Fundamentals of Animal Nutrition

281 Pages·2021·5.898 MB·English

by  Subodh Kumar Saha, Nitya Nand Pathak

Subodh Kumar Saha
Nitya Nand Pathak
Fundamentals
of Animal
Nutrition
Fundamentals of Animal Nutrition
Subodh Kumar Saha (cid:129) Nitya Nand Pathak
Fundamentals of Animal
Nutrition
SubodhKumarSaha NityaNandPathak
IndianVeterinaryResearchInstitute NationalAcademyofVeterinaryNutrition
Bareilly,UttarPradesh,India andAnimalWelfare
Bareilly,UttarPradesh,India
ISBN978-981-15-9124-2 ISBN978-981-15-9125-9 (eBook)
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-9125-9
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Preface
Nutritionofanimalsisvitalforlivestockproductionandthesustenanceofgoodand
soundhealth.Thisisnotonlyameresciencebutisanart.Thenutritionisthebasic
needofrawmaterialsinadefinitequantityfortheoptimumandpotentialproduction
of any biological products and biological synthesis of all the physiological pro-
cesses.Anydeviationfromoptimumqualityoftherawmaterialscausespathological
problems in animals. This book integrates the information about basic needs
concerningthenatureofnutrientsandtheirdigestion,assimilation,andmetabolism.
The book establishes a basis for selecting foods and compounding diets and ration
adequate for the nourishment of man and livestock under specified age, stage of
productionandreproduction,environments,andconditions.
Thesubjectofnutritionisconcernedwiththenatureoffoodsandnutrients.Itis
imperative to know the nutritional characteristics of food. We have to know the
biological system, too, for its operation as a metabolic machine. Plants are also
biologicalmachinesbuiltwiththesamechemicalsasanimals.Forsustenanceofthe
livestocklife,itentirelydependsonthefoodsofplantsandanimals.Therefore,itis
sure that thesame general scheme ishelpfultodescribeboth the animals and their
foods.Theanatomy,i.e.,thephysicalstructureoftheanimals,isalsoafactorinits
nutrition, and to know some of the events, there is a need to know the mechanical
structure of the body. To maintain the physical system, we highly depend on the
nutritional requirements. So nutrients are needed not only for livestock production
and energy supply but also to maintain its physical integrity and structural
sustenance.
Theinstinctivereactionstohungerarepresentatbirthinallanimals.Atthatstage,
nutrition is highly concerned with distinguishing food from non-food materials.
After birth,theyounganimals instinctivelyeatanythingtheygetinaccessandput
into their mouth. For example, during the early life, sawdust was used for the
beddingandaseparatefeederisusedforfeeding.Therefore,whentheyfeelhungry,
theywill,fromtheirhungerinstinct,starttosearchforfood,andtheybegintofeed
thesawdustasitinfrontofthem.Soitisduetotheinstinctforeating,selectionof
food is not there. Therefore, for guiding them to feed the food, the sawdust is
removed from there, replacing the feed so that the only material they will eat is
feed.Theywilltastebetterfromfeedandmakeahabitofgoingtothefeederwhere
feed isavailable. Here we have toestablishthe learning by experience though it is
v
vi Preface
slow; however, one of the objectives of the art of nutrition is the direction of food
selectionandtomakeitaregularhabitintheanimal.Darwinopinedthatinstinctsare
changeablebytheeliminationthroughtheselectionofthosethatarenotsuccessful
in surviving the species, coupled with the hereditary continuance of course with
geneticmodification,ofthosethathelptheanimalsadapttoachangingclimate.
This book consists of seventeen chapters that provide essential information for
graduate and postgraduate students. It also caters to researchers and policymakers.
Duringthemanuscriptpreparation,wereceivedsupportfromourfamilymembers,
friends, colleagues, and co-workers for which we are highly indebted. My wife
Sutapa,sonAkash,anddaughterShreyashiwhocontinuouslyextendedtheirsupport
and helped complete this book are highly acknowledged. My daughter Shreyashi,
whohasgivenherartworksinthebookandhasalsocheckedmymanuscriptsmany
times, is greatly acknowledged. The help extended during the preparation of the
manuscript by all the family members, sons, daughters, grandson, granddaughters,
sons-in-law, and daughters-in-law especially Priya Bhasini, Sanjay, Rahul (Prof.
Pathak’s daughter, son-in-law, and grandson) is also whole-heartedly acknowl-
edged. We also acknowledge the help and support provided by the publisher,
Springer Nature. Last but not least, we thank all those who directly and indirectly
supportedandhelpedusforthesuccessfulpublicationofthisbook.
Bareilly,UttarPradesh,India SubodhKumarSaha
Hisar,India NityaNandPathak
Introduction
It is a well-established fact that life is not possible without proper nutrition. The
nutrition is very important and primary basic needs to sustain the life. Without
proper nutrition, every vital physiological process like circulation, respiration will
be disturbed. Not only nutrition to the animal, it is also important to maintain the
biologicalsystembysupplyingnecessarydemandsofthevitalnutrientsformaking
thelifehappy,comfortableandhealthy.Thehealthyandhappylifethenwillfurther
proceed for good activities, produce and reproduce. In animal nutrition, balanced
nutrition is the ration where we should provide all the necessary nutrients such as
energy,protein,lipids,vitamins,mineralsandothersthroughrationordietfor24h
foraparticularpurpose,i.e.maintenance,growth,reproduction,lactation,worksfor
an animal. Foods are the main sources of nutrients, and balancing of diet requires
variety of supplements. Main sources of nutrients on the earth are variety of
herbages. The herbages are equipped with the physio-physiological processes for
deriving different kinds of elements and simple compounds like water and air
(oxygen, carbon dioxide and nitrogen). These simple chemicals are processed in
thetissues ofgreen herbagesfor thesynthesis ofcomplexorganiccompounds like
aminoacids,proteins,carbohydrates,lipidsandvitamins.Mineralsareenteredwith
water from the soil to plants and herbages. These herbages and their products like
flowers, fruits and seeds are the foods of different species of herbivorous animals.
Theanimalsareherbivorous,omnivorousandcarnivorous.Thus,nutrientsmovein
thecycleofair,water,earth,plantsandanimals.Themechanismoffoodsynthesis,
extractions of nutrients from foods and their digestion and metabolism for the
physiological and physical functions of the animals and humans constitute funda-
mentalnutrition.Thenutritionofanimalsismostlycompletedbythetwoprincipal
nutrition cycles. The first nutrition cycle is completed in the living plants. In this
cycle, elements and inorganic compounds and utilizing solar energy are converted
intocomplexcompoundslikecarbohydrates,proteins,lipids,vitamins,enzymesand
hormones.Theseplantcompoundstogetherarethesourcesoffoodandnutrientsfor
the animals. The series of processes involved in the transfer of nutrients from the
plants toanimals andthereaftertheirutilizationforvariousphysiologicalfunctions
oftheanimals.Abriefhistoryofevolutionofthefundamentalaspectsofnutritionis
importantforthelinkageofprogressivedevelopmentofnutritionandsubsequently
itsbranchingintohumannutrition,animalnutrition,aviannutritionandfishnutrition
vii
viii Introduction
among thevertebrates.Allliving creaturesaremade upof4primary elements that
are carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen and oxygen. These four elements and their simple
compounds,viz.carbondioxide,waterandnitrogenaretheconstituentsofvarious
compoundsformingthebodyofanimals.Thesecompoundsareveryimportantand
majorandessentialnecessityforlivingcreaturesandthesearecarbohydrate,protein
andlipid.Theskeletalsystemismadeupofminerals,mainlycalcium,phosphorus
andmagnesium.Someothermineralslikeiron,copper,zinc,cobalt,manganeseand
fluorine in traces are essential for many vital functions in the body. The trace
elements constitute less than 0.5% of the body but deficiency of any nutritionally
important trace element produces harmful clinico-pathological changes in the nor-
mal physiological functions. Normal respiration is not possible in the absence of
haemoglobin, and haemoglobin formation in the body requires iron and copper.
Despiteoptimumsupplyofcarbohydrates,proteins,lipidsandminerals,deficiency
ofavitaminortracemineralcandisturbimportantphysiologicalfunctions.Vitamin
A in the form of retinol is essential for normal vision, iodine is essential for the
synthesisoftri-iodothyronine(T3)andthyroxine(T4)essentialforenergymetabo-
lismandcalcitoninisessentialforthemaintenanceofnormalstructureofthebones.
Herbivorous animals are capable of synthesizing vitamin B (Cyanocobalamin)
12
utilizing traces of cobalt in the feed. The deficiency of cobalt in the diets of
herbivorousanimalsdisturbsmetabolismanditwasreportedthatinspiteoffeeding
cobaltfreebalanceddiet,thecattlefailtogrowduetothelackofoptimumsynthesis
ofmusclesandothertissuesofthebody.Inthedigestivesystemofanimal,thefeeds
aredisintegratedbytheactionofdifferentenzymesandbilesaltsinacidic,alkaline
and neutral medium in different segments of the digestive system. The digestion
processesdifferamongthesimplestomachanimalsandmodifieddigestivesystemof
herbivorousanimals.Theherbivorousanimalsparticularlytheruminantsthoroughly
eatlargequantityoffibrousherbaceousfeedsbutdonotproducefibrolyticenzymes
likecellulasesandhemicellulasesessentialforthedigestionoffibrousfeeds.Thus,
they have been evolved to host different kinds of microorganisms possessing
characteristic ability of secreting essential enzymes like cellulases and
hemicellulasesforthedigestionofcellulosesandhemicelluloses.Theendproducts
ofdigestionarevolatilefattyacidslikeaceticacid,propionicacid,butyricacidand
valeric acid in the descending concentration. These acids are the main sources of
energy and greater percentage is transported into the body from the pre-abomasal
compartments.Theherbivorousanimalsalsoharbournitrogenutilizingbacteriafor
the synthesis of amino acids and proteins. These are also bacteria capable of
synthesizing sulphur containing amino acids provided sulphur is ingested in the
meal.Traceelementsarealsoactiveprinciplesincertainenzymesanddeficiencyof
such elements precipitates in the metabolic disturbances showing characteristic
pathological and clinical symptoms. Occurrence of goitre on the feeding of iodine
deficient diet for longer period of feeding of goitrogenic feeds like mustard-rape
forageandsubabul(Leucaenaleucocephala)forlongdurationresultsintheoccur-
renceofgoitreanddisturbancesinmetabolismprocessesinthebody.Contamination
of animal feeds and forages particularly on the natural grasslands is frequently
observed. Such contamination is more common in the hot humid tropical zones.
Introduction ix
These contaminants are harmful herbages containing antinutritional and toxic
factors. Dry roughages like straws, stovers and hay are satisfactory media for the
growthofdifferentspeciesofmicroorganismsparticularlythemouldsofhothumid
climate.Amongthese Fusarium sp,Clavicepsare quiteharmful asthey have been
isolated from the herbivorous animals feeding on contaminated feeds like paddy
straw, sorghum straw, pearl millet stover, etc. The vast subject of fundamental
nutrition has been embodied in 17 chapters. Introduction of the subject and brief
history of nutrition underlining the important discoveries are followed by the
relationshipamongsoil,water,air,solarenergy,plantsandanimals.Theseprovide
nutrientsfortheformationofchemicalsandchemicalreactionsoflifeintheanimal
body. Different kinds of herbages are the foods of herbivorous animals, whereas
someamountofanimalfleshisalsoeatenbytheomnivorousanimals.Carnivorous
animalseat very small quantity of herbages for the supply of fibre required for the
maintenanceofperistalticmovementsofthealimentarytract.Inaddition,herbages
also supply carotenes and other vitamins. Chemical partitioning of feeds in proxi-
mate principles and detergent fibres provide the values of various nutrients in
different kinds of feeds. These information are required for the identification and
selection of feed ingredients for the formulation of balanced rations for feeding
duringdifferentstagesoflife,viz.growth,reproductioninbothsexes,lactationand
nursinginfemalesandotherfunctionsforwhichanimalsaretrainedbythehumans.
The feeds are then partitioned into water, carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, minerals
andvitamins.Theotherconstituentsoffeedplayingimportantrolesindigestionand
metabolism in animals by the help of the enzymes and hormones. Some natural
sources of feeds also contain one or more kinds of harmful factors. Such feeds
require elimination or processing for the destruction or elimination of harmful
factors. This has been presented in Chap. 14. The transportation of nutrients from
feeds into the body requires chemical disintegration of feeds into appropriate
chemical form and size for passage through the wall of the gastrointestinal tract
intothebodycompartmentsresponsibleforthetransportationandassimilationinthe
body. The digested foods are transported by absorption, diffusion and pinocytosis.
Variousfeedsarehavingmanytoxicantandalsotomakeeasilydigestible,various
processing technologies are available and lots of work are there which are collec-
tively discussed in the book. Therapeutic nutrition is very much important for
feeding to sick animals. The clinically ailing animal needs special attention and
care. The first and foremost caring is the feeding management. The ailing animals
feeddependsonthenatureofthediseaseoftheanimalsufferings.Thereshouldbe
different feed preparation for the different diseases. The feed for animal suffering
from digestive problem will be obviously different from the animal suffering from
someinfectiousdiseases.
The book fundamental of animal nutrition has been written for the researcher,
undergraduateandpostgraduatestudents.Ithasbeenwrittenasperthenecessaryof
thecourseofundergraduateandpostgraduatestudents.Thebookhasbeencompiled
in the 17 important chapters and most of the topics are discussed thoroughly and
elaboratelyasfaraspossible.
Contents
1 BriefHistoryofAnimalNutrition. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.1 Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.2 AnimalNutritionWorksintheWorld. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.3 AnimalNutritionResearchinIndia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
References. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
2 RelationshipofSoil,Water,Air,SolarEnergy,PlantandAnimals . . 7
2.1 Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
2.2 SoilasSourceofNutrients. .. . . . .. . . . .. . . .. . . . .. . . . .. 7
2.3 WaterasaSourceofNutrients. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
2.4 AirasSourceofNutrition. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
2.5 SolarEnergyasaSourceofNutrients. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
2.6 FactorsAffectingNutritionalCompositionofSoil. . . . . . . . . . 9
2.7 NaturalFactorsAffectingSoilComposition. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
2.8 RoleofMicroorganismsonSoilComposition. . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
2.9 RoleofEarthwormsandInsectsonSoilComposition. . . . . . . 10
2.9.1 InducedFactorsAffectingSoilComposition. . . . . . . 10
2.9.2 HarmfulEffectsofInsecticidesandPesticides. . . . . 11
3 ChemicalsofLifeandChemicalReactionsintheAnimalCells. . . . 13
3.1 TheChemicalsofLife. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
3.2 ChemicalCompositionofAnimalBody. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
3.3 AcidsandBases. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
3.4 Salts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
3.5 ElementsRequiredforBodyFormationofAnimals. . . . . . . . . 17
3.6 ChemicalReactionsinLivingCells. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
3.7 ReasonsfortheOccurrenceofMetabolisminSmallSteps. . . . 18
3.8 TypesofChemicalReactionsinCells. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
3.9 NutritionalSignificance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
4 PartitioningofFoods. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
4.1 Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
4.2 ProximatePrinciples. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
4.3 AnalysisoftheFood. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
4.4 LimitationsofProximateAnalysis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
xxii