Category: Animal nutrition

With a calcium carbonate content often exceeding 90%, oyster shells are a natural and sustainable source of minerals. As a result, oyster shell calcium is good for far more than just human dietary supplements, offering versatile benefits for agriculture and animal health as well.

According to agricultural studies, deficiencies in certain key vitamins and minerals are the primary culprits behind perosis, a debilitating metabolic bone disorder. This article explains exactly how does nutrition affect perosis by detailing the specific dietary components necessary for proper skeletal development in poultry.

Over 80% of dietary amino acids are sourced from plant-based proteins for swine and poultry production globally. For monogastric animals like pigs and poultry, understanding what are the essential amino acids for non ruminants is critical because, unlike their ruminant counterparts, they cannot synthesize these vital nutrients themselves.

In most grain-based swine diets, lysine is typically the first limiting amino acid, restricting protein synthesis and overall growth. For many poultry diets, however, methionine often takes this role, highlighting the species-specific differences in nutritional needs.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), feed and feed ingredients are substances intended for animal consumption that, when used as intended, should not present an unacceptable risk to consumer health. This comprehensive guide delves into what is the definition of animal food, exploring the various types, nutritional aspects, and regulatory distinctions that govern its production and use.

Gross energy, also known as the heat of combustion, is the total chemical energy released when a feedstuff is completely burned. It is the foundational measurement in feed energy evaluation for livestock and other animals, providing a starting point for assessing nutritional value. Understanding how this measurement is performed is crucial for animal nutritionists and producers.

Over half of an animal's body is composed of water, a fundamental component of the diet that is often overlooked despite its critical role in survival. In addition to this vital element, a balanced diet requires six other key components, raising the important question: what are the 7 nutrients for animals?.

Studies have shown that supplementing calves with just 125 to 250 IU of vitamin E per day can significantly enhance their performance and growth. This potent nutrient is crucial for healthy calf development, but what does vitamin E do for calves specifically beyond just boosting growth?

According to the National Research Council, dietary energy is the most important component of an animal's diet after water. Understanding the difference between digestible energy (DE) and metabolizable energy (ME) is fundamental to accurately assessing feed quality and ensuring proper nutrition for livestock and pets.

While protein is a critical nutrient for egg formation and overall hen health, scientific studies show that a higher protein percentage isn't always better for laying hens. Finding the optimal balance is key to ensuring consistent egg production and avoiding health complications in your flock.