Texas FFA Livestock Judging PracticeTest

Nutrients that an animal can synthesize for growth and maintenance are categorized as:

1. Essential nutrients

2. Non-essential nutrients

3. Conditional nutrients

4. Micro-nutrients

The correct answer is: Non-essential nutrients

The correct categorization for nutrients that an animal can synthesize for growth and maintenance is non-essential nutrients. These are nutrients that the body is capable of producing on its own, meaning they are not required to be obtained directly from the diet. For example, certain amino acids can be synthesized by animals, whereas others must be ingested as they cannot be produced internally. Essential nutrients, in contrast, are those that the animal cannot synthesize and must acquire through food sources. Conditional nutrients vary based on the animal's health, age, or other factors, while micro-nutrients encompass vitamins and minerals needed in smaller quantities for various bodily functions but do not specifically address the animal's ability to synthesize them. This highlights the clear distinction between non-essential nutrients and the other categories.