Knowra Animal nutrition Animal nutrition Animal nutrition studies the nutrients animals need, how they digest and metabolize them, and how feeding supports health, growth, reproduction, and production.
Nutrient : A substance an organism obtains from food and uses for energy, growth, maintenance, or regulation. Animal diets are evaluated by the nutrients they provide and their availability.
Gastrointestinal tract : The continuous digestive passage from mouth to anus, with organs that process and absorb food. Its anatomy determines where feed is broken down and nutrients absorbed.
Ration formulation : The process of selecting and combining feed ingredients to meet an animal’s nutrient needs. It applies nutrient requirements to create balanced, feasible diets.
Forage : Plant material eaten by livestock, fresh or preserved as hay or silage. Forage-based diets contrast with systems relying heavily on concentrated feeds.
Life-cycle assessment : A method for estimating environmental impacts across a product’s life cycle. It can compare the environmental burdens of alternative feeds and feeding systems.
Macronutrient : A nutrient required in relatively large amounts, such as protein, carbohydrate, fat, or water. These major dietary components supply energy and materials for animal tissues.
Enzyme : A biological catalyst that accelerates a specific chemical reaction without being consumed. Digestive enzymes break feed molecules into absorbable components.
Nutrient requirement : The amount and form of a nutrient needed to support a specified level of animal function or production. Requirement estimates set targets for diets at different life stages and outputs.
Concentrate feed : Feed relatively rich in energy or protein and low in fiber compared with roughage. Concentrates can supply dense nutrients where forage alone is insufficient.
Methane : A potent greenhouse gas produced naturally and through human activities, including livestock digestion. Ruminant diets can alter methane emissions as well as animal productivity.
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