Theory question 104
Animal Nutrition(a) Explain the term malnutrition in farm animals. (b) State five effects of malnutrition in sheep. (c) State five ways in which malnutrition could be prevented in rabbits. (d) Mention two sources of each of the following nutrients in poultry feed: (i) Carbohydrates; (ii) Protein; (iii) Fats and oils; (iv) Calcium.
Show the model answer
(a) Malnutrition is a condition in which an animal's feed lacks one or more nutrients, or contains them in wrong proportions, leading to poor health and performance
(b) Any five: slow growth/stunting; loss of weight; low wool yield and poor wool quality; low fertility and fewer lambs; low milk yield; weak lambs/high mortality; deficiency diseases; low resistance to disease
(c) Any five: feed a balanced ration (pellets plus forage); provide clean water at all times; give mineral and vitamin supplements; feed according to age and stage (pregnant, lactating does); allow coprophagy; avoid mouldy feed; deworm regularly; avoid overcrowding
(d)(i) Carbohydrates: maize; sorghum; millet; cassava; wheat offal; rice bran
(ii) Protein: fish meal; soya bean meal; groundnut cake; blood meal; meat and bone meal
(iii) Fats and oils: palm oil; groundnut oil; soya oil; full-fat soya; fish oil
(iv) Calcium: oyster shell; bone meal; limestone; eggshell; dicalcium phosphate
Two sources for each nutrient in (d).