CLF267 - - AGRICULTURE CORE CURRICULUM - - (CLF200) Core Area: ANIMAL SCIENCE (CLF260) Unit Title: NUTRITION AND FEEDS ______________________________________________________________________________ (CLF267) Topic: VITAMINS AND MINERALS time taught in year 2 hours 2 ______________________________________________________________________________ Topic objectives: Upon completion of this lesson the student will be able to: (E-1-3,7,8; F-2) - Develop an understanding of the different vitamins and their functions related to feeding livestock. (E-1-3,7,8; F-2) - Develop an understanding of the minerals needed by animals and their functions. Special Materials and Equipment: Glass beaker and salt Evaluation: Testing and worksheet #1 REFERENCES: Bundy and Diggins, LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY PRODUCTION, 2nd edition, pg. 29-24. Ensminger, ANIMAL SCIENCE, 5th edition, pg. 109-140. Morrison, FEEDS AND FEEDING, 9th edition, pg. 61-102. Ralston Purina Company, ANIMAL NUTRITION HANDBOOK, pg. 17-26. TOPIC PRESENTATION: VITAMINS AND MINERALS TEACHERS: This unit on vitamins and minerals is very thorough. After teaching the introductory material, it may be necessary to select examples from the following lists, rather than teaching all the vitamins and minerals discussed in this topic. PART A: Getting acquainted with vitamins and their functions in livestock feeding. 1. Vitamins: a. are an ESSENTIAL organic nutrient which is required in minute amounts; b. cannot be made (synthesized in the body) and must be obtained through an external source such as diet, sunshine, rumen bacteria, etc; and c. are required in for growth, maintenance, reproduction, and lactation. 2. Vitamins vs. other nutrients: a. They are not used to directly build body tissue, instead they are components of specific enzyme and hormone systems which affect all bodily activities and are thus essential for the normal life process. 3. Classes of vitamins (fat-soluble and water-soluble): a. Fat-soluble vitamins can be STORED AND ACCUMULATED in the liver and other fatty tissues, whereas only very limited amount of water-soluble vitamins are stored. b. Because they cannot be stored, it is important that water-soluble vitamins be provided regularly in the ration in adequate amounts. Water-soluble vitamin deficiencies can develop in a short period of time. c. Fat-soluble vitamins include A, E, D, and K; water-soluble vitamins include C, B vitamins and choline 4. Vitamin deficiencies: a. Unless there is another physiological problem, most animals on commercially prepared feeds will not develop vitamin deficiencies because the feeds are usually "fortified" and balanced. b. Animals on pasture or range are the ones which typically develop deficiencies. This may be due to a seasonal deficiency in the feed, a "toxin" (poison) which "blocks" absorption of a vitamin, etc. TEACHERS: The following discussion on vitamins is very thorough. You may want to list all of the vitamins, but only discuss a selected few in detail. 5. Function, deficiency signs and sources: a. Vitamin A 1) Function - development of normal, healthy, epithelial tissue or skin and nerve tissue which aids in building up resistance to infection. ALL ANIMALS require a source of Vitamin A. It is important in the ration of pregnant females. 2) Deficiency signs - retarded growth in the young and the development of a peculiar condition around the eyes known as Xerophthalmia. Night blindness, affects reproduction. 3) Sources - carotene, animal body oils (cod fish and tuna), legume forages, and can be synthetically produced. b. Vitamin E 1) Function - normal reproduction, serves as the protector of vitamin A in the diet of poultry and cattle. 2) Deficiency signs - "crazy chick disease," white muscle disease in ruminants, and stiff lamb disease (affects the nerves and muscles). 3) Sources - synthetic tocopherol for poultry, cereal grains, wheat germ oil, forages, protein concentrates, and alpha tocopherol. 4) Feeding of rancid or spoiled fats may cause white muscle disease. c. Vitamin D 1) Function - is essential for the proper utilization of calcium and phosphorus to produce normal, healthy bones. 2) Deficiency signs - retarded growth, misshapen bones (rickets), and lameness. 3) Sources - forage crops, fish liver oils, irradiated yeast. Chemical forms: Vitamin D2 and Vitamin D3. d. Vitamin K 1) Function - necessary for the maintenance of normal blood coagulation. 2) Deficiency signs - blood loses its power to clot and serious hemorrhages can result from slight wounds or bruises. 3) Sources - leafy forages, fish meal, liver, soybeans, and the synthetic compound - menadione. e. Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid) 1) Function - has an effect on the metabolism of calcium in the body. (Not required in rations of farm animals.) 2) Deficiency signs - scurvy (swollen and painful joints and bleeding gums), and brittleness of bones. 3) Sources - citrus fruits, tomatoes, leafy vegetables, and potatoes. f. Vitamin B1 (Thiamin) 1) Function - required for the normal metabolism of carbohydrates. 2) Deficiency signs - loss of appetite, muscular weakness, severe nervous disorders, general weakness and wasting (BeriBeri). 3) Sources - raw, whole grains and especially their seed coats and embryos; fresh green forage; yeast. g. Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 1) Function - necessary for normal embryo development, important in the metabolism of amino acids and carbohydrates. 2) Deficiency signs - poor reproduction characterized by small litters and deformed young (cleft palate and club- footedness). Curly toe paralysis in chicks, digestive disturbances, general weakness, eye trouble. 3) Sources - milk and dairy by-products, yeast, green forages, well cured hay, whole grains, wheat bran, and synthetic riboflavin. h. Niacin 1) Function - recognized and designed as the pellagra preventing vitamin or black tongue factor. (Ruminants do not need niacin because they produce it through bacterial syntheses in the rumen.) 2) Deficiency signs - reddening of the skin and development of sores in the mouth and intestinal tract resulting in bloody diarrhea. Fowl - slipped tendons or perosis, poor feathering. 3) Sources - dried yeast, rice bran, wheat bran, peanut oil meal, green forage, barley grain, sorghum grains, fish meal, meat scrap, and the amino acid tryptophan. i. Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) 1) Function - deals with fat metabolism and seems to be associated with the transportation and synthesis of unsaturated fatty acids. 2) Deficiency signs - specific dermatitis (acrodynia) and convulsions. 3) Sources - cereal grains, milk, cane molasses, yeast, and rice polish. (No danger of a deficiency of this vitamin in animal rations.) j. Pantothenic Acid (Panacid) 1) Function - plays an essential role in many basic biochemical reactions. (It is synthesized by bacterial action in the rumen.) 2) Deficiency signs - abnormal skin condition about the face and eyes, retarded growth, and poor feather development. (e.g., swine - poor appetite, slow growth, coughing, diarrhea, dermatitis, and stilted gait) 3) Sources - fresh small grains, alfalfa hay, green pasture, wheat bran, peanut oil, dairy by-products, and yeast. k. Vitamin B12 1) Function - essential for normal growth, reproduction and blood formation. 2) Deficiency signs - poor growth and reproduction. 3) Sources - chemically pure substance B12, fish meal, liver meal, and dried milk products. l. Choline (is included with the vitamins because it is essential and a dietary source is needed; however, it is synthesized in the body to a limited extent and therefore does not fit the definition of a true vitamin) 1) Function - helps with the transportation and utilization of fatty acids. 2) Deficiency signs - kidney and liver damage, slipped tendons or perosis in chicks, and development of fatty livers. 3) Sources - choline chloride in ration, liver meal, brewer's yeast, fish meal, cottonseed meal, and soybean oil meal. m. Biotin (considered a "B-complex" vitamin) 1) Function - in chicks: prevents slipped tendons and increases the hatchability of eggs. 2) Deficiency signs - slipped tendons in chicks, and reduces the hatchability of eggs. 3) Sources - ordinary feeds. n. Folic acid (Folacin) (considered a "B-complex" vitamin) 1) Function - required for normal blood cell development and is considered an "anti-anemia vitamin". 2) Deficiency signs - megaloblastic anemia, retarded growth, poor feathering, bleaching of feather, and poor hatchability of eggs. 3) Sources - forages, oil meals, and cereal grains. __________________________________________________________ ACTIVITY: Show pictures of vitamin deficient animals to the class. If time permits, you may want to discuss typical vitamin deficiencies in humans including scurvy, beri-beri, and pellagra. __________________________________________________________ TEACHERS: The following discussion on minerals is very thorough. You may want to consider listing all of the included minerals, but discuss only a sample of them in greater detail. PART B: Getting acquainted with minerals and their functions in livestock feeding. 1. Required minerals: a. As many as twenty minerals may be required by the animal body. 2. Two minerals needed most (calcium and phosphorus): Why? a. Because the skeleton on an animal's body is chiefly of these two minerals. 3. Based on the relative amount needed by mammals, minerals are often divided into two categories as follows: a. The macrominerals (more needed): Calcium (Ca), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K), Sodium (Na), Chlorine (Cl), Magnesium (Mg), and Sulfur (S). b. The microminerals (less needed): Iodine (I), Copper (Cu), Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn), Zinc (Zn), Molybdenum (Mo), and Selenium (Se). 4. Function, deficiency signs, and sources of minerals: a. Calcium (Ca): 1) Function - major component of bones and teeth and essential in blood coagulation. 2) Deficiency signs - retarded growth, deformed bones (rickets), and softshelled eggs. 3) Sources - milk, oyster shells, and limestone. b. Phosphorus (P): 1) Function - essential for the formation of bones, teeth, and body fluids. Required for metabolism, cell respiration, and normal reproduction. 2) Deficiency signs - similar to calcium deficiency, lack of appetite, poor reproduction, and unthrifty appearance. 3) Sources - dicalcium phosphate, bone meal, and low fluorine phosphates. c. Sodium-Chloride-Potassium (Na, Cl, K) 1) Function - required for the formation and retention of body fluids, such as protoplasm, blood, and digestive juices. 2) Deficiency signs - poor condition and depressed appetite. 3) Sources - salt supplements and injectable products. ___________________________________________________ ACTIVITY: Place some salt into a container at the front of the classroom. Have a volunteer come up and taste it and tell what it is. Explain that this is considered a mineral. ___________________________________________________ d. Iron (Fe): 1) Function - essential for the function of every organ and tissue of the body (Hemoglobin). 2) Deficiency signs - nutritional anemia. 3) Sources - forages and copper salts. e. Copper (Cu): 1) Function - should be present in animal tissues for iron to be properly utilized. 2) Deficiency signs - poor pigmentation of feathers, stringy wool, sway back lambs, lack of muscle coordination, and anemia. 3) Sources - forages and copper salts. f. Cobalt (Co): 1) Function - required as a nutrient for the microorganisms in ruminants. 2) Deficiency signs - lack of appetite, loss of weight, rough hair coat, and death in extreme cases. 3) Sources - legume forages and salt containing colbalt. g. Magnesium (Mg): 1) Function - similar to calcium and phosphorus. 2) Deficiency signs - Animals are irritable, their heart beat is irregular, and there is severe kidney damage. 3) Sources - mineral supplements, ordinary feeds. h. Manganese (Mn): 1) Function - affects growth and reproduction. 2) Deficiency signs - rabbits develop small crooked legs, chicks display a deformity of leg bones, causes sterility, and ovulation is irregular. 3) Sources - salt supplements and ordinary feed. i. Sulphur (S): 1) Function - necessary in organic form of the essential amino acids, cystine and methionine. 2) Deficiency signs - none; very little sulphur is needed in rations. 3) Sources - legumes; also occurs in the amino acid building units of proteins. j. Zinc (Zn): 1) Function - necessary for good growth and for normal hair development, aids in wound healing, and serves as an activator of other enzyme systems. 2) Deficiency signs - growth and hair development are retarded. 3) Sources - vegetable kingdom. k. Iodine (I) 1) Function - essential for the formation of the hormone, thyroxine. 2) Deficiency signs - nutritional goiter. 3) Sources - iodized or mineralized salt. l. Fluorine (Fl): 1) Function - difficult to assign any function but is found in bones, teeth and skin. 2) Deficiency signs - tooth decay (also caused by toxic (too high) levels in rations). 3) Sources - calcium phosphates and mineral supplements. m. Molybdenum (Mo) 1) Function - has a role in enzyme systems. 2) Deficiency signs - extreme diarrhea with loss of weight and production. 3) Sources - forages. n. Selenium (Se): 1) Function - can replace sulphur in the amino acids, cystine and methionine. 2) Deficiency signs - los of hair from the mane and tail in horses, loss of hair from the tail of cattle, and loss of hair in swine, hoofs slough off, lameness occurs, and appetite decreases. 3) Sources - legumes 4. Sources of mineral supplements: a. High quality ground limestone b. Steamed bonemeal c. Salt d. Trace mineral mixture 5. Type of roughage: a. Legume SUPPLEMENTAL WORKSHEET ATTACHED Supplemental Worksheet #1: Vitamins and Minerals Name___________________________ Date____________________ Class____________________ 1. What is meant by the term vitamin? 2. Which vitamin ranks first in importance in livestock feeding? 3. How do vitamins differ from other nutrients? 4. Distinguish between a fat-soluble vitamin and a water-soluble vitamin and give two examples of each. 5. Discuss the function, deficiency signs, and sources of each of the vitamins needed by livestock. 6. Why is choline not considered a true vitamin? 7. How many minerals may be required by animals in their ration? 8. What two minerals are of greatest importance in an animal's ration? 9. Discuss the function, deficiency symptoms and source of each of the minerals needed by livestock. 10. What are some sources of mineral supplements? 11. What type of roughages provide the best source of minerals?