Understanding Carbohydrates and Fats in Livestock Nutrition

1. Carbohydrates and fats

2. Objectives: • To be able to discuss classes and sources of carbohydrates needed by livestock • To be able to discuss the characteristics and uses of fats in livestock

3. Carbohydrates are : • Compound composed of Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen. Examples are starches and sugars. • They form 75% of all dry matter in plants • They are the chief source of energy in animal feed

4. Three classes of Carbohydrates are: • Sugars • Starches • Crude Fiber • *Animal Starch is called Glycogen

5. Feeding value of cellulose • Hard to digest • Can only be digested through bacteria in the rumen or cecum and still not as complete as other carbohydrates

6. Crude Fiber: • Includes relatively indigestible material such as cellulose and other complex carbohydrates • Is found in forages and other “woody” plants

7. Sources of Carbohydrates • Grains: corn, oats, barley, wheat, and grain sorghums • Roughages: legume hay, and corn silage • Molasses

8. Functions of fats: • Aids in the absorption of vitamins • Helps in the absorption of calcium • Increases the palatability of a ration • Decreases the dryness and dustiness of the ration • Increases the production of energy • Is found in every cell in the body

9. Rancid Fats: • Decrease palatability of ration causing stale and unpleasant odor • Destroys some fat soluble vitamins • Produces soft lard in hogs • Decreases milk production

10. Sources of Fat: • Lard • Tallow • Vegetable oils • Soybean and peanut oil • Feed grains

11. When rations are high in fat, it is necessary to increase protein and water soluble vitamin content because animals limit their feed intake by satisfying their caloric requirement first. There is a danger that young animals may not get sufficient protein for maximum growth unless protein levels or quality are increased High Fat Content in Rations:

12. Web sites: • Www.basf.com • www.prs.k12.nj.us/ • nsc.bhsu.edu