Basic Nutrition Concepts
Nutrition
the process of providing or obtaining the nutrients necessary for growth, health, and maintenance of life
Digestive System
breaks down food into nutrients for energy, growth, and repair, then eliminates waste
Feedstuff
a food provided for cattle and other livestock.
Minerals
essential, inorganic elements and compounds required for physiological functions, growth, and health
Herbivore
an animal that feeds on plants.
Nutrient
a substance that provides nourishment essential for growth and the maintenance of life.
Digestion
the process of breaking down food into smaller, absorbable nutrients that the body can use for energy, growth, and repair
Forage
to actively search for and consume food within their natural environment
Vitamins
essential, organic micronutrients that animals must obtain from their diet because their bodies cannot synthesize them in sufficient quantities
Carnivore
an animal that feeds on flesh.
Ration
the total amount of feed, or combination of feedstuffs, provided to a specific animal or group of animals over a 24-hour period
Absorption
the physiological process where digested nutrients, water, or drugs pass from the digestive tract into the animal's bloodstream or lymphatic system, crossing the intestinal mucosa
Concentrate
low-fiber, high-energy feedstuffs like grains and oil meals that boost the nutrient and energy density of an animal's ration
Water
a colorless, transparent, odorless liquid that forms the seas, lakes, rivers, and rain and is the basis of the fluids of living organisms.
Omnivore
Maintenance
the process of keeping things, such as equipment, property, or even relationships, in good condition through regular care, repairs, and upkeep
Metabolism
all the chemical reactions that occur within an organism to maintain life
Supplement
a product that is intended to add to or supplement the diet
Carbohydrates
organic compounds that serve as the primary source of energy for the body
Ruminant
herbivores with specialized, multi-compartment stomachs that allow them to digest tough, high-fiber plant matter by regurgitating and re-chewing their food
Growth
the process of increasing in physical size.
Reproduction
the biological process of creating new organisms, called offspring, from parents, ensuring the continuation of life
Additive
a substance added to something in small quantities to improve or preserve it.
Fats (lipids)
a group of organic compounds that are insoluble in water but soluble in non-polar solvents like alcohol and ether
Non-Ruminant (Monogastric)
animals with a single-compartment stomach, unlike ruminants with multi-chambered stomachs