ANIMAL NUTRITION Agriculture Science/Production Management Animal Nutrition (20-30 days) This unit deals with animal nutrition. Topics include careers; basic nutrients and functions; basic nutrients of feeds; ruminant digestion; monogastric digestion; avian digestion; psuedo-ruminant digestion; basic rules for feeding, ration balancing, feeding systems, and new developments in livestock feeding. Objectives To acquaint students with employment information and career opportunities in the animal nutrition industry To develop student understanding of the basic nutrient requirements of livestock To help students relate nutrient requirements to biological processes in animal organisms To provide students with a basis for evaluating various types of feeds as sources of specific nutrients To enhance student comprehension of ruminant digestion and its importance as a source of food To provide students with information on how to design balanced and economical ration for animals To enhance students' ability to recognize and treat problems that arise in livestock from nutritional deficiencies To assist students to obtain and use feed analysis data to make effective management decisions To provide students with information needed to analyze and evaluate harvesting and feed storage alternatives Competencies At the conclusion of this unit, students will be able to explain current employment information such as job description, job availability, personal and educational requirements, working conditions, opportunity for advancement, and other factors relative to potential employment in animal nutrition industry and relate it to their personal needs and aspirations; list and discuss the basic nutrients and their function; define the terms associated with feed analysis; identify on a drawing the parts and functions of the digestive tract; describe in sequence the digestive processes; define major categories of nutrient use in the animal body and apply the National Research Council (NRC) tables concerning animal nutritive requirements; list the specific rules for feeding; identify symptoms, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of nutrient deficiencies; interpret and apply NRC data on nutrient content of common feeds; formulate a balanced ration when given specific information; list the economic advantages in the use of home-grown feed; determine least-cost rations using alternative feed supplements; interpret and compare ingredients listed on feed tags to determine most economical feed; use the correct procedures to obtain feed samples for chemical analysis; interpret and apply information from chemical feed analysis; list harvesting and storage alternatives and compare the quality of feed; and identify new concepts in feeding. Subject Matter (Basic skills integration areas are shown in brackets following title.) Careers - Current and future employment needs - Job description - Training requirements - Working conditions - Opportunity for advancement - Other factors Introduction [Science, Social Studies] - Importance of good feeding - Economic considerations Basic nutrients and functions [Science] - Carbohydrates - Fats - Proteins - Minerals - Vitamins - Water Nutritive values of feeds [Science] - Roughages Dry matter Crude and digestible protein Total digestible nutrients (TDN) Estimated net energy (ENE) Crude fiber Minerals Vitamins Palatability factor - Concentrates Dry matter Crude and digestible protein Total digestible nutrients (TDN) Estimated net energy (ENE) Crude fiber Minerals Vitamins Palatability factor Ruminant digestive process [Science] - Parts and functions of digestive tract - Digestive processes Mechanical factors Chemical factors Monogastric digestion [Science] - Parts and functions of digestive tract - Digestive processes Mechanical factors Chemical factors Pseudo-ruminant digestion [Science] - Parts of the digestive tract - Digestive processes Mechanical factors Enzymes Bacteria Nutritive requirements of all classes of animals [Science] - Maintenance - Growth - Reproduction - Production - Herd health as affected by feeding Basic rules for feeding [Mathematics, Science] - Roughage - Grain - Dry matter basis - As-fed basis Balancing rations [Mathematics, Science] - Nutritive requirements of animals Protein Total digestible nutrients Minerals and vitamins - Home-grown feeds Maximum utilization Economics - Purchased feed Ration supplements 1. protein 2. vitamins 3. minerals 4. additives Roughages and grains Economics - Analysis of commercial feeds - Analysis of home-grown feeds Feeding systems and feed quality [Science] - Harvesting alternatives - Storage alternatives New developments [Science, Social Studies] Motivational Activities Compare the home-feeding programs of several local farms to accepted standards. Take field trips to a local feed mill or an outstanding farm area. Invite resource people, such as county extension agents, feed dealers, and veterinarians, to give class presentations. View films, videotapes, and slides on unit-related topics. Learning Activities Participate in a Supervised Agricultural Experience program. Create feed sample displays. Balance rations according to National Research Council Feeding Guide. Examine the digestive tract of a slaughtered animal. Collect feed tags for comparison. Develop a least-cost ration using a computer. Demonstrate on-farm forage and grain sampling. Visit several farms and compare their forage harvesting and storage alternatives. Invite a veterinarian to speak to class on how feeding affects animal health. Instructional Materials Textbooks and References Animal Nutrition and Feeding by James R. Gillespie. Albany, NY: Delmar, 1987. Approved Practices in Feeds and Feeding by Daniel W. Cessard et al. 5th ed. Danville, IL: Interstate, 1977. Dairy Farm Management by Thomas Quinn. Albany, NY: Delmar, 1980. Feed Formulations by Tilden W. Perry. 3rd ed. Danville, IL: Interstate, 1982. Available from National Farm Book Company. Feeds and Feeding by Frank B. Morrison. Abridged. Clinton, IA: Morrison Publishing, 1961. Feeds and Nutrition by M.E. Ensminger and C.G. Olentine, Jr.. Danville, IL: Interstate, 1978. Complete and abridged editions available from National Farm Book Company. Livestock and Poultry Production by Clarence E. Bundy and Ronald V. Diggins. 5th ed. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1982. Available from National Farm Book Company. Modern Livestock and Poultry Production by James R. Gillespie. 2nd ed. Albany, NY: Delmar, 1983. Bulletins and Pamphlets The following are available from the Cooperative Extension Service. Forage Tests and Computerized Balanced Rations Really Pay. A7780109. Selecting the Grain Mix Protein Level in Dairy Rations. A2183. Taking a Good Forage Sample. A2309. The following is available from the Instructional Materials Laboratory. Animal Nutrition Unit The following are available from the Ohio Agricultural Education Curriculum Materials Service. Feeding Dairy Cattle. 414X. New York Instructional Materials Service, 1982. Livestock Management. 401X (29-pamphlet series). Texas Instructional Materials Service. Livestock Nutrition and Feeding. 4004M. 1979. The following is available from Vocational Agriculture Services. General Facts on Livestock Feeding. U1013a. Periodicals Animal Health and Nutrition (formerly Animal Nutrition and Health) Dairy Herd Management Dairymen's Digest - North Central Region Edition Farm Journal Feedstuffs Hoard's Dairyman Journal of Dairy Science Successful Farming Wisconsin Agriculturist Computer Software The following is available from ACS Software Publishing. Livestock Management Games. ACS215 (Set of four games). Apple. Individual games from the set also may be ordered, titles and order numbers are as follows: "Cattle Management Game." ACS211. "Dairy Management Game." ACS214. "Sheep Management Game." ACS212. "Swine Management Game." ACS213. The following is available from Agri-Farm Productions, Inc. Feed Shopper. A3248. Apple. The following area available from Mid States Agri-Technology Associates, Ltd. Dairy Ration Master. Apple. Micro-Tutor: Feeds and Feeding. Apple, IBM. The following is available from Hobar Publications. Dairy Ration Balancing. IBM. On-line Computer Networks The following are available from Ag Ed Network, AgriData Resources, Inc. Dairy Feed Equipment. HS84. Feed Buying. ADN60. Herd Feeding. CSU375. Management Plans: Cattle on Feed I. HS605. Management Plans: Cattle on Feed II. HS608. Storage of Animal Feed. HS68. Laboratory Resources The following is available from the National Vocational Agriculture Book Company. Vocational Agriculture Workbook No. #2. Films, Videotapes, and Slides The following are available from Agri-Farm Publications, Inc. Nutrition. 5680 (VHS videotape, color, 28 minutes). Planning Sheep Nutrition. (VHS videotape.) The following is available from the Ohio Agricultural Education Curriculum Materials Service. Swine Digestion. 4015S (12 color slides with illustrated script) or 4015N (Script only). 1977. The following is available from the Media Resources Center. Rumen Story. (16mm film, color, 25 minutes). Ralston Purina Company, n.d.