Poultry are the most widely used animal protein source in the world: billions of meat birds are produced globally each year, using 360 million tonnes of feed. Within Europe, over 30,000 companies involved in the production of poultry create an annual turnover of €107 billion. However, maintaining the sustainability of the industry as it moves towards antibiotic-free production is one of the key challenges. Starting with an overview of antibiotics as growth promoters and the challenges faced as the industry moves away from their use, this book then thoroughly considers the potential of pre and probiotic additives in poultry gut health. Based on the renowned World Poultry Science Association UK Branch Poultry Science Symposium 2022, this book provides a thorough and valuable contribution to the field for all involved with the nutrition and production of poultry.

To meet growing demand, the FAO has estimated that world poultry production needs to grow by 2-3% per year to 2030. Much of the increase in output already achieved has been as a result of improvements in commercial breeds combined with rearing in more intensive production systems. However, more intensive systems have increased the risk of transmission of animal diseases and zoonoses. Consumer expectations of sensory and nutritional quality have never been higher. At the same time consumers are more concerned about the environmental impact of poultry production as well as animal welfare. Drawing on an international range of expertise, this book reviews research on poultry breeding and nutrition. The first part of the book reviews how advances in genetics have impacted developments in breeding. Part 2 discusses ways of optimising poultry nutrition to ensure quality and sustainability in poultry meat production. Chapters review the use of feedstuffs and ingredients such as amino acids, enzymes and probiotics as well as feed formulation and safety. Achieving sustainable production of poultry meat Volume 2: Breeding and nutrition will be a standard reference for poultry and food scientists in universities, government and other research centres and companies involved in poultry production. It is accompanied by two further volumes which review safety, quality and sustainability as well as poultry health and welfare.

"It is widely acknowledged that the inclusion of antimicrobial growth promoters (AGPs) in the diet of livestock increases growth rate. However, many questions arise on whether the benefits outweigh the risks, or vice versa. Recent legislative developments in the European Union and USA, recommendations by the World Health Organization, initiatives taken by the food chain, and consumer concerns all point to a widespread (voluntary) removal of antibiotic feed additives for animal growth promotion. In particular, Regulation (EC) 1831/2003 lays down provisions phasing out the authorisations of AGPs in the European Union as from 1 January 2006. This book discusses how this will affect the use/non-use practice of AGPs. Attention is given to the current status and rational design of developments and strategies for animal feeding without the inclusion of AGPs. Topics covered include benefits and risks of AGPs, risk assessment, consumer concerns and demands, regulatory aspects and international developments, mode of action and innovative alternatives, and recent advances in the analysis of AGPs and related products. This book contains peer-reviewed papers presented at the international conference ""Antimicrobial Growth Promoters: Worldwide Ban on the Horizon?"". The book is filled with valuable information on the pros and cons of use of AGPs as well as on alternative nutritional solutions. It is aimed at professionals and researchers in the feed and food industry."

Optimal gut health is of vital importance to the performance of production animals (fish, poultry, swine, cattle). Gut health is key to making the productivity, well-being and sustainability of animal production more efficient. Directly and indirectly, the environment is a powerful regulator of gastrointestinal physiology that decisively influences the functional state of the animal. Production animals reared under conventional conditions of intensive production are subjected to various exogenous and endogenous sources of environmental factors that can impact gut health. Exogenous factors are environmental stressors derived from external sources connected with diet, infectious disease, mycotoxin exposure, climate (heat and cold), management practices, biosecurity level, housing, litter, feed access, quality, and components. Endogenous factors are host-related such as age, sex, genetics, and breed or are made within the host’s body, such as hormones and neurotransmitters, in response to a stimulus, stressor, or trigger. Endogenous factors serve to communicate signals both locally and distantly in the body. Understanding the interactions between the diverse environmental factors and the different physiological characteristics of the gastrointestinal tract allows us to advance the understanding of gut health and the ability to regulate animal production. The spirit of this book is to critically address how the interactions of different environmental stressors, both internal and external, influence the various functions of the gastrointestinal system of production animals and to be able to use the information to advance scientific research as well as improve the use of the productive tools available.

Avian Immunology, Third Edition contains a detailed description of the avian innate immune system, encompassing the mucosal, enteric, respiratory and reproductive systems. The diseases and disorders it covers, include immunodepressive diseases and immune evasion, autoimmune diseases, and tumors of the immune system. Practical aspects of vaccination are examined as well. Extensive appendices summarize resources for scientists including cell lines, inbred chicken lines, cytokines, chemokines, and monoclonal antibodies. With contributions from the foremost international experts in the field, Avian Immunology 3rd, provides the most up-to-date crucial information not only for poultry health professionals and avian biologists, but also for comparative and veterinary immunologists, graduate students and veterinary students with an interest in avian immunology. Avian Immunology, Third Edition, is a fascinating and growing field and surely provides new and exciting insights for mainstream immunology in the future. - Reflects significant advances in the field since the second edition, particularly the explosion of knowledge on genomics including work on the chicken, turkey and zebra finch genomes - Provides a single source reference ranging from the basic science to cutting edge research - Provides practical information for veterinarians particularly those specialised in poultry or companion bird medicine - New chapters on the impact of the microbiome on the immune system, defence mechanisms in the egg and embryo and emerging transgene technologies

Offers a complete update and revision to the manual for agriculture, geography, and rural studies The 21st edition of the quintessential reference book on agriculture is filled with updated and new material that provides those in the farming profession with everything they need to know about today’s agricultural industry. Filled with contributions from top experts in the field, it provides not only the scientific explanations behind agriculture, but also a range of further reading . The Agricultural Notebook, 21st Edition features new chapters that address wildlife, the fundamentals of agricultural production, and the modern techniques critical to the industry. It offers new chapters on sheep, goats, ruminant nutrition, monogastric nutrition, and resource management. It also takes a more in-depth approach to plant nutrition, and greater attention to environmental elements. Other topics covered include: soil management & crop nutrition; animal welfare; crop physiology; farm woodland management; farm machinery; and more. • Reflects recent changes in the world of agriculture, farming, and the rural environment • Features a new chapter on Resource Management • Offers separate chapters on goats, sheep, and applied nutrition • Every chapter is revised by experts in their subject area The Agricultural Notebook is an essential purchase for all students of agriculture, countryside, and rural studies. It will also greatly benefit farmers, land agents, agricultural scientists, advisers, and suppliers to the agriculture industry.

This unique work compiles the latest knowledge around veterinary nutraceuticals, commonly referred to as dietary supplements, from ingredients to final products in a single source. More than sixty chapters organized in seven sections collate all related aspects of nutraceutical research in animal health and disease, among them many novel topics: common nutraceutical ingredients (Section-I), prebiotics, probiotics, synbiotics, enzymes and antibacterial alternatives (Section-II), applications of nutraceuticals in prevention and treatment of various diseases such as arthritis, periodontitis, diabetes, cognitive dysfunctions, mastitis, wounds, immune disorders, and cancer (Section-III), utilization of nutraceuticals in specific animal species (Section-IV), safety and toxicity evaluation of nutraceuticals and functional foods (Section-V), recent trends in nutraceutical research and product development (Section-VI), as well as regulatory aspects for nutraceuticals (Section-VII). The future of nutraceuticals and functional foods in veterinary medicine seems bright, as novel nutraceuticals will emerge and new uses of old agents will be discovered. International contributors to this book cover a variety of specialties in veterinary medicine, pharmacology, pharmacognosy, toxicology, chemistry, medicinal chemistry, biochemistry, physiology, nutrition, drug development, regulatory frameworks, and the nutraceutical industry. This is a highly informative and carefully presented book, providing scientific insight for academia, veterinarians, governmental and regulatory agencies with an interest in animal nutrition, complementary veterinary medicine, nutraceutical product development and research.

The present book addresses the multi-disciplinary nature of Translational Outcomes Research, which is a watershed for nearly all the disciplines of Life and Health Sciences, along with the Materials Sciences including but not limited to Zoology, Botany, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Physiology, Nanotechnology, the Medical Sciences, Bioengineering, Biophysics, Medicinal Chemistry, Structural Biology, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics. This book, for the first time, addresses the basic premises of fundamental research in facilitating drug discovery. One chapter is dedicated to a novel generation of platforms with novel camelid antibodies and their technological extensions, while another focuses on functional food and nutraceuticals. The book begins with a thorough overview of what translational outcomes research connotes and what the current status of research in the area is, and goes on to elucidate various pertinent preclinical disease models and their uses in basic and application based research in the Life Sciences. How basic approaches to screening and characterization vis-à-vis their role in amelioration of the two cardinal problems of inflammation and degeneration involved in most diseases is elucidated. The book ends with a discussion of the relevance and importance of using Bio Green technology in Translational Outcomes, addressing the need to fill the gap between academia and industry and clinics that can arise through direct or indirect collaboration between the stakeholders and emphasizing the need for an eco-friendly approach so as not to jeopardize the fine balance that holds life on earth in harmony.