THE EFFECT OF POOR NUTRITION ON ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR
Poor nutrition in animals can impact greatly on their health and wellbeing. Poor nutrition can affect -
- the severity of injuries and their long term impact
- the animal's ability to heal itself
- the animal's longevity
Feeding is a factor which has a great effect on the health of all animals, especially captive animals. Variations in feeding can affect animals in any of the following ways:
- Feeding too little or too much food to the animal. Too little food will cause a loss of production from the animal, and in severe cases may lead to malnutrition and death from starvation. Over feeding can lead to animals becoming over fat and unhealthy.
- Feeding a ration which is not balanced for the particular animal's needs. Deficiencies of protein, major minerals, trace elements, vitamins, and even water; can lead to many different deficiency diseases.
- Feeding a ration that contains a substance that is toxic to the animal.
- Allowing the animal to eat food, or to drink water which has been contaminated by bacteria or parasites such as worms.
- The health of the animal can be affected positively by feeding a diet that increases its resistance to bacterial disease.
- Changing the staple feed of animals especially young animals should be done gradually over a number of days.
- Food must be palatable.
- For captive animals food should be presented in an interesting way.
