Nutrition Vocab
Nutrition
process of providing or obtaining the food necessary for health and growth, based on life stage and body requirements
Cattle, sheep, goats
Diets are mostly comprised of roughages.
Concentrates are fed to provide a variety of nutrients.
Beak
Pecks and takes in feed whole
Accessory Organs
the liver, pancreas, and gallbladder release digestive juices into the small intestines to aid in digestion.
External opening and the end of the digestive, urinary, and reproductive systems
Excretes solid (feces) and liquid (urine) waste, and lays eggs (females only)
Supplements
Feed material that contains a specific nutrient or included for a specific purpose
Swine and Poultry
diets are composed primarily of concentrates
Esophagus
Muscular tube
Guides food from beak to crop
Small intestine
Long coiled tube, divided into three sections—the duodenum, the jejunum, and the ileum
Chyme is mixed with bile, pancreatic juice, and intestinal juice.
Intestinal juice is secreted by the intestinal wall and contains enzymes that break down proteins and sugars.
Primary site of nutrient absorption by the villi
Nutrient
a single feed component in a form and at a level that will help support the life of an animal
Diet
feed and water that an animal receives
Dogs
Typically fed commercially processed varieties
Puppies need a diet higher in protein than adult dogs.
Food intake should be regulated by activity level.
Crop
Oval sac-like structure between esophagus and proventriculus
Stores and softens feed from saliva secretions
Ceca
Unlike other animals, birds have two ceca.
“Blind” pouches are located between the small and large intestines.
Contain soft, undigested feed
Herbivore
Animals that eat a plant-based diet
Ration
total amount and kind of feed that an animal is provided during a 24-hour period
Cats
Typically fed commercially processed varieties
Cats need twice as much protein as dogs.
Approximately 10% of their diet should be fat.
Proventriculus
true stomach where gastric acids and enzymes aid in the digestive process
Large intestine
Tube-like structure, larger in diameter when compared to small intestines; filled with digested feed
Absorbs water and adds mucus to the undigested feed to form feces
Carnivore
Animals that eat an animal-based diet
Roughages
feed ingredients with crude fiber levels over 18%
Rabbits and Pocket Pets
Best to use pelleted commercial feeds and keep diet consistent
Avoid overfeeding them leafy green vegetables.
If you mix a ration, it should have a wide range of food.
Gizzard
Oval-shaped muscular that is purplish in color; located between the proventriculus and small intestine
Feed is crushed and mixed with digestive juices by muscular contractions.
Contains grit and gravel to assist in crushing feed particles
Cloaca
Enlarged part of digestive tract located just before the vent
Digestive and reproductive tracts combine and prepare for excretion of waste or eggs.
Omnivore
Animals that eat items of plant and animal origin in their diet