Nutrition and Food Sciences

Livestock Nutrition

Animal nutrition centers on the dietary nutrients needs of animals, chiefly those in agriculture and food production, but also in zoos, aquariums, and wildlife management. Meeting livestock nutritional requirements is enormously important in upholding acceptable performance of neonatal, growing, finishing and breeding animals. From a practical standpoint, an optimal nutritional program should certify adequate intakes of amino acids (both traditionally classified essential and nonessential), carbohydrates, fatty acids, minerals, and vitamins by animals through a supplementation program that amends deficiencies in basal diets (e.g., corn- and soybean meal-based diets for swine; milk replacers for calves and lambs; and available forage for ruminants).