Lec 3

• Vitamins


  • Essential organic compound of natural food but is distinct from carbohydrates, fat, protein and water
  • Required in small amounts
  • Not synthesized in the body, hence must be obtained from sources like the diet, rumen bacteria and sun
  • Required for growth, maintenance, reproduction and lactation
• Vitamin groups


  • Fat soluble
  • Water soluble
• Fat soluble vitamins

  • Soluble in fat and fat solvents
  • Stored in tissues
• Water soluble vitamins

  • Soluble in water
  • Not stored in tissues, hence daily needs to be supplied in the diet
• Vitamin A (Retinol)

  • Functions: Normal vision, Maintain health and integrity of epithelial cells, Synthesis of glycoproteins, Bone growth and bone remodelling
  • Deficiency signs: Poor vision (night blindness), Increased incidence of infection, Xerophalmia, Reproductive disorders, Poor growth, Poor feathering
  • Sources: Carotene, Fish oil, Legume forages
• Vitamin D (Cholecalciferol, D3 or Ergocalciferol, D2)

  • Functions: Necessary for bone mineralization, Facilitates absorption and deposition of calcium in bone
  • Deficiency signs: Rickets and osteomalacia (inadequate calcification of bones leads to lameness, bowed and crooked legs, spontaneous fracture of long bones and ribs)
  • Sources: Sun cured hay, Irradiated yeast, Fish liver oil
• Vitamin E (α-Tocopherol)

  • Functions: Free radical scavenger, Prevents oxidative damage, Required for normal reproductive functions, Stimulate immune response
  • Deficiency signs: Exudative diathesis and encephalomalacia in chicks, Nutritional muscular dystrophy or white muscle disease in lambs and calves
  • Sources: Cereal grains, Wheat germ oil, Oil seeds
• Vitamin K (Menadione)

  • Function: Required for normal blood clotting
  • Deficiency signs: Severe haemorrhages from wounds or bruises due to failure of clot formation
  • Sources: Green leafy forages, Liver, Rumen and intestinal synthesis
• Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)


  • Functions: Required for carbohydrate metabolism, Component of coenzyme thiamine pyrophosphate
  • Deficiency signs: Loss of appetite, Muscular weakness, Wasting (Beriberi) in humans, Polyneuritis in birds
  • Sources: Grains and their by-products, Yeast, Rumen microbes
• Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)


  • Functions: Coenzyme forms are FMN and FAD, Important in carbohydrate and protein metabolism
  • Deficiency signs: Leg paralysis (curled toe paralysis) in chicks, Diarrhoea, Poor egg production and hatchability, Poor reproduction in pigs
  • Sources: Liver, Buttermilk, Yeast
• Vitamin B3 (Niacin)


  • Functions: Coenzyme forms are NAD and NADP, Involved in carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism
  • Deficiency signs: Poor growth, Poor feathering and scaly dermatitis in chicks, Pellagra in humans
  • Sources: Fish, Cereal grains, By-products
• Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid)


  • Functions: Component of coenzyme of acetylation (CoA), Important in synthesis and catabolism of fats
  • Deficiency signs: Growth and reproductive failure, Skin and hair lesions, Gastrointestinal symptoms, Nervous system lesions, Goose-stepping in pigs
  • Sources: Cereal byproducts, Alflalfa meal, Cane molasses
• Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)

  • Functions: Coenzyme form, pyridoxal phosphate, is involved in protein metabolism
  • Deficiency signs: Epileptic like fits or convulsion, Slow growth in pigs, Abnormal excitability, Jerky aimless movements, Convulsions and exhaustion in chicks
  • Sources: Cereal grains, By-products, Yeast
• Vitamin B7 (Biotin)


  • Functions: Component of various enzymes involved in carbon dioxide fixation and decarboxylation
  • Deficiency signs: Dermatitis, Loss of hair, Poor growth, Reduced hatchability in mature fowl, Cracks in feet, Spasticity of hind legs, Dermatitis in pigs
  • Sources: Cereal grains, Molasses
• Vitamin B8 (Choline)


  • Functions: Building and maintaining cell structure, Prevents fatty liver, Component of acetylcholine, Source of methyl groups
  • Deficiency signs: Slow growth, Fatty liver, Hemorrhagic kidneys, Lack of coordination in movements in pigs and chicks
  • Sources: Cereal grains, Molasses
• Vitamin B9 (Folic Acid)


  • Functions: Involved in interconversion of serine and glycine, Synthesis of purine, Histidine degradation
  • Deficiency signs: Megaloblastic anemia, Retarded growth, Poor feathering, Depigmentation of feathers in chicks
  • Sources: Plant and animal products
• Vitamin B12 (Cyanocobalamine)


  • Functions: Coenzyme in metabolic reactions, Required for methyl group synthesis, Specific role in metabolism of propionic acid in ruminants, Involved in purine metabolism
  • Deficiency signs: Pernicious anemia in humans, Decreased growth, Posterior incoordination and unsteadiness of gait, Poor hatchability in hens, Bone abnormalities in chicks
  • Sources: Animal protein factor
• Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)


  • Functions: Antioxidant, Helps in immune functions, Facilitates calcium metabolism
  • Deficiency signs: Scurvy (swollen and painful joints, bleeding gums) in man, monkeys and guinea pigs
  • Sources: Fruits, Vegetables, Green forages
• Minerals


  • Constituents of bones and teeth, giving rigidity and strength
  • Constituents of organic compounds like proteins and lipids
  • Components of many enzymes
  • Maintain osmotic pressure and acid-base balance, affect muscle and nerve irritability
• Major (Macro) minerals

  • Calcium
  • Phosphorus
  • Magnesium
  • Sodium
  • Potassium
  • Chlorine
  • Sulphur
• Minor (Micro) minerals

  • Iron
  • Manganese
  • Copper
  • Iodine
  • Zinc
  • Cobalt
  • Selenium
• Calcium

  • Over 70% of the ash of the body consists of calcium and phosphorus
  • 99% Ca and 80% P of the body are present in bones and teeth
  • Essential for blood coagulation, nerve and muscle function
• Sources of minerals

  • Fruits
  • Vegetables
  • Green forages
• Minerals

  • As constituents of bones and teeth, they give rigidity and strength to the skeletal structures
  • They are also constituents of organic compounds, such as protein and lipids, which make up the muscles, organs, blood cells, and other soft tissues of the body
  • They are components of many enzymes
  • As soluble salts in blood and other body fluids, they contribute to maintaining osmotic pressure and acid-base balance and exert characteristic effect on irritability of muscles and nerves
• Major minerals (Macro minerals)

  • Calcium
  • Phosphorus
  • Magnesium
  • Sodium
  • Potassium
  • Sulphur
• Minor minerals (Micro minerals)

  • Iron
  • Manganese
  • Copper
  • Cobalt
  • Zinc
  • Iodine
  • Selenium
  • Fluorine
• Calcium

  • Over 70% of the ash of the body consists of calcium and phosphorus
  • 99% Ca and 80% P of the body are present in bones and teeth
  • Essential for blood coagulation, nerve and muscle functions
  • Milk and egg production
• Calcium deficiency


  • Retarded growth
  • Deformed bones in young animals (Rickets)
  • Depletion of calcium from bones in adults (osteoporosis)
  • Soft shelled eggs in layers
• Calcium sources

  • Milk
  • Oyster shells
  • Limestone
• Phosphorus

  • Essential for the formation of bones, teeth and body fluids
  • Required for metabolism and cell respiration
  • Required for normal reproduction
• Phosphorus deficiency


  • Loss of appetite
  • Unthrifty appearance
  • Poor reproduction
  • Depraved appetite – 'Pica' characterized by eating of non-feed articles such as wood, bone, clothing etc.
• Phosphorus sources

  • Dicalcium phosphate
  • Bone meal
• Magnesium

  • About 70% of body magnesium is present in bones and teeth
  • Magnesium is an activator of many enzymes especially in transferring phosphorus from ATP to ADP
  • In plants, Mg is a component of chlorophyll, which is necessary for photosynthesis
• Magnesium deficiency

  • Pigs: irritable, show a reluctance to stand, lose equilibrium, go into tetany, and eventually die
  • In calves: 'grass tetany' or 'grass staggers' due to prolonged milk feeding and feeding of immature grasses
  • A similar condition occurs in fresh cows within a week or two after they are turned out to pasture
• Magnesium sources

  • Green fodders
  • Cereal grains
  • Bran
• Sodium

  • Makes up 93% of the bases of blood serum
  • Predominant element in maintaining acid-base balance
  • Sodium seems to be absent in blood cells but occurs in considerable amounts in the muscles where it is associated with muscle functions
  • Important in the formation of digestive juices
• Sodium deficiency

  • Loss of appetite
  • Poor body condition
  • Poor utilization of protein and energy
  • In hens: lower production, loss of weight and cannibalism
• Sodium sources

  • All animal products
  • Common salt
• Potassium

  • Exists primarily as a cellular constituent
  • Blood cells contain 20 times as much as does plasma
  • Maintenance of acid-base balance in the body
• Potassium deficiency is unlikely