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ANIMAL WELFARE. ELISTA Education 2011. The Freedom from Hunger & Thirst. Freedom from Hunger and Thirst. Doing little harm, but little good. No provision of Freedom. Optimal Welfare. Dehydrated Starved Malnourished. Good quality balanced diet appropriate to specie and life stage
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ANIMAL WELFARE ELISTA Education 2011
Freedom from Hunger and Thirst Doing little harm, but little good No provision of Freedom Optimal Welfare • Dehydrated • Starved • Malnourished • Good quality balanced diet appropriate to specie and life stage • Clean fresh water available at all times • Mechanism of provision Poor quality/less appropriate food Potentially prevent freedom from pain, injury and disease
Optimal Welfare • Suitable supply of balanced diet • Access to water • Mechanism of feed and water (pm) • Suitable to life stage/special dietary requirements (pm)
A Balanced Diet Is made up of essential “nutrients” which allow the body of an animal to function and be maintained at the level appropriate to that individuals live stage or activity level. Nutrient=“source of nourishment…” To Nourish=“To provide…necessary for life and growth” www.the freedictionary.com
A Balanced Diet… • Protein • Carbohydrates • Fat • Vitamins • Minerals • Water
Protein • Made up of compounds C, H, O, N and occasionally S • Different sequences of compounds make amino acids e.g Phe= Phenylalanine Arg= Arginine There are both ‘essential’ and ‘non-essential’ amino acids. Essential amino acids must be provided in the diet as not made in the body, non-essential amino acids are made through essential ones. Essential amino acids are required for protein synthesis (production of all cell tissue +DNA)
Protein • Protein is broken down by pepsin and trypsin (within pancreatic juice) in small intestine. The pancreas varies in size and in proportion to the rest of the animal depending on specie and gives an indication to the protein requirements.
ProteinFunctions • Protein Synthesis • Growth • Tissue maintenance and repair • Hormones and Enzymes • Components of Immune System
ProteinDeficiency • Reduced growth of young animals • Weight Loss • Reduced Performance/Ability or Production • Bad condition of coat, hooves, nails/claws • Impaired Immune System • Appetite Depravity (may eat own faeces) Excess protein can promote fast growth rate and possibly weight gain. Poor quality Protein can be converted to energy
ProteinTypes Generally categorised as HIGH biological value (HBV) or LOW biological value (LBV) protein. Typically meat= HBV cereals, nuts, pulses=LBV Exceptions e.g Soya. HBV is easier to digest.
Carbohydrates • Made up of compounds C, H, and O • Monosaccharides (simple sugars) e.g Glucose, Fructose, Galactose • Disaccharides e.g Sucrose, Maltose, Lactose • Polysaccharides (complex) e.g Starch and Cellulose Starch has a lot of ‘alpha’ joined glucose making it very soluble Cellulose has a lot of ‘beta’ joined glucose. Only rumen/caecum micro organisms can break this down
Carbohydrates • Carbohydrates are first broken down by salivary amylase and then the intestines or similar. Digestive systems of animals are adapted to break down the carbohydrates of their diet.
CarbohydrateFunctions • Provide Energy • System working and maintenance; brain, heart, nervous, digestive and immune • Fibre, which is also a form of carbohydrate, is essential for the elimination of waste materials and toxins from the body and helps to keep the intestines disease-free and clean.
CarbohydrateDeficiency • Lack of Energy • Potential kidney problems due to the breakdown of additional acid produced from cells functioning without glucose • Use of protein as energy, possible muscle wastage
Fat • Compounds C, H, O • Found as triglycerides • Source of the essential fatty acids; • Linoleic, Linolenic and Arachidonic • (important in endocrine and immune system) • Saturated fats are typically ‘solid’ (in meat and meat by products) • Unsaturated fats are more so ‘oils’ (in nuts, plant material) glycerol
Fat • Fat is broken down by bile (produced in gall bladder) in the stomach and lipase (within pancreatic juice) in small intestine. • Fatty acids broken down from triclycerides in the digestive system move through the blood and lymph system to reform into triclycerides and be stored in tissue and specialised cells. • Fat stores can be utilised if necessary for energy.
FatFunctions • Carry electrons (part of atoms) • Component of cell membranes (as lipids) • Store for some vitamins • Energy • Insulation • Normal functioning of body systems (esp. Immune and Endocrine)
FatDeficiency • Poor coat • Flaky skin • Hair Loss • Impaired Reproductive Efficiency
Vitamins • Fat soluble or Water Soluble • Source • Function • Deficiency • Toxicity/Excess
Vitamin A (Fat Soluble) • Source:Liver, egg yolk, milk,(precursor, converted in wall of small intestine-B carotene found in)green forage leaves. • Function:Night vision, healthy skin cells, bone formation, reproduction, immune system • Deficiency:Reduced feed and growth rate, dry rough brittle coat, poor night vision, hyperkeratinization of cornea and skin, respiratory infections, poor reproductionExcess:Hypervitaminosis A, Bone problems, loss of hair and skin, other vitamin inbalances
Vitamin D (Fat Soluble) • Source:From the sun • Function:Utilised in kidneys, bones and intestine to maintain Ca and P levels in plasma • Deficiency:Same as Calcuim and Phosphorus; rickets, osteomalacia • Excess:Excessive Ca and P deposits
Vitamin E (Fat Soluble) • Source:Green Forage, Grass and oil seeds • Function:Block free radical attack to cells, a barrier at cell wall • Deficiency:Impaired reproduction in some species (same as Selenium) • Excess:Toxicity rare
Vitamin K (Fat Soluble) • Source: K1-Produced by bacteria K2-Green Leafy Plants • Function:Involved in blood clotting • Deficiency:Impaired blood clotting (rare) • Excess: Blood related problems
Vitamin B’s (Water Soluble) • Types: Vitamin B complex includes: Thiamine (B1), Riboflavin (B2), Folic Acid (B9)alsoB3,5,6,7,12 • Source:Most B vitamins are synthesises in the gut (B12 from Cobalt), all but B12 are also found in most unprocessed food • Function:Involved in metabolism of protein, carbohydrates, fat and haemoglobin. Vit B12 used to convert the acid produced by intestinal microbes of ruminants to glucose. • Deficiency:Many deficiencies conditions in humans, animals less affected, although deficiency in B12 can affect ruminants • Excess:Toxicity is rare
Vitamin C (Water Soluble)Ascrobic Acid • Source:Plants and Fruits, synthesised in body by majority of animals • Function:Required for enzyme activity, acts as antioxidant, for production of collagen for skin • Deficiency:Scurvy • Excess:Toxicity rare as not stored
Minerals • Macro-minerals (required in larger quantity) - Ca, P, K, Na, Cl, S, Mg • Micro-minerals (trace elements required in tiny quantity) • - Cu, Zn, Fe, Co, Se
Calcium & Phosphorus • Interconnected in function; Bone, muscle, nerve production and function
Sodium & Potassium • Interrelated; Involved in pH balance and osmosis (body fluid regulation)
Copper • Important in many enzyme actions including production of Melanin, Iron into bloodstream and Respiration (o2 to CO2)
Selenium • Works closely with Vitamin E, helps in production of antioxidants to fight against free-radicals
Iron • Component of Haemoglobin • Excreted when not required
Water • Compounds of 2 H and 1 O • Found in food, drink and through metabolic processes • Lost through Faeces, Urine, Lungs, Skin, Milk
WaterFunctions • Transport of materials in body • Solvent • Heat exchange (evaporation from skin and lungs) • Excretion (urine and sweat) • Hydrolysis (splitting of water for H protons)
How do we know the feed we are providing is ‘balanced’?
How do we know the food we eat is appropriate for us? • Make ourselves knowledgeable • Pay attention to experts • Trial and error (see what works) • Personal Preference (Palatability)… We should aim to do the same for our animals!
Making ourselves knowledgeable… Researching such as… • Natural feeding Substrates • Natural feeding methods • Specie / Breed lifestyle • Breed predispositions • Individual animal
Pay attention to the experts… Nutritional science has made huge advancements in recent years. Science can guide us on: • What nutrients animals need • What quantity those nutrients are required in • What level of feeding should be provided depending on performance • How much of the food provided animals are digesting • What animals favourite tastes and flavours are…. …and so on! As with many areas of science though, there are discrepancies and difference of opinion.
Nutrition and Feed companies invest huge amounts of time and money in research to try and offer products to the maximum number of consumers.
Trial and Error (what works!) Observing… Behaviour Faeces Breath Skin and Hair
Personal Preference • Palatability • Appearance • Smell • Texture
Our Own knowledge + Experts Research+ Observations+ Personal Preference= FOOD ANALYSIS FOR OUR OWN PET We can further analyse by comparing.
Comparing Commercial Food • Ingredients • Nutritional Analysis & Dry matter • Cost
Comparing Food Type DRY SEMI MOIST WET|
Commercial vs Home vs Raw Commercial • ‘balanced’, convenient, additives… Home • cheaper?…. Raw • ‘natural’….
Obesity • Low energy density • Increased volume to increase satiety (moisture levels in wet, kibble design in dry) • Protein levels sufficient to minimise muscle tissue loss • Enriched with antioxidants (Vitamin E and Taurine) • Low in fat
http://www.hillspet.com/products/pd-canine-wd-canine-low-fat-diabetic-gastrointestinal-canned.htmlhttp://www.hillspet.com/products/pd-canine-wd-canine-low-fat-diabetic-gastrointestinal-canned.html Diabetes • Usually caused by damage to the pancreas and the inability to produce insulin which regulates sugar levels ·Clinically proven nutrition to help dogs maintain a healthy weight ·High levels of carnitine to increase energy metabolism and burn fat while increasing lean muscle mass ·Moderately high fiber levels provide a feeling of fullness and may help reduce begging ·Helps stabilize and minimize fluctuation of blood glucose levels in diabetic dogs Added antioxidants to control cell oxidation and promote a healthy immune system
http://www.hillspet.com/products/pd-feline-kd-feline-renal-health-dry.htmlhttp://www.hillspet.com/products/pd-feline-kd-feline-renal-health-dry.html Kidney Condition • Kidneys remove waste substances from the blood, and maintain the normal balance of fluid and minerals within the body. Once kidney damage occurs, the consequences are usually irreversible. • Reduced levels of protein to help reduce kidney workload • Reduced phosphorus to help maintain healthy kidney function and minimize stress on kidneys • Reduced sodium to help maintain normal blood pressure • ·Increased levels of omega-3 fatty acids to support kidney health • ·Increased levels of B-complex vitamins to compensate urinary losses • Added antioxidants to control cell oxidation and promote a healthy immune system