Unit 26: Animal Anatomy, Physiology and
Nutrition
Key Terms

 See page 533—this will be your assignment on
Tuesday!
Part I

 Nutrition in Human and Animal Health
 Anatomy and Physiology
Nutrition in Human and
Animal Health

 Proper health is connected to proper nutrition
 Scurvy, anorexia, obesity in humans
 ration: content of food eaten by an animal in 1 day
 Balanced ration: a ration that contains all of the
needed nutrients in the proper proportions and
amounts
 Deficiency diseases: diseases caused by an improper
balance of vitamins and minerals
Animal Anatomy and
Physiology

 The internal function and vital processes of animals
and their organs are referred to as animal
physiology.
 The various parts of the body are collectively known
as anatomy.
Skeletal System

 The skeletal system is made up of bones join
together by cartilage and ligaments.
 Provides support for the body
 Provides protection for the brain and soft organs
 Bone is the main component of the skeletal system.
 It is composed of 26% minerals (mostly calcium)
 Bone marrow produces the body’s blood cells and is
found inside the bone.
Muscular System

 The muscular system is the lean meat of the animal
and the part of the body that is used for human
consumption.
 Muscles provide movement in cooperation with the
skeletal system and support life (ex: heart, diaphragm)
 Voluntary muscles can be controlled by animals
 Involuntary muscles operate in the body without
control by the will of the animal
 Muscles are mostly composed of proteins which are
nutrients made up of amino acids.
Circulatory System

 The circulatory system is composed of the heart,
veins, arteries , capillaries and lymph system.
 This system transports food and oxygen to cells and
filters waste from the body
 Lymph gland secret disease-fighting materials into the
body.
 Vitamins, minerals, proteins and carbohydrates are
essential for the function of the circulatory system.
Respiratory System

 The respiratory system provides oxygen to the
blood of the animal and removes waste gases such as
CO2 from the blood.
 Composed of the nostrils, nasal cavity, pharynx,
larynx, trachea, and lungs
Nervous System

 The nervous system is composed of the central nervous
system and the peripheral nervous system
 The central nervous system includes the brain and spinal
cord.
 Responsible for coordinating the movements of animals
and responds to all of the senses (hearing, sight, touch,
taste, and smell)
 The peripheral nervous system controls the functions of
the body tissues, including organs.
 Nerves transmit messages to the brain from the outer parts
of the body
 The nervous system is primarily composed of soft tissues,
so proteins are important in maintaining health.
Urinary System

 The urinary system removes waste material from
the blood.
 Includes kidneys, bladder, ureters, and urethra
 The kidneys help regulate the makeup of blood and
help maintain other internal systems
 Abnormal levels of proteins can stress the system
Endocrine System

 The endocrine system or hormone system is a group
of ductless gland that release hormones into the
body
 Hormones are chemicals that regulate the activities of
the body.
 Examples: regulate growth, reproduction, milk
production and breathing rate
 Hormones are needed in VERY SMALL amounts
 Oxytocin stimulates milk let down in female animals
Digestive System

 The digestive system provides food for the body and
for all of it’s systems
 Three basic types of digestive systems:
 Polygastric (ruminant)
 Monogastric
 Poultry
Polygastic (ruminant)

 Ruminants are animals that have stomachs with
more than one compartment
 Ex: cattle and sheep
 The largest compartment is called the rumen and it
can store large amounts of roughage
 Roughage is hay, grass, silage or other high fiber feed.
 Ruminants have the ability to break down plant fibers
and use them for food better than non-ruminants.
 http://www.cleanvideosearch.com/media/action/yt
/watch?v=JSlZjgpF_7g
Monogastric System

 Monogastric means having a stomach with one
compartment.
 ex: swine, horses and most all other animals
 In monogastric systems most of the digestion takes
place in the small intestines.
 Monogastric animals are unable to break down large
amounts of roughage so their rations must contain
more concentrates.
 Concentrates are composed mostly of grains that are
low in fiber and high in total digestible nutrients.
Poultry Digestive
System

 Chickens swallow their food whole since they have
no teeth
 Food is stored in the crop and passed to the gizzard,
which grinds it up. It then passes on to the small
intestine for digestion.
 Poultry do not have true stomachs
Part II

 Major Classes of Nutrients
 Sources of Nutrients
 Symptoms of Nutrient Deficiencies
 Feed
Major classes of
Nutrients
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 Water
 Muscles and internal organs of animals contain 75%
water
 Water is the solution in which all nutrients are
dissolved or suspended for transport in the body
 Water reacts with chemicals compounds to help break
down food
 Water provides rigidity, allowing the body to maintain
its shape and also regulates body temperature
Major classes of
Nutrients

 Protein
 Major component of muscle and tissue
 Made up of amino acids
 Monogastic animals need specific amino acids,
ruminant animals need more quantity than quality
AMINO ACIDS ARE THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF LIFE!
Major classes of
Nutrients

 Carbohydrates
 Made up of sugars and starches
 Provide energy and heat to animals
 Carbs are used for growth, maintenance, work,
reproduction and lactation (milk production)
 Simple Sugars: fructose and galactose
 Compound Sugars: sucrose, maltose and lactose
 Complex forms of carbs: starch and cellulose
 Carbohydrates that are not quickly used by the body
turn into fat and are stored in the body.
Major classes of
Nutrients

 Minerals
 15 minerals that are essential to health:
 Calcium, phosphorus, sodium, chlorine, potassium,
sulfur, iron, iodine, cobalt, copper, fluorine, manganese,
molybdenum, selenium and zinc
 Supports the skeletal system, endocrine system and
soft tissues and fluids in the body
Major classes of
Nutrients

 Vitamins
 Only required in minute quantities
 Act as a catalyst for other body processes
 Used in blood clotting, bone formation, reproduction,
maintaining membrane health, producing milk and
preventing nervous system disorders
Major classes of
Nutrients

 Fat
 Only small amounts required
 Mostly used to improve taste of feed
 Necessary to carry fat-soluble vitamins
Sources of Nutrients
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 Proteins
 Major sources for animals: soybeans, peanuts,
cottonseed and linseed
 Feed consisting of ground oil seeds with the oil removed
is called oil meal
 Legume hay (peanut, alfalfa or clover) is a good plant
source of protein
 Animal protein contains more of the essential amino
acids needed than plant protein
 Ex: tankage, fish meal, blood meal, skim milk, whey,
feather meal and meat products
Sources of Nutrients

 Protein continued…
 Urea, a synthetic source of nitrogen made from air,
water and carbon, can also be used as a substitute for
some protein required by animals.
Sources of Nutrients

 Carbohydrates
 Major source: cereal grains
 Other sources: non-legume hay, grass and molasses
Sources of Nutrients

 Vitamins and Minerals
 Ruminants manufacture B-complex vitamins in their
rumens
 Exposure to sunlight provides vitamin D
 Contact with the soil and feed grown on fertile land
provide most of the v&m needed
 Supplements are available if needed
Symptoms of Nutrient
Deficiencies

 Discuss page 546
Rickets in humans and cattle.
Scurvy in humans
and guinea pigs
Feed Additives

 Feed additives are non-nutritive substances that are
added to promote rapid growth, feed efficiency or to
maintain or improve health.
 Two major groups: growth regulators and anitbiotics
 Antibiotics prevent or control diseases
 Common growth regulators include hormones like
progesterone, estrogen and testosterone
 Regulated by government
Composition of Feeds

 dry matter-the material left after all water has been
removed from the feed
Classification of Feed
Materials

 Concentrates and Roughages
 Concentrates are low in fiber and high in total
digestible nutrients (TDN)
 Mostly cereal grains
 Roughages are high in fiber and low in TDN
 3 types: dry, green and silage
 green roughages are plant materials with high moisture
contents
 Silage is the feed that results from the storage and
fermentation of green crops
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