ANN 111: Principles of Animal Nutrition and Feed Technology (2+1)

FUNCTIONS OF WATER

• Life can not be sustained without water.
• Animals may live for more days without food but die in fewer days if deprived of water.
• Functions of water as a major component in body metabolism.
  • As a major factor in body temperature regulation.
  • All the biochemical reactions that take place in an animal require water.
  • Act as solvent for a wide variety of compounds.  Due to this solvent action, it helps in the transport of dissolved nutrients in the system and helps in the excretion of end products of metabolism.  Many compounds readily ionize in water.  Salts within the body dissociate into ions, which have specific action in body tissues.  It serves as a carrier of digestive juices, enzymes and hormones.
  • It is a medium for hydrolysis of nutrients in the system.
  • It provides cell rigidity, fluidity and elasticity.
  • It serves as lubrication fluid in the synovial cavities.
  • It serves as a medium for transportation of semisolid digest in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract; medium for various solutions like blood, tissue fluids and cell secretions and excretory fluids such as urine and sweat.