Husbandry - Diet And Feeding

Question 1

Which two food groups are main energy sources? What are the levels of these in the diets of herbivores and carnivores?

Answer 1

Carbohydrates lipids
Herbivores - high carbohydrates, low lipid
Carnivore - low carbohydrate, high lipid

Question 2

Adults can only absorb monosaccharides in their SI. What is different about the permeability of neonates’ SI?

Answer 2

Can absorb larger molecules e.g. lactose

And immunoglobulins in first 12 hours of life

Question 3

What is crude fibre?

Answer 3

A measure of indigestible carbohydrates

Question 4

What is the neutral detergent fibre?

Answer 4

Different % of components in a plant cell wall

Question 5

What is the acid detergent fibre?

Answer 5

The least digestible portion of a forage

Question 6

What is fermentable metabolisable energy?

Answer 6

The % of metabolisable energy potentially available for the rumen

Question 7

What are complex carbs broken down to?

Answer 7

Simple carbs —> pyruvate

Question 8

In a high fibre diet, how much lactate is formed? How much rumination?

Answer 8

Very little
Lots of rumination
Saliva as a buffer to neutralise acids

Question 9

In a high starch diet, how fast is fermentation? What are the end products?

Answer 9

Very fast

VFAs, more lactate

Question 10

Why are proteins needed in the diet? Where are they absorbed?

Answer 10

For AAs

Small intestine

Question 11

What is crude protein? How is it measured?

Answer 11

Total protein

By the nitrogen content

Question 12

Why do ruminants require little protein in their diets?

Answer 12

Microflora in rumen synthesise AAs from non-protein nitrogen’s

Question 13

What affects the rate of protein metabolism in ruminants?

Answer 13

The availability of non-protein nitrogen

Question 14

In ruminants, if the protein is larger than energy requirements, why can’t the microbes do effective protein synthesis?

Answer 14

Build up of ammonium ions prevent synthesis

Question 15

Which animals graze the most? (In order)

Answer 15

Horses
Cattle
Sheep
Goats

Question 16

What are leys? What are the 3 different types?

Answer 16

Large areas of grassland

Temporary, permanent pasture, natural grassland

Question 17

What are temporary leys?

Answer 17

Areas of grassland that are reseeded every few years

Animals moved regularly

Question 18

What are permanent pastures?

Answer 18

Areas of grassland e.g. upland/hills with a lower yield and reduced fertilisation

Question 19

What are natural grasslands?

Answer 19

Areas of grass that are upland/hilly and meadows

Question 20

What elements/compounds can be used for fertilisers?

Answer 20

Na, K, CaCO3, P

Question 21

What are the consequences of over and under grazing?

Answer 21

Over - soil exposure, weed growth

Under - length prevents sunlight

Question 22

What is the ‘set stock’ method of feeding?

Answer 22

Animals have access to the needed amount of food for several months

Question 23

What is the strip grazing method of feeding?

Answer 23

Animals have access to what they need to eat over 24hrs

Question 24

What is the zero grazing method of feeding?

Answer 24

Grass is cut daily and fed indoors

Question 25

How many days of drying does hay require?

Answer 25

4

Question 26

What is an advantage of haylage?

Answer 26

It has little dust

Question 27

What are the disadvantages of grass silage?

Answer 27

Acidic, poor fermentation, fungal growth

Question 28

What is a disadvantage of dried grass e.g. alfalfa?

Answer 28

Expensive

Question 29

How long do microflora need to adapt to new foods?

Answer 29

2-3 weeks

Question 30

What are the classifications of animal feeds?

Answer 30

Roughages/forages - can be wet of dry

Energy/protein concentrates e.g. cereals

Question 31

What are the advantages and disadvantages of cereals?

Answer 31

High in carbs, P, vitamin B1 and E

Low in protein, Ca, vitamins A & D

Question 32

What are the 3 ways cereals can be treated?

Answer 32

Cold - crushed/ground
Hot - steamed/hot Pelletier
Chemical - softened with NaOh

Question 33

What are examples of protein concentrates?

Answer 33

Oil seeds, legumes, milk products, single cells, non-protein nitrogen

Question 34

What are the common errors with animal feeds?

Answer 34

Storage
Mould
Oxidation 
Contamination
Wrong feed/ratios

Question 35

What 4 things need considering when working out a diet?

Answer 35

Nutritional requirements
Chemical composition
Appetite
Cost

Question 36

Production systems often feed with an ad libitum system. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this?

Answer 36

Profit is generally increased as feed is increased

Obesity, too fast growth, cannot be monitored

Question 37

Pearson’s square can be used to work out what type of feeds?

Answer 37

Dry matter

Question 38

How much water does an animal need?

Answer 38

2ml/kg/hour

Question 39

What is the DMI for sheep, cattle/horses, pigs?

Answer 39

2%
3%
4%
Of body weight