Animal Nutrition

Although minerals and vitamins are needed in generally small quantities within the body, it is important to note that the overall feeding requirements for these contents differ in regards to the age and lifestyle of the animal. Younger animals who are still growing in body proportions need time to develop the structures needed for adulthood, and should be supplemented with more nutrition than an adult would. However, it is important to measure these out appropriately otherwise overdoses could occur, resulting in health difficulties and possible deformities (Gogus, 2011).

 

The most important nutrients that need to be monitored and altered within the body are the Electrolytes; this is because they form the ions and impulses within body fluids, and are responsible for nerves and blood pressures. Without them, the body would not be able to reach homeostasis and would be severely imbalanced (Stöppler, 2015).

 

Although specific measurement requirements for animal species are not given, the general rule for feeding animals vitamins and minerals are as followed:

 

• Younger animals need higher ash content than the maintenance requirement in order to sustain optimal growth and development

 

• Adult animals should be provided a maintenance ash content diet, unless they are in circumstances that require more (ie: working animals such as horses need an influx in electrolytes whilst they race to keep them healthy)

 

• Pregnant and lactating animals need a higher ash content than the maintenance requirement in order to sustain both themselves and their offspring.

 

• Geriatric animals need a higher ash content than the maintenance requirement in order to prevent diseases that occur with age, such as Brittle Bone Disease.

 

In regards to the list above, an animal’s diet overall will be affected by the lifestyle it lives by (Georgievskii et al, 1982).

 

A Companion animal is regularly used for the sake of company; they tend to have little responsibility (although companion animals can still work, i.e. working dogs) and are prone to obesity due to the lack of stimulation to work off their meals (PETA, 2015). Because of this, we are expected to feed them a maintenance diet, which is the minimum requirement needed to keep the animal alive and healthy (see figure 21). Exceptions occur through specific diseases, ailments and working abilities (U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 1995).

 

A Collection animal is used as an exhibit for people to observe animals in a natural setting. These are animals such as zoo animals, who, like companion animals, have little to no working standards (Dictionary.com, 2015). Unlike the companion animals, however, collection animals are not fed on edited feed mixtures, but are instead aimed to be fed as naturally as possible. Whilst they are still fed regularly on a maintenance diet to keep healthy, their diet will be as in accordance to their wild counterparts as much as possible. Whilst a UK zoo wouldn’t be able to haul in a regular zebra for their lions to consume, they would instead be fed on red meat of the same proportions, instead of factorised completed foods like most pets would be served (Chester Zoo, 2015).

 

A Production animal is used to produce an end product; this could be meat, milk, eggs, offspring, and other services. Production animals are expected to be grown out as quick as possible to obtain as much product as possible; they are used solely for profit (Farlex, 2015). Quality of the product and speed of production is of main importance, so production animals will be fed on high energy diets, depending on the product they are producing. A pig for example, will be on a high protein diet, because it is require to grow masses of muscle to serve as meat. Because the end product will be consumed by others, it has to be as healthy and at best production possible in order to receive greater profit (Wellock and Toplis, 2009).