The book is intended to provide in-depth reviews of the recent advances in major areas of metabolism in growing domestic animals. The study of metabolism represents a nexus of biological phenomenon that integrates the impact of nutrition, physiology, endocrinology, immunology, biochemistry, and cell biology in an organism. The development of new methodological techniques and experimental approaches have provide scientists with a greater understanding of how key nutrients or substrates are metabolized at the cellular, organ, and whole animal level. This book presents contributions from leading scientists in nutrition and physiology that highlight important new developments in interorgan and tissue-specific metabolism of protein and amino acids, lipids and fatty acids, and carbohydrates in monogastric and runinant species. Authors will describe the impact of specific biochemical pathways and expression of critical enzymes, routes of nutrient or substrate input, and anatomical or structural influences on the rates of metabolism in a given tissue or cell type. Major substrates/ fuels for oxidative metabolism, key signaling pathways, and intracellular molecules that regulate the major metabolic processes will be described. Also included is how the metabolism of growing animals is influenced by ontogeny, stage of differentiation, and major changes in diet, or the environment. The concepts and specific findings in each area are discussed in the context of their impact on the nutrient requirements, growth, environmental impact, healt and well-being of animals. The book will be a useful reference for research scientists, teachers and students interested in and advanced understanding of metabolism in growing animals. The book is written by leading experts and highlights some of the most recent advances in the field of metabolism. It is a useful reference for researchers and advanced level graduate students in nutrition, physiology and animal science. Presents recent advances in the field of metabolism.

Development in agricultural sciences, particularly in farm animal sciences, resulted in the increased productivity to meet the demand for high quality and relatively cheap protein sources for human nutrition. In parallel, this increased productivity challenges the adequate supply of nutrients, including protein and energy, needed to cover not only high performances, but also insure animal health and welfare, reproduction and quality of products in a sustainable environment. The precise understanding of the animal biology is crucial for animal health and welfare, sustainable animal production, and health of animal product consumers. This book focuses on combining basic and applied research and its practical applications. To achieve these goals, many important topics are presented and discussed in detail. The most important issues in this book are: physiological aspects of protein and energy metabolism and nutrition; animal health and welfare metabolic related issues; effect of feeds and feed processing on energy and protein digestion and metabolism; methodological aspects of research on protein and energy metabolism; environment protection and enhancement of the quality and health-promoting features of animal products. This book constitutes a good source of knowledge for those who like to be up to date with the newest trends and findings in energy and protein metabolism in farm animals.

The complexity of the microbial population of the animal gastro-intestinal trac has been recognised long ago. However, thus far, investigations have been limited to a few major groups, considered to be dominating, and pathogens that are detrimental and may case diseases and concomitant financial losses in the production animal. Thanks to the latest developments, including improved micriological detection and sampling techniques, and the application of molecular tools to monitor the presence of specific strains in the intestine, our knowlede has increased rapidly in recent years. In addition, new approaches towards improving and/or stabilising animal health, are addressed, with special emphasis on probiotics, and also with regard to the use selected bacterial strains as vehicles for delivery of pharmaceutically active compounds to the muscosa. The book is unique in several respects, not only by its coverage of an extremely wide area in animal gut microbiology, but also by the fact that production animals such as fish and reindeer are included. Scope and treatment of the subject matter and the kind of information that can be found in the volume: Colonisation and development (succession), and mucosal surface composition of the normal microbial population flora in the healthy animal are addressed, whilst estensive information is given on diverse and dominating bacterial populations of different animal types. Reference is also made to those microbial groups considered to be of special benefit to the health and immune protection of the (young) animal bacteria. The development and application of models of the Gastro-Intestinal tract provides a solid basis for studying gut microbial interactions, whilst molecular approaches and the us of molecular tools to monitor the presence of specific strains in the intestine is treated in a comprehensive manner. Wide coverage of different animal types and their gut microbial ecology Extensive and partly new information on the major microbial groups associated with the animal gastro-intestinal tract The book is unique and partly new information and up-to-date information proved in the chapters as a whole

Energy metabolism is central to life and altered energy expenditure (EE) is often cited as a central mechanism responsible for development of the obese phenotype. Resting EE, EE of physical activity, cold induced thermogenesis and thermic effect of feeding add to produce total EE but can also affect each other. It is thus very important that each component be well measured. Measuring energy expenditure by indirect calorimetry is extremely simple in theory but the practice if far more difficult. Taking into account temperature in small sized animals, measuring accurately the effect of activity on EE, correcting EE for body size body composition, age sex etc… add difficulties in producing reliable data. The goal of this Research Topic was to call for the practical experience of main investigators trained to practice calorimetry in order to get their feedback and the way they deal with the various and specific problems of humans and animal calorimetry. The goal is to share the questions/solutions experienced by the contributors to inititate a “guide of the good practices” that can be periodically updated and used by all those who are and will be interested in measuring energy metabolism from the 20g mouse to the human and large farm animals.

Animal and Plant Productivity theme is a component of Encyclopedia of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Engineering and Technology Resources in the global Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems (EOLSS), which is an integrated compendium of twenty one Encyclopedias. The theme on Animal and Plant Productivity Science focuses on paths to improvement of animal and plant production systems at all levels from genomes to landscapes. This volume traces efforts to improve agricultural productivity and the increasingly important metrics of resilience and sustainability. It deals with the essential aspects and a myriad of issues of great relevance to our world such as Productivity, Efficiency And Resilience of Crop And Livestock Production; Sustainable Animal Production; Animal Production Systems in the Tropics; Physiology of Growth and Reproduction in Livestock; Evolution of Livestock Improvement; Monogastric Nutrition; Rumen Microbiology; Meat Science; Agroecology: environmentally sound and socially just alternatives to the industrial; farming model; Range and pasture productivity; Sustainable Crop Production: Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Crop Improvement("The Gene Revolution"); Ecological Economics; Agricultural Economics; Integrated Resource Management And Planning. This volume is aimed at the following five major target audiences: University and College Students Educators, Professional Practitioners, Research Personnel and Policy Analysts, Managers, and Decision Makers, NGOs and GOs.

Geoffrey R. Dolby, PhD One of the principal characteristics of a scientific theory is that it be falsifiable. It must contain predictions about the real world which can be put to experimental test. Another very important characteristic of a good theory is that it should take full cognisance of the literature of the discipline in which it is embedded, and that it should be able to explain, at least as well as its competitors, those experimental results which workers in the discipline accept without dispute. Readers of John Parks' book will be left in no doubt that his theory of the feeding and growth of animals meets both of the above criteria. The author's knowledge of the literature of animal science and the seriousness of his attempt to incorporate the results of much previous work into the framework of the present theory result in a rich and imaginative integration of diverse material concerned with the growth and feeding of animals through time, a theory which is made more precise through the judicious use of mathematics. The presentation is such that the key concepts are introduced gradually and readers not accustomed to a mathematical treatment will find that they can appreciate the ideas without undue trauma. The key concepts are clearly illustrated by means of a generous set of figures. The crux of the theory comprises three differential Eqs. (7. 1-7.

In the past decade, animal scientists have learned that administering recombinantly derived somatotropin (growth hormone) to cows improves milk production and that giving beta-adrenergic agonists to meat animals improves productivity and leanness. In order for these metabolic modifiers to yield benefits, however, sound management of the animals' nutrition is necessary. This volume reports on how these substances work in the animals' metabolism, what effects they might have on nutrient requirements of domestic livestock, and what information should be developed further by investigators. The book explores the current understanding of the biology, structure, mechanisms of action, and treatment effects of somatotropin, beta-adrenergic agonists, and anabolic steroids. A companion volume to the Nutrient Requirements of Domestic Animals series, this authoritative volume will be required reading for animal scientists, researchers, veterinarians, livestock farmers, and faculty and students in university animal veterinary science programs.

The Seventh Edition of Anatomy and Physiology of Farm Animals is a thoroughly updated and revised version of this classic text. Drawing on current science and terminology with a number of new illustrations throughout and a new chapter on poultry, the book maintains its reputation for clarity, balanced scope, and breadth of content. The Seventh Edition provides veterinary, animal science, agriculture, and veterinary technician students with a comprehensive yet clear reference to understanding the fundamentals of anatomy and physiology.