The Ruminant Digestive

System
Small intestine
Rectum
Cecum Rumen

Esophagus

Reticulum
Colon Omasum
Abomasum

Small Animal Nutrition TM 1

 The Non-Ruminant
Digestive System
Rectum
Colon Stomach

Esophagus

Small intestine

Cecum

Small Animal Nutrition TM 2

The Cecal Fermenter
Digestive System
Rectum
Small intestine

Esophagus

Stomach
Cecum

Colon

Small Animal Nutrition TM 3

 The Digestive Process
Mechanical digestion – begins in the mouth where
food is chewed and broken down into smaller pieces

Peristalsis – a muscular contraction that causes

food to move through the digestive tract

Chemical digestion – enzymes and acids

reduce food particle size and change particles
into forms that can be used by the animal
Absorption – nutrients are absorbed into the
blood stream through the intestinal villi

Metabolism – nutrients are removed from the

bloodstream and used by the body organs for
things like bone and hair growth, maintaining
body temperature, etc.
Small Animal Nutrition TM 4
 Major Nutrients’ Functions
• Protein- Development and repair of body organs and tissues.
Production of wool, milk,eggs. Fetal development.
Production of hormones and enzymes. Antibody
development. Transmission of DNA.

• Carbohydrates- Support bodily functions such as breathing,

digestion, and exercise. Help maintain body temperature.
Store fat.

• Lipids- Enhance palatability and caloric value of feed.

Provide energy. Provide fatty acids for healthy skin and
coat. Aid in absorption of fat soluble vitamins. Help
maintain body temperature. Provide essential materials for
hormone secretion.
Small Animal Nutrition TM 5
 Major Nutrients’
Functions cont.
• Water- Support biochemical reactions (respiration,
digestion, conversion of food to absorbable components).
Transport of nutrients. Help maintain body temperature.
Helps give the body its form. Carries waste form the body.
• Vitamins- Regulate digestion, absorption, metabolism,
gland activity, and cell formation. Necessary for normal
vision. Fights diseases. Develop a healthy nervous
system.
• Minerals- Furnish structural material for teeth and bones.
Aid in building body tissue, digestion, muscle activity, and
transmission of messages through the nervous system.
Part of hormones.

Small Animal Nutrition TM 6

 Marketing Concepts

• Nutritional value – markets food based on specific

nutritional content of the food.
• All purpose – based on the concept that one food is
adequate for all stages of the pet’s life.
• Price – uses “low price” concept or “more for your
money”. Price can be very misleading.
• Palatability – markets based on how the food tastes to the
pet

Small Animal Nutrition TM 7

Cost per Feeding Analysis
  Determines cost per day and per year
  Compares pet foods for economical value
(which one gives you more for your money)
• The most economical pet food may be the more expensive one!

Small Animal Nutrition TM 8

 What is Dry Matter
• Dry matter = nutrient content of a food after all water
has been removed
• When comparing a wet food to a dry food is necessary to
first determine the dry matter content. This gives a more
accurate nutritional comparison.

• Dry matter = 100% - moisture

– I.e. A canned food with 70% moisture has 30% dry matter
100% - 70% = 30% dry matter

Small Animal Nutrition TM 9

 Calculating MER
Maintenance Energy Requirements
• MER = Maintenance Energy Requirements

• MER is the amount of energy needed by an animal to keep

it in good health. It varies with age, activity level,
production, reproduction, and environmental conditions.

• MER is measured in kilocalories per day (Kcal/day)

Small Animal Nutrition TM 10