Why is metabolic water important

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Authors Authors and affiliations Eric B. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves. This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access. Skip to content This chapter discusses the role and importance of water in food-producing animals. Chapter Objective To introduce and discuss the physiological role, requirement, and quality of water for maintaining animal health and productivity.

Water is the single most important nutrient in the animal body. It is essential for all metabolic processes, chemical reactions, temperature regulation, eliminating waste from the body, and ultimately, health and survival. Other factors include age, type of diet, level of exercise, stage of growth, or pregnancy. Water restriction reduces feed consumption and is very stressful for animals.

Key Points Water is one of the most important nutrients, yet it is almost always neglected. Water serves as the fluid matrix of the animal body. Water gives form and structure and provides protection from environmental stress.

The high solvent power of water permits the formation of solutions within which metabolic reactions occur. There are different sources of water e. Metabolic water is produced during catabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins to carbon dioxide and water and is important for hibernating animals.

Species difference, type of metabolism, and digestive tract type affect water requirements. For example, birds and fish have low requirements, while ruminants need a large quantity of water to suspend ingesta in the rumen. Water restriction affects animal health, growth, and productivity and is very stressful for animals.

Review Questions Water is one of the most important essential nutrients. Functions of water include: Can act as a diluent Carrier of waste from the body Transport of nutrients All of the above List the sources of water in the animal body. Major loss of water in a beef cattle is through which medium? Water quality can affect cattle health.

Name a non infectious disease in feedlot cattle associated with water quality. Previous: XVII. Next: XIX. Feed Additives.

Knowledge of the relative contributions of different water sources to intracellular fluids and body water is important for many fields of study, ranging from animal physiology to paleoclimate. The intracellular fluid environment of cells is challenging to study due to the difficulties of accessing and sampling the contents of intact cells.