digestion and absorption of
nutrients;
• removal of waste;
• production of milk;
• shaping of cells; and
Photo by Lynn Betts courtesy
of USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
• regulating body temperature.
The animal’s feeding habits
directly affect the amount of
water consumed.
Animals require approximately
three pounds (about 1/3 gallon)
of clean water for each pound
of solid feed eaten.
Photo by Lynn Betts courtesy
of USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
Summary
Animals need adequate
nutrition for their bodies to
function properly.
Photo by Lynn Betts courtesy
of USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
A producer must know what
nutrients are required in an
animal’s diet, based on the
purpose of the animal, and
provide the animal with the
correct nutrition.
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Instructional Materials Service
Texas A&M University
2588 TAMUS
College Station, Texas 77843-2588
http://www-ims.tamu.edu
2006
Photo by Lynn Betts courtesy
of USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service.