What do animals eat? What do feeds provide? • What is a nutrient? – Chemical substance that provides nourishment for the body • What types of nutrients are there? What types of nutrients are there? Types of Nutrients… • Water – the MOST IMPORTANT – Animal’s body is 70% water – Important for nutrient transport, waste removal, and digestion – Supply CLEAN, FRESH SUPPLY daily!!! Types of Nutrients… • Carbohydrates – Provide ENERGY!! – Energy needed to grow and perform – Examples include grain, hays – Makes up over 80% of beef ration Types of Nutrients… • Protein – Needed for growth and development – Growing/finishing cattle will require between 12-15% Are animals different… • In how they use nutrients? –YES! • In what we feed them? –YES! • Why? Farm Animals Simple Stomach System Complex Stomach System Non-ruminant Ruminant (Monogastric) Examples of Ruminants Let’s take a look at a ruminant! Digestive tract anatomy ABOMASUM RUMEN MOUTH CECUM ESOPHAGUS LARGE INTESTINE OMASUM SMALL INTESTINE RETICULUM So what does each part do? • Mouth: – Reduces food size (chewing) • Esophagus: – Transport to stomach (swallowing) – Regurgitation (cud-chewing) So what does each part do? • Stomach: 4 compartments: • Reticulum (honeycomb) • Rumen (fermentation) • Omasum (many plies) • Abomasum (true stomach) So what does each part do? • Reticulum (honeycomb) – Traps foreign material (nails, wire, etc.) • Rumen (fermentation) – Largest of the 4 compartments – Contains microbes (bacteria, protozoa) – Microbes digest feeds Partners! – Animal digests microbes RUMEN HAY RUMEN So what does each part do? • Omasum (many plies) – “Regulator” – Regulates flow from rumen to abomasum • Abomasum (true stomach) – Similar to yours! – Begin digestion of microbes