Organ Monogastric Ruminant

Mouth Mechanical digestion, through

chewing, saliva production,
starts starch digestion
Mechanical digestion, through
chewing, saliva production, starts
starch digestion
Stomach One stomach which releases
acid and pepsin to break down
protein into amino acids
Mechanical digestion
Four-compartment stomach
Rumen, Reticulum, Omasum,
Abomasum (true stomach)
Fermentation of carbohydrates,
release of VFAs as energy
source
Small
intestine
Releases enzymes to break
down starch, fats and protein,
and absorbs glucose, lipids and
amino acids into bloodstream
Releases enzymes to break
down starch, fats and protein,
and absorbs glucose, lipids and
amino acids into bloodstream
Large
intestine
Absorbs water Absorbs water
Many health, reproductive and production problems can
be prevented with good nutrition.
Poor nutrition results in:
Poor conception rates
Lower calf crop
Poor weaning weights
Difficult births
Higher feed bills because of over feeding
More infectious disease due to decreased immune
system protection


There are only two sources where an animal can
obtain energy.
One is from the food it ingests
The other is from the energy stored in its body in
the form of fat.



A lot of research has gone into the development
of feeds that give animals exactly what they
need to remain healthy and to perform at their
peak.
As animals grow and mature, their nutritional
needs change.
Younger animals need diets high in protein.
As the animal matures, the animal needs a diet
higher in carbohydrates.
Breeding animals nutritional needs change
according to their production cycle.


Water
Carbohydrates
Protein
Fats
Minerals
Vitamins


Water is essential for life:
Used in blood, milk, urine, sweat, removal of
wastes, digestion, nutrient transport
Makes up 75-95% of weight
A loss of 20% causes death
Suitability determined by:
Water Quality
Environmental factors
Animal factors
Salinity no more than 640mg/L, salty water
increases intake to regulate salt balance in the body
pH below 6.5 or above 8.5 causes digestive
upsets
Toxic elements iron, magnesium, arsenic, lead,
fluorides, mercury, selenium
Algal growth blue green algae releases toxic
compounds, which kill stock

Ambient temperature animals use more water for
evaporative cooling in hot weather, can increase by
78% in extreme conditions
Water temperature animals dont like to drink
warm water, should be at or below body temp
Drought stock need more water to digest more
fibrous feeds
Pasture composition green lush pasture can
supply needs, dry pasture is less digestible, so stock
need more water


Animal Factors
Age and condition young, pregnant, lactating and
aged/weakened stock need more water
Breed British breed sheep need 20% more than
Merinos in hot weather. Bos indicus breeds of cattle
need less than bos taurus breeds.


Stock Water needed (L/head/day)
Adult Dry Sheep - grass 2-6
Ewes with lambs 4-10
Adult dry cattle 35-80
Lactating cows 110-150
Requirements are influenced by:
Stage of Production or Growth
Breed
Weight
Age
Sex
Growth Rate

Energy is required for all metabolic processes
Provided by Carbohydrates, Proteins and Fats


Net Energy
Energy for maint & prod
Minus heat energy
Metabolisable Energy
Available Energy Minus heat energy
Digestible Energy (DE)
Absorbed Energy
Minus urine energy & methane
emissions
Gross Energy (GE)
Food Energy Minus faecal energy
Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen molecules
Glucose highly digestible carbohydrate in
molasses
Starch very digestible carbohydrate in grains
storage carbohydrate
Cellulose less digestible carbohydrate in
grass/straw structural carbohydrate that makes
up 75% of plants
Provides energy for maintenance and production
What could be the issues with feeding too much
highly digestible carbohydrates?

The differences
between the two is
that the CHO
glucose units are
just arranged
differently.
Beta bonds of
cellulose are harder
to break than alpha
bonds of starch
Starch broken down
by amylase
Cellulose broken
down by cellulase
Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen & Sulfur
50% of the Animals Liveweight
Amino acids that are needed for muscle, nerves,
enzymes, blood, and connective tissue.
Where does the protein that ruminants use
come from?
The Microbes in the Rumen

As is the case with water, some animals need
more protein in their diets than do others.
Young rapidly growing animals need more
protein than do mature animals.
A cow or sheep that is giving large amounts of
milk needs more protein than an animal that is
not lactating.
There are over 20 different types of amino
acids.
There are ten that are essential that the animal
must obtain from its feed, some the microbes
can make for it.

Methionine
Phenylalanine
Threonine
Tryptophan
Valine
Arginine
Histidine
Isoleucine
Leucine
Lysine

Animals may not be able to digest all of the
protein in a particular feed.
The total amount of protein in a feed is called
the crude protein.
Crude protein is calculated by analyzing the
nitrogen content and multiplying that
percentage by 6.25.
Digestible protein is the protein that can be
digested in the feed and used by the animal.
Digestible protein is usually abut 50% 80% of
the crude protein
Modern livestock operations no longer just
balance a feed ration based on the percent of
protein.
Now the feed formulas are based on the types
and amounts of amino acids that are needed by
a particular group of animals.
The process of balancing feed rations based on
amino acid contents is so complicated that it is
done by computers.
Two types of feed may have the same
percentage of protein but have different
percentages of the essential amino acids.
A different amino acid is needed for growth than
is needed for milk production.
Fats are part of a group of organic compounds
known as lipids.
These compounds will not dissolve in water.
Cholesterol is included in this category of
organic compounds.
Fats are found in both plants and animals.
They contain about 2.25 times the energy of
carbohydrates.
They serve as concentrated storage places for
excess energy.
When the body does not take in enough energy
to perform the normal functions, these reserves
of fat are used.


Certain acids referred to as essential fatty acids
are also derived from fats.
These acids are necessary for the production of
some hormones.
Sheep dont actually eat fat, oil or wax, so where
do the lipids come from?
The microbes in the rumen produce them as
Volatile Fatty Acids
These are the major source of lipids and energy
for ruminants




Inorganic salts that cant be made by the animal
Macrominerals required in large amounts
Calcium, Phosphorus, Potassium,
Sodium, Chlorine, Sulphur, Magnesium
Microminerals required in small amounts
Iron, Zinc, Copper, Molybdenum, Selenium
Manganese, Iodine, Cobalt, Fluorine,


Minerals make up 3-5% of the body.
Of that 3-5%, calcium makes up one-half of the
bodys minerals.
Phosphorus makes up about one-fourth of the
bodys minerals.
Calcium and phosphorus make up the largest
portion (75%) of the total mineral content in the
body.


Vitamins are used in small amounts but are
essential for life.
They are used in the normal body processes of
growth, production, and reproduction.
They are vitally important in providing the animal
with the ability to fight stress, disease and
maintain good health.


Organic substance that can either be water or
fat soluble
The animal can synthesise some, but not others
Required in small amounts for essential
functions
A, C, E
B, B2, B6, B12
Nicotinamide
Biotin
Pantothenic acid
Choline
Folic Acid


Vitamin A is not found in feed but is converted by
the animals body from carotene which is found
in green leafy forages from pastures, hay and
silage.
Vitamin A can be stored in fats and the liver for
many months and will be used when forage
quality is low.
Supplementation is common for ruminants and
swine.


Thiamine is a coenzyme in energy metabolism.
Sources include green forage, well cured hays,
and cereal grains. It is synthesized in the rumen.
Riboflavin is important as a part of two
coenzymes that function in energy and protein
metabolism. Riboflavin is added to swine rations
and may be needed in ruminant rations.
Niacin is part of an enzyme system essential in
the metabolism of fat, carbohydrates and
proteins. Niacin in grains is largely unavailable
to non ruminants and supplementation is often
needed.


Folic acid is needed in body cell metabolism.
B12 functions as a coenzyme in several
metabolic reactions and is an essential part of
red blood cell maturation. Most swine rations are
supplemented with vitamin B12.
Vitamin C is essential in the formation of the
protein collagen. Vitamin C is found in citrus
fruits, green leafy forages and well cured hays.
Animals normally can synthesize sufficient
quantities to meet their needs.


Folic acid is needed in body cell metabolism.
B12 functions as a coenzyme in several
metabolic reactions and is an essential part of
red blood cell maturation. Most swine rations are
supplemented with vitamin B12.
Vitamin C is essential in the formation of the
protein collagen. Vitamin C is found in citrus
fruits, green leafy forages and well cured hays.
Animals normally can synthesize sufficient
quantities to meet their needs.


Nutrient requirements change with production
and growth stages
Lamb
Weaner
Puberty (Hogget)
Maturity (Dry Ewe)
Late Pregnancy
Lactation