Wildlife Nutrition

Nutrients - Water
Week 8

Nutrients
Nutrients are substances, elements or ingredients that are involved in the metabolic
process of an organism. Generally, nutrients can be classified into one of five major
categories:
Water
Minerals
Vitamins
Proteins
Energy

Water
Of all the nutrients, water is the most vital. The animal can go for prolonged periods with
deficiencies of all the other nutrients, and recover, however, even periods of less than
several hours without water in some form may be fatal for some species.
Water constitutes the single largest component of an animal body. Water content of the
body may range from as high as 80% in a young lean animal to as low as 40% in an
mature fat animal

Factors Influencing Water Content of the Body

1. Species of Animal:
2. Age/Stage of Growth:
Young > Mature

3. Body Conditioning:
Lean > Fat

Major Functions of Water

Primary constituent of body fluids:
Cytoplasm 95%
Blood 85%
Lymphatic Fluid 90%
Digestive Functions:
Solvent for Taste
Co-Factor in Digestion and Metabolism
Transport Medium
Physiological Functions
Thermo Regulation
Gas Exchange
Lubrication Joints, vision (tears), viscous of eye
Cushion -nervous system, placenta

Factors Influencing Water Requirements

1. Species: Reptiles > Avian > Mammals
2. Age/Stage of Growth: Young > Mature
3. Body Condition: Lean > Fat
4. Body Size:(SA/W): Small > Large
Overall Biomass: Large > Small
5. Sex: Female > Male
6. Reproductive Condition:Gestating > non-Gestating
Lactating > non-Lactating
7. Activity: Active > Sedentary
8. Climatic Conditions:
9. Diet:
10. Metabolic Efficiency:

Hot > Cool Dry > Wet

Sources of Water
1. Free Water (Drinking Water)
Water freely consumed by the animal on an ad libitum basis.
Considerations:
Water Quantity: Most animals consume water at the rate of approximately 5-8%
BW/Day. This amount will vary based on a number of conditions. When estimating
amount of water needed, several additional factors should be considered:
Potential evaporation
Drinking behavior of the animal

Water Quality: The quality of the water may be as important as the quantity
available. Water containing contaminants, either chemical or biological, may reduce
the availability to the animal.

2. Dietary Water (Food Water)

The water content of the food consumed has a great impact on the amount of free
water needed by the animal.
Forages: Fresh green vegetation
Cured Vegetation -

65-80% H20
< 10% H20

Grains: Soft (green) grains Hard (dried) grains

25-40% H20
10-20% H20

Meat:

85% H20

Fruits:

Fresh

> 75% H20

3. Metabolic Water
For many species water produced as a result of metabolic reactions within the body
serve as a major source of water to meet daily water requirements.
Water Yields from Nutrient Metabolism:
Carbohydrates
60 % H20
Proteins
Lipids/Oils

40 % H20
110 %H20

Sources of Water Losses

1. Urinary Losses
In normal healthy animals, a major pathway for water loss is through metabolic
waste product elimination in the urine. Factors influencing urinary water loss are:
Nitrogen content of the diet.
Mineral balance especially Na & Cl.

2. Fecal Losses
Reabsorption of water in the colon is not totally efficient, with fecal materials
ranging from 65-80% H2O.
Factors influencing fecal water loss are:
Species of animal
Health
Production demands
Diet
3. Evaporative Water Losses
The largest single water loss is through evaporation, primarily across the lungs.
Factors influencing evaporative water loss are:
Health of the animal
Ambient Temperature/Relative Humidity
Activity level.