Small Ruminant Nutrition Lecture 1

Question 1

describe two ways the small ruminants differ from other species in terms of digestive anatomy and/or grazing behavior

Answer 1

1. goats are browsers, sort through feed with their upper lip; while sheep and cattle are grazers and more at risk of hardware disease
2. goats and sheep produced pelleted feces

Question 2

explain to an owner why maintenance energy requirements are different for pet small ruminants versus lactating does or ewes

Answer 2

lactating animals are sending most of their energy to their milk each day, so they require higher energy input to keep up with the energy output; the energy provided by good quality forage can meet the demands of most life stages without further supplementation

Question 3

given pictures and/or a written description of a small ruminant’s body condition, be able to designate a body condition score (1-5/5 scale)

Answer 3

1: sharp and prominent spinous processes, sharp transverse processes, shallow loin eye muscle, no fat cover over loin eye muscle

2: sharp and prominent spinous processes, smooth and slightly rounded transverse processes, medium depth loin eye with little fat cover

3: smooth and rounded spinous, smooth and well covered transverse, fill loin eye with medium fat cover

4: spinous processes palpable as a firm line with pressure, transverse not palpable, full loin eye with thick fat cover

5: spinous and transverse not palpable, very full loin eye with very thick fat cover

Question 4

identify conditions associated with low (5) and excess (5) energy intake in small ruminants

Answer 4

low energy intake: thin body condition, gastrointestinal parasites, polioencephalomalacia, pregnancy ketosis/toxemia (not associated with BCS)

excessive energy intake: obese body condition, rumen acidosis, polioencephalomalacia, enterotoxemia, laminitis

Question 5

list predisposing factors of pregnancy toxemia (ketosis)

Answer 5

1. twins or more
2. older small ruminants
3. body condition score (<2.5 or >4)
4. concurrent disease (subclinical mastitis, GI parasites, always ask yourself what put them off feed?)

Question 6

recognize metabolic adaptations to negative energy balance in small ruminants

Answer 6

when in a negative energy balance, the body melts fat from adipose tissue and releases it as NEFAs, which are converted in the liver to the inefficient energy sources of beta-hydroxybutyrate, acetoacetate, and acetone OR remain in the liver for storage, leading to a fatty liver with decreased function