Animal Agriculture: Sustainability, Challenges and Innovations

Animal Agriculture: Sustainability, Challenges and Innovations discusses the land-based production of high-quality protein by livestock and poultry and how it plays an important role in improving human nutrition, growth and health. With exponential growth of the global population and marked rises in meat consumption per capita, demands for animal-source protein are expected to increase 72% between 2013 and 2050. This raises concerns about the sustainability and environmental impacts of animal agriculture. An attractive solution to meeting increasing needs for animal products and mitigating undesirable effects of agricultural practices is to enhance the efficiency of animal growth, reproduction, and lactation.

Currently, there is no resource that offers specific knowledge of both animal science and technology, including biotechnology for the sustainability of animal agriculture for the expanding global demand of food in the face of diminishing resources. This book fills that gap, giving readers all the necessary information on important issues facing modern animal agriculture, namely its sustainability, challenges and innovative solutions.

Integrates new knowledge in animal breeding, biotechnology, nutrition, reproduction and managementAddresses the urgent issue of sustainability in modern animal agricultureProvides practical solutions on how to solve the current and future problems that face animal agriculture worldwide

1. Introduction: Significance and challenges of animal production

Part 1: Beef cattle production

2. Genetics and breeding of beef cattle

3. Physiology and pregnancy of beef cattle

4. Reproductive management of beef cattle

5. Nutrition and feeding of confined and grazing beef cattle

Part 2: Lactation and management of dairy cattle

6. Genetics and genomics of dairy cattle

7. Physiology of lactation in dairy cattle

8. Reproductive management of dairy cattle

9. Nutrition and feeding of dairy cattle

Part 3: Sheep and goat production

10. Genetics and breeding of sheep and goats

11. Reproductive physiology of sheep and goats

12. Reproductive management of sheep and goats

13. Nutrition and feeding of sheep and goats

Part 4: Swine production

14. Swine genetics and breeding

15. Reproductive physiology of swine

16. Reproductive management of swine

17. Nutrition and feeding of swine

Part 5: Poultry production

18. Poultry genetics and breeding

19. Reproductive physiology and hatching of poultry

20. Reproductive management of poultry

21. Nutrition and feeding of poultry

Part 6: Biotechnologies and others in animal production

22. Muscle biology and meat quality

23. Production of transgenic animals

24. Fermentation techniques in feed production

25. Mathematical modelling in animal production

26. Manure utilization in production systems

Part 7: Management of animal diseases in livestock and production

27. Management of metabolic diseases in ruminants and nonruminants

28. Management of pathogens in cattle

29. Management of pathogens in swine

30. Management of pathogens in poultry