Animal nutrition

• Carbohydrates


  The main carbon sources in animals, digestible carbohydrates break down into glucose for energy, complex carbs like polysaccharides also break down into glucose, humans can't get glucose from cellulose but use it for fiber, gut bacteria help get nutrients from plant fibers, extra sugars become glycogen stored in liver and muscles for energy.
• Protein breakdown provides nitrogen for cells, amino acids from proteins build cell parts, excess nitrogen is toxic and must be removed
• Fats


  Give flavor, make us feel full, and provide energy, dietary fats help absorb vitamins and make hormones, omega-3 and omega-6 fats are important for cell parts
• Vitamins help enzymes work right and missing them can harm health, we need both fat-soluble and water-soluble vitamins from food
• Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)


  Function: Process lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates; Coenzyme removes CO₂ from organic compounds.

  Deficiencies Can Lead To: Muscle weakness, Beri beri, reduced heart function, CNS problems.

  Sources: Milk, meat, dried beans, whole grains.
• Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)


  Function: Active role in metabolism; aids in conversion of food to energy (FAD and FMN).

  Deficiencies Can Lead To: Cheliosis, inflammation and redness of tongue, seborrheic dermatitis. Sources: Meat, eggs, enriched grains, vegetables.
• Vitamin B3 (Niacin)


  Function: Releases energy from carbohydrates; processes alcohol; synthesis of sex hormones; component of coenzyme NAD and NADP.

  
  

  Deficiencies Can Lead To: Pellagra, resulting in dermatitis, diarrhea, dementia, death.

  Sources: Meat, eggs, grains, nuts, potatoes.
• Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid)


  Function: Produces energy from foods, especially lipids; component of coenzyme A.

  Deficiencies Can Lead To: Fatigue, poor coordination, retarded growth, numbness, tingling of hands and feet. Sources: Meat, whole grains, milk, fruits, vegetables.
• Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)


  Function: The principal vitamin for processing amino acids and lipids; also helps convert nutrients into energy.

  Deficiencies Can Lead To: Irritability, depression, confusion, mouth sores or ulcers, anemia, muscular twitching.

  Source: Meat, dairy products, whole grains, orange juice.
• Vitamin B7 (Biotin)


  Function: Used in energy and amino acid metabolism, fat synthesis, and fat breakdown; helps the body use blood sugar.

  Deficiencies Can Lead To: Hair loss, dermatitis, depression, numbness and tingling in the extremities; neuromuscular disorders. Source: Meat, eggs, legumes and other vegetables.
• Vitamin B9 (Folic acid)


  Function: Assists the normal development of cells, especially during fetal development; helps metabolize nucleic and amino acids.

  
  

  Deficiencies Can Lead To: during pregnancy is associated with birth defects, such as neural tube defects and anemia.

  Source: Leafy green vegetables, whole wheat, fruits, nuts, legumes.
• Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin)


  Function: Maintains healthy nervous system and assists with blood cell formation; coenzyme in nucleic acid metabolism.

  
  

  Deficiencies Can Lead To: Anemia, neurological disorders, numbness, loss of balance.

  Source: Meat, eggs, animal products.
• Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid)


  Function: Helps maintain connective tissue: bone, cartilage, and dentin; boosts the immune system.

  Deficiencies Can Lead To: Scurvy, which results in bleeding, hair and tooth loss, joint pain and swelling, delayed wound healing.

  Source: Citrus fruits, broccoli, tomatoes, red sweet bell.
• The human body can synthesize histidine and arginine, but not in the quantities required, especially for growing children.
• CPF Nutritional Requirements of Animals

  • Carbohydrates: Provide energy for cells. Found in grains, cereals, fruits, and vegetables. Contains 4 Calories per gram.
  • Proteins: Used for building cell structures and as enzymes, hormones, and muscle parts. Found in dairy, poultry, fish, meat, and grains. Also contains 4 Calories per gram.
  • Fats: Build cell membranes, hormones, and provide energy. Found in oils, butter, meat, and processed snacks. Contains fat-soluble vitamins and provides 9 Calories per gram.
• Essential Nutrients


  • Essential amino acids: Needed for making proteins and enzymes. Humans can't produce eight out of 20 amino acids, so they must get them from food.
  • Essential fatty acids: Used for making special lipids in cell membranes. An example is linoleic acid.
  • Vitamins: Organic molecules needed in small amounts for normal body functions. Ex. Vitamins A, D, E, K (fat-soluble), and B, B2, B3, B12, C (water-soluble).
  • Trace elements or minerals: Inorganic nutrients needed in tiny amounts. They're part of enzymes, tissues, and body fluids. Ex. iodine, cobalt, zinc, molybdenum, manganese, selenium.
• Food Uptake in Cells via Endocytosis


  • Phagocytosis: Cells engulf large particles or organic fragments, like Amoeba forming pseudopods.
  • Pinocytosis: Cells take in extracellular fluid using small vesicles from the plasma membrane.
  • Receptor-mediated endocytosis: Cells use membrane receptors to recognize specific solutes. These solutes are then taken up by the cell through receptor-coated pits.
• Types of Animals Based on Feeding Mechanisms


  • Substrate-feeders: Animals that live in or on their food source. Ex. Earthworms, caterpillars.
  • Filter-feeders: Aquatic animals that draw in water and strain small organisms and food particles. Ex. Whales, coelenterates.
  • Fluid-feeders: Animals that suck fluids containing nutrients from a living host, such as mosquitoes and aphids.
  • Bulk-feeders: Animals that eat relatively large chunks of food and have adaptations like jaws or claws for securing and tearing food.
• Different Digestive Compartments in Animals


  • Food vacuoles: Found in unicellular organisms like Paramecium, where they fuse with lysosomes containing enzymes for digestion.
  • Gastrovascular cavity: A sac-like body cavity with a single opening for intake and waste disposal, seen in animals like Hydra and flatworm Planaria.
  • Complete digestive system: A tube-like system with a mouth for intake and an anus for waste elimination, found in animals with specialized organs for digestion, processing, and absorption.

  
• Accessory Organs for Digestion in a Complete Digestive System

  • Liver: Produces bile to emulsify fats.
  • Gallbladder: Stores bile produced by the liver.
  • Pancreas: Secretes enzymes for breaking down food molecules, buffers against stomach acid, and the hormone insulin for glucose metabolism.
• Minerals and Their Function in the Human Body

  VITAMIN; Calcium

  FUNCTION; Needed for muscle and neuron function;heart health; builds bone and supports synthesis and function of blood cells;

  nerve function

  Deficiencies Can Lead To; Osteoporosis, rickets, musclespasms, impaired growth

  SOURCES; Milk, yogurt, fish, green leafy vegetables, legumes

  VITAMIN; Chlorine*

  FUNCTION; Needed for production of hydrochloric acid (HCl) in the stomach and nerve function; osmotic balance

  Deficiencies Can Lead To; Muscle cramps, mood disturbances, reduced appetite

  SOURCES;Table salt
• Copper

  Required component of many redox enzymes, including cytochrome c oxidase; cofactor for hemoglobin synthesis
• Copper deficiency is rare
• Iodine


  Required for the synthesis of thyroid hormones
• Deficiency in iodine can lead to goiter