ANSC20002 Assignment 2022
Due date: Fri 23/9/2022
Submission via LMS.
500 words max (excluding references, figures and tables).
Please answer ONE of the following questions (short answer style, not essay). As there is a low word
limit the use of dot points is encouraged. Tables and figures must be appropriately introduced,
referenced and have appropriate titles if used. The assignment must be appropriately referenced
(minimum 2 references) using primary sources where possible (citing lecture materials is not
appropriate, textbooks are acceptable) as required. Please use the Harvard or APA style for
reference list formatting.
Marks are allocated per sub-question as shown. A total of 50 marks are available, and 5 marks are
allocated to referencing and formatting per question.
1. It is well established that responses in milk production to incremental increases in energy intake
above maintenance are not constant and there is a curve of diminishing returns. This is
illustrated by the curve shown in the below diagram (Figure 1).
a. When ME intake is below maintenance requirements, what is occurring in relation to
body tissues and milk production? (5 marks)
b. Metabolic bodyweight and metabolic rate determine energy requirements. Discuss and
compare each of these components and briefly describe: what impacts them (think
physiology), assumptions these calculations make and how these values will change as
animal increase in size (20 marks)
c. When ME intake is in excess of maintenance requirements incremental increases in
consumed energy do not result in continued increases in milk production (i.e. there is a
maximum production level reached). List 3 factors (physiological or metabolic) that
contribute to this phenomenon. (20 marks)
Figure 1. Relationship between net energy consumed above maintenance and energy secreted in
milk.
2. Digestive tracts are specialised to suit the food/feed selection and dietary strategies of the
animal and the animals’ ability to obtain nutrients from this diet.
a. Why is the giant panda referred to as a ‘vegetarian carnivore’? (10 marks)
b. Describe one other specialist feeder species (can be from anywhere in the world, both
terrestrial and aquatic) and briefly describe the key physiology and metabolism that
allows the animal to obtain nutrients from this diet. (10 marks)
c. You are a ’mad scientist’ that has found a way to breed an entirely new species of animal
from scratch. Describe the basics of a digestive system (including teeth, tract type such
as key stomach structure, other accessory organs where relevant, and any metabolic
adjustments) for a new species that you have designed that feeds upon one of the
following foods (select one only): (25 marks)
i. Meat from seals or other aquatic mammals
ii. Grape plants (including fruit, leaves and stems)
iii. Sugarcane
iv. Insects
v. Another food/feed of your choice (be creative / strange!)
*note – there is no ‘correct’ answer to part c, be creative but use your knowledge (and
some more research) on digestive physiology to make these decisions. Use dot points to
justify the choices you have made.
3. Digestive physiology is determined by the food/feed selection and dietary strategies of the
animal and the animals’ ability to obtain nutrients from this diet. For a species of your choice
(please name them) describe:
a. The type of digestive tract, briefly describing the key organs and physiological structures
(15 marks)
b. Describe the types of feed ingested and discuss how the digestive system has evolved to
efficiently obtain nutrients from the available feeds (10 marks)
c. If it is a production animal, describe the influences of production systems on the animal.
I.e. how is the animal fed? (10 marks)
d. Describe any limitations to the digestive system (for example can only digest a specific
feed type, limited volume, inefficiency etc.) (10 marks)
4. Diet selection and feed choices are important in all animals
a. What are associative effects of feeds? (10 marks)
b. Define ‘post-ingestive feedback’ giving an example. (15 marks)
c. While we make assumptions about feed selection based on the digestive system of
the animal, species differences within animal types also influence diet selection.
Compare a grazing small ruminant animal (e.g. sheep) with a large ruminant (e.g.
cow) and comment on key differences each species would make in terms of diet
preferences and the physiology/anatomy underpinning such choices. (20 marks)

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