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Caring For Your Animals

Caring For Your Animals. Developed by: Holly George and Susie Kocher University of California Extension With Contributions From Bob Hamblen, Colorado State University Cooperative Extension. UNCE, Reno, NV. We’ll be covering. Ruminant versus non ruminant digestive systems

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Caring For Your Animals

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  1. Caring For Your Animals Developed by: Holly George and Susie Kocher University of California Extension With Contributions From Bob Hamblen, Colorado State University Cooperative Extension Animal Ownership UNCE, Reno, NV

  2. We’ll be covering • Ruminant versus non ruminant digestive systems • Animal nutritional needs • Preventative health care • Additional tips for health and safety

  3. The three digestive systems • Monogastric • Nonruminant herbivore • Ruminant www.usda.gov servicemeansnet/pukite www.usda.gov

  4. Monogastric (simple-stomached) • Simplest of all digestive systems • Limited capacity, limited microbial action and fiber digestion • Better adapted to concentrated feeds such as grains and meats than to roughages • Single-stomached animals include pigs, fish, dogs, and humans A. Miller www.usda.gov

  5. Swine facts • Pigs are the cleanest domestic farm animal. • Given a reasonable amount of space in their pen or pasture, they will select a particular area for manure and not foul their own nest. servicemeansnet/pukite

  6. Avian digestive system • The digestive system of poultry differs considerably from other monogastrics in that they have no teeth. • Digestion in the fowl is rapid 2 ½ hours in laying hen and 8-12 hours in non-laying hen www.usda.gov

  7. Poultry: for meat or eggs? • A laying ration provides 2X more Vitamin A, 2 ½ X more Vitamin D and at least 3X more Calcium • A mature, lightweight bird will eat about ¼ pound of feed daily (90 lbs/year) while producing about 240 eggs or more each year. • Broiler can gain 2 pounds for each pound of feed eaten.

  8. Nonruminant herbivores: horse, rabbit, guinea pig and hamster

  9. Horses • Digestive system and nutrient requirements are more similar to a pig than to a cow. • Compared to cows, horses need less roughage, more and higher quality protein and added B vitamins. • Where no pasture is available, a 1,000- pound horse will consume about 25 lbs/day of hay and grain, or about 4.6 tons per year. UNCE, Reno, NV

  10. Special challenges of horses • Formation of bones • Irregular use and/or strenuous exercise • For increased energy requirements, decrease roughage and increase grain • Limited protein synthesis and poor absorption means that they must be fed high quality protein www.holisticvetpetcare.com

  11. Ruminants • No upper incisors or canine teeth • Four stomach compartments • More space & microorganisms • Synthesize essential amino acids • Breakdown cellulose into VFAs • Includes cows, goats, sheep, elk, deer, bison, llamas and alpacas Beginning Sheperd’s Manual by Barbara Smith

  12. Ruminant biology • Complex, multi-chambered stomach ferments feed • Microorganisms in stomach convert plant cells into usable energy

  13. The rumen advantage Animals with rumens can get more energy from plant materials than those without rumens because of the fermentation process. www.usda.gov

  14. Digestive tract capacities

  15. Nutritional needs of animals • Water • Energy • Protein • Minerals • Vitamins NRCS, Bozeman, MT

  16. Water needs www.usda.gov • Water needs will vary by animal size, reproductive status and weather • Average animal needs: • Beef cow or horse: 12 gallons/day • Pig: 8 gallons/day • Llama: 5 gallons/day • Sheep or goat: 4 gallons/day • These needs may double on hot days

  17. ENERGY: Carbohydrates and fats • Grains • Alfalfa hay • Silage • Pasture and grass hay NRCS, Bozeman, MT

  18. Energy from feed • Depends on species’ digestive tract • Total digestible nutrient (TDN) measures usable energy in a feed for a given species www.farmphoto.com

  19. Digestibility of feedstuff by species

  20. Protein • Most expensive nutrient • Proteins contain amino acids, the building blocks for muscle, hair, etc. • Quantity of protein fed is more important than quality USDA-ARS

  21. Crude protein and stage of growth

  22. Minerals • Supplement choices: • Mineral block • Feed additive • Water additive www.cgiar.org

  23. Sheep mineral requirements vary by • Breed • Age, sex and growth rate • Nature and rate of reproduction • Lactation • Level and chemical form ingested • Overall balance and adequacy of diet • Hormonal and other physiological activities within the animal • Climate www.ewe.uk.com

  24. Vitamins • Required in small amounts • Essential for metabolism • NOT normally synthesized by the body • Two types • Fat soluble – A, D, E, K • Water soluble – B, C

  25.  Vitamins for ruminants • Ruminants produce some of their own vitamins, but not all • Sheep make B, K, and C • Sheep need A, D, and E in their diet • Can convert A from beta carotene with good quality feed • Can store enough A for four to six months on a vitamin A deficient diet • Can make enough vitamin D if kept in the sun www.ewe.uk.com

  26. Nutrient requirements depend on • Animal’s digestive system • Climate, season of year • Desired gain • Work performance • Production stage (breeding, pregnant, lactating, growing, dry) www.ewe.uk.com services.means.net/pukite/pig

  27. Nutrient requirements

  28. What do your animals need? servicemeansnet and www.usda.gov

  29. Let’s talk hay

  30. Hay quality…Important factors • Type of hay (alfalfa vs. grass) • Stage of plant maturity & leafiness • How well it dried after being cut • Foreign material present (weeds, wire, etc.) • Storage & handling

  31. You be the judge! • Color • Leafiness • Maturity • Texture • Odor • Foreign material

  32. Hay Judging Notes

  33. Your land’s feed/forage potential • Depends on whether you plan to graze animals or produce crops to feed animals NRCS, Bozeman, MT www.usda.gov

  34. Defining our terms • Feed – provided to animals • Measured in tons per acre • Forage – consumed by grazing • Measured by Animal Unit Month (AUM) • AUM = amount consumed by a 1,000 pound animal in one month

  35. How much feed?

  36. Calculating forage production • Amount produced depends on • Soil fertility • Irrigation • Grazing management • Length of growing season www.farmpicture.com www.usda.gov

  37. Annual feed and forage production

  38. Balancing feed/hay and forage requirements with your land

  39. Jan Feb Dec Nov March April Oct Sept May August June July Seasonal forage availability UCCE

  40. Birth Peak Lactation (45 days) 45 days to Birth Begin Last Trimester Breeding Lactation (145 days) Weaning Late Lactation (180 days) Cow seasonal energy requirements UCCE

  41. Forage quality versus quantity High Quality Pasture Low Quality Pasture Daily requirement of high quality forage Daily requirement of low quality forage Nutrient intake of low quality forage ½ the quality X ½ the consumption = ¼ the nutrition UCCE

  42. Providing nutrition year-round • Purchase feed • Improve pasture production • Grow feed instead of, or in addition to, forage

  43. The “normal” animal • Before discussing basic health programs, let’s talk about the normal animal. • Attitude and behavior are the first most visible indicators of an animal’s health. Be observant!

  44. Nutrition and health • Well-fed animals in good condition are healthier and more resistant to disease • Two categories of disease: • Infectious “to put into”- caused by parasites, fungi, bacteria, viruses, protozoa • Noninfectious - caused by non-living agents such as nutritional deficiencies, metabolic disorders, trauma, congenital defects & toxic materials.

  45. Preventative healthcare needs for animals • Consult a local veterinarian • Maintain vaccinations schedules • Record-keeping is a must • Quarantine new animals

  46. Deciding what to vaccinate for • Consult a local veterinarian • State or local regulations • Prevalence of disease in your area • Effectiveness of the vaccine or bacterin • Cost of the vaccine • Adverse reactions

  47. Adherence to drug labels • Follow veterinarian recommendations • Follow label requirements • Make sure drug is species-specific • Keep records

  48. Additional preventative care • Parasites • Internal • External USDA-ARS

  49. Parasites…beef example

  50. Do your animals have access to any of these? • Toxic weeds • Toxic bedding • Moldy hay or grain • Trash • Lawn clippings • Herbicides www.aphis.usda.gov

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