Animal Feed & Nutrition (Animal Husbandry III)

What do Animals Eat?

Learn to manage food and nutrition for pets, farm animals or wildlife in zoos.

This course introduces animal foods, food components, evaluating food and digestibility for animals, classifying foods and calculating rations.

This is an experiential learning-based course. Throughout your studies you will have the opportunity to network with and learn from a variety of industry professionals. Establishing real-world relationships and confidence is key to career success. 

Lesson Structure

There are 10 lessons in this course:

1. INTRODUCTION TO ANIMAL FOODS
   • Terms and Definitions
   • Groups of Foods
   • Other Terms That Are Used
   • Food Processing Terms
   • Water
2. FOOD COMPONENTS - CARBOHYDRATES AND FATS
   • Carbohydrates
   • Carbohydrates as a Source Of Energy
   • Fats and Oils
   • Adipose Tissue Deposits in Animals
   • Fat Deposits in Different Animals
3. FOOD COMPONENTS - PROTEINS, MINERALS, AND TRACE ELEMENTS
   • Composition of Proteins
   • The Build Up Of Proteins
   • Biological Value of Protein
   • Protein Content of Foods
   • The Function of Protein
   • Feeding Urea to Ruminants
   • Major Minerals
   • Trace Elements
   • Vitamins
4. EVALUATING FOODS AND DIGESTIBILITY
   • Analysis of Feed Stuffs
   • Calculating Digestibility
   • Protein Value
   • Energy Value
   • Nutrient Value of Some Common Foods
5. CLASSIFYING FOODS PART A
   • Cereals and Cereal By-Products
   • Brewing By-Products
   • Grasses, Legumes and Succulents
   • Lucerne
   • Sainfoin
   • Other Succulent Foods
   • Roughage, Hay, Silage and Dried Grass
6. CLASSIFYING FOODS PART B
   • Oil and Legume Seeds
   • Oil Seeds and Their Products
   • Legume Seeds
7. CLASSIFYING FOODS PART C
   • Fodder Trees and Animal Products
   • Fodder Trees and Shrubs
   • Animal Products
8. CALCULATING RATIONS PART A
   • The Object of Rationing
   • Nutritional Requirements of the Animal
   • Calculating a Maintenance Ration
   • Cattle at Pasture
   • Working Out Rations for a Herd
9. CALCULATING RATIONS PART B
   • Nutrient Requirements for a Dairy Cow
   • Working Out the Total Requirements
   • Feeding a Ration to Meet Nutrient Needs
   • The Dairy Ration
10. CALCULATING RATIONS PART C
    • Ready Mix Feeds
    • Using Protein Contents
    • A Summary of Rationing
    • Further Considerations in Rationing

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

Aims

• Describe the range of livestock feeds and feeding methods available for animal production, using accepted industry terminology.
• Explain the role of energy foods, including the sources and functions of those foods, in animal diets.
• Explain the function of the major nutritional groups, including proteins, vitamins, minerals and trace elements in animal diets.
• Explain the on-farm methods used to evaluate feeding, including selection of feeds and feed digestibility.
• Evaluate the dietary value of pastures, including grasses, cereals, and other edible plants, and their by-products for animal feeds.
• Explain the dietary value of seeds, including oil seeds, legume seeds and their by-products as food sources for animals.
• Evaluate the dietary value of fodder plants, including trees and shrubs and their by-products, as a food source in animal production.
• Determine suitable feed rations for a farm animal maintenance program.
• Analyse the method(s) to determine suitable feed rations in a farm animal production program.
• Evaluate the dietary value of protein in an animal production program.
• Explain the factors affecting the composition of feed rations in animal production.

What You Will Do

• Explain the importance of feed quality in livestock production.
• Describe the various food groups that animal foodstuffs are based upon.
• Define at least fifteen relevant industry terms related to livestock feed, feeding and feed processing.
• Explain the role of water in animal nutrition.
• Describe three different, commercially available, animal feeds, including the composition and appropriate uses for each.
• List the chemical names of at least five different carbohydrates which are of importance to animal production.
• Evaluate the roles of four different carbohydrates in animal metabolism.
• List the important sources of carbohydrates for at least four different types of farm animals.
• List the chemical names of at least five different fats which are important to animal production.
• Compare fat deposition patterns in three different animals.
• Explain the role of two different lipids in animal metabolism.
• List the important sources of fats and lipids used in livestock feeds.
• Explain the importance of proteins to animal production.
• Describe the chemical composition of naturally occurring proteins.
• List the sources of protein commonly used in foodstuffs for two different types of farm animal species.
• Explain the differences in protein requirements for different animals.
• Describe the techniques used to calculate digestibility of animal feeds.
• Perform a calculation of digestibility for a specified feed.
• Describe two standard methods used to assess animal feeds.
• Compare five different feeds, in terms of *composition *relative digestibility *palatability.
• List at least five cereal and cereal by-product feeds used in animal production.
• Describe the food value characteristics of five cereals and cereal by-product feeds used in animal production.
• List at least five grasses and forage crops used as farm animal feeds.
• Describe the dietary value of five forage crops, including grasses, used in animal production.
• List at least five harvested feed products, including hay, roughage and silage used as feeds in animal production.
• Explain the dietary value characteristics of five harvested feed products including hays, roughage and silage used in animal production.
• Explain the dietary value of a growing pasture, on a farm visited and studied by you.
• Compare the nutritional value to farm animals, of ten different pasture foodstuffs, including cereals, grasses, hay and their by-products.
• List four oil seeds (or their by-products) used as feeds in animal production.
• Explain the use of oil seeds (or their by-products) as animal feeds.
• List three legume seeds used as feeds in animal production.
• Evaluate the dietary value of three different legume seeds, as animal feeds.
• Collect small samples of three oil seeds and three legume seeds.
• Compare the characteristics of two different oil seed species, with two different legume seed species. -List five fodder plants (or their by-products) used as feed in animal production.
• Provide recommendations on how three different fodder plant species may be used as an animal feed source on a specified farm.
• Compare the nutritional value of three different fodder plant species.
• Explain the objective of maintenance rationing in two different farm situations observed by you.
• Explain the differences in feed rations given to maintain the same type of animal on two separate farms.
• Describe the nutritional requirements of two different specified types of livestock.
• Calculate a 'maintenance feed ration' for a specified farm animal.
• Develop a maintenance feeding program, for a group of animals, such as a herd of cattle or flock of sheep.
• Design three different types of animal feeds/rations, for three specified purposes.
• Define, using examples, the concept of 'production rations'.

Feeding animals is not always straight forward

As with humans, the food needs of any animal will depend not only on the species, but also the breed, where it lives, it's daily routine (e.g., level of activity) and much more.

Animals in the wild tend to have fewer eating disorders than those in captivity; except perhaps during extraordinary events, such as prolonged drought.  Their bodies respond to seasonal and reproductive cycles. However, domestic animals and animals in captivity can be prone to eating disorders.

Activity anorexia is a condition with some similarities to the human mental health disorder known as anorexia nervosa. An animal with this condition begins to cut down on its food intake and increases its exercise levels.  If rats are given access to an exercise wheel and food, they will have a balanced routine between food and exercise and be healthy. If their food is restricted, but they have unrestricted access to the exercise wheel, they may begin to eat less and exercise more, which can lead to weight loss and eventually death. This does not occur when the rats are given restricted access to the wheel and unrestricted food supplies.  

This type of research suggests that the running behaviour is similar to the natural behaviour of rats – foraging, so when the rat begins to starve its response is to look around for more food, hence the exercise wheel behaviour increases.  This type of behaviour is also found in primates. Rhesus monkeys become hyperactive if their food is reduced in the long term.

Whilst humans can have eating disorders, diagnosing an eating disorder in an animal is more difficult. We have to determine whether the maladaptive eating condition in the animal is due to a medical disorder, medication, behaviour or nutrition.

Overeating - Some animals will overeat, but this is more about how they are fed rather than an eating disorder as such. Owners may misinterpret a pet’s signals and assume they are begging for food, meaning they are hungry. But dogs, for example, may beg for food because it is a normal canine behaviour, not because they are actually hungry. Over time if the owner keeps giving in to the begging, the dog can become overweight, and its health is at risk. Dogs are opportunistic feeders. They do not stop eating just because they are full. Cats are slightly different. Cats are born to hunt. But whilst they may hunt excessively, they will not usually eat excessively. However, cats can become obese if they do not have to hunt for their food or their food source is too available.
 
Certain medical conditions can also cause overeating, such as Cushing’s disease, diabetes and hyperthyroidism.

Undereating - Other animals may undereat. It is acceptable for a dog to miss the odd meal, but a longer period without eating can be serious for cats.  They may develop fatty liver disease or hepatic lipidosis. When this occurs, the cat will literally starve themselves to death by refusing more food.

Weight loss is usually the first sign of an illness, but it can also have behavioural roots. For example, if there is a bereavement in a family, a pet may show signs of loss, such as reduced appetite and social withdrawal.

Pica - Some animals will consume objects not meant for their consumption. This is known as pica. It tends to occur more in dogs than cats, although cats can also display some forms of pica behaviour. Some breeds, such as Siamese cats, are more predisposed to pica than other breeds. Cats have been observed chewing non-food substances such as wool, plastic, cardboard, and so on, then ingesting the substances. This is usually seen in the first two months of the cat’s life and often when they are introduced to a new home. One theory is that this is a response to early weaning and separation from their mother and litter, leading to stress.  Eating wool may be a way the cat soothes itself as it comes to terms with its new environment. In some instances, pica actually eventuates as a result of malnutrition or deficiency in specific vitamins or minerals. For example, cows grazed on pastures with low phosphorous content have been observed consuming bones from other animals in an attempt to obtain the essential mineral. 

Why Study Animal Feed and Nutrition?

• As a farmer or pet owner, to better care for your animals.
• To be able to provide adequate care for animals you work with (e.g., in animal rescue, animal health care, a zoo, pet shop, etc.)
• To manufacture or market animal food products.

This course can be a very useful learning experience for these or any other situation where you find yourself involved with providing services or products to support the health and wellbeing of farm animals, pets or wildlife.

Why Study with ACS?

Design your own learning pathway.

Study at your own pace, from anywhere, at any time. 

Receive prompt, expert support from our team of committed and friendly tutors.

Your learning is our priority. We are flexible and adaptable to meet your educational needs!

ACS Student Comments:
“I think it is absolutely brilliant. I have never come across such a friendly, helpful staff and am so enjoying my course. I will definitely recommend ACS to anybody who wants to study over the net.”  -- T. Sadler.