Animal production is constantly changing. Over recent years, feed costs have increased significantly. Furthermore, today more emphasis is being placed on the health and welfare of production animals and birds, and in particular to the risk of zoonoses and potential food scares. The pig and poultry industries must now address not only the costs and efficiency of production, but also the impact of health and disease to both animals and the consumer. This edited collection of papers is taken from a series of seminars that brought together some of the world's leading authorities in the field of pig and poultry nutrition, health and production. The fundamental theme is to address the issues of nutrition and health, and in particular to cover the interactions and potential conflicts between the two. The importance of digestive function and the influence of nutrition on health and disease are covered in-depth. Strategies to combat salmonella and mycotoxins are also discussed. 'Formula for the future: nutrition or pathology' is aimed at nutritionists, veterinarians and animal producers as well as students and researchers studying animal and applied biological sciences.

In an ever changing market, ruminant milk and meat production must continually develop cost-effective ways to promote animal health, performance and product safety. Food safety and traceability, as well as animal welfare are beginning to play key roles in consumer decisions. However, these deliverables can often increase already excessive production costs meaning that producers must look to new technologies, such as nutritional solutions, in order to maximise production efficiency. The link between animal nutrition and health is well founded and now needs to be exploited further in order to ensure a progressive industry. It is becoming clear that nutritional influences at pivotal stages in dairy and beef production can positively impact rumen and gut health and, subsequently, performance. There has been particular focus on transition period and antioxidant nutrition, acknowledging the changing needs of the modern, high-producing animal. The threat of mycotoxins highlights the issue of climate change and its impact on modern animal production. Solutions are required that minimise or eliminate that threat if the issue is to remain and effective knowledge transfer initiatives must be integrated into all advisory services. ‘Ruminant formula for the future: nutrition or pathology? Elevating performance and health’ unites the relevant expertise of researchers from across the globe. Pertinent topics, such as calf management and cow lameness are discussed in conjunction with novel protocols aimed at the reduction of production pathologies and the promotion of rumen and gut health. This book is aimed at nutritionists, veterinarians, consultants and animal producers, as well as animal and biological science researchers and students.

The threat of mycotoxins highlights the issue of climate change and its impact on modern animal production.

It is a pleasure to write the foreword to Nutrition and Table 1 Nutritional Status and Outcome of Infection Immunology: Principles and Practice. In fact, this book comes at a timely moment, when the impact of nutrition and Definite adverse outcome immunology is being widely felt because of the AIDS epi Measles, diarrhea, tuberculosis demic. This is particularly of note in Africa, where large Probable adverse outcome HIV, malaria, pneumonia sums of money are being spent on nutritional intervention Little or no effect programs in the hopes of improving immune responsive Poliomyelitis, tetanus, viral encephalitis ness. We should not forget, however, early advances in our Note: HIV= human immunodeficiency virus understanding of protein energy malnutrition (PEM). PEM can be used as a model to understand the nutritional basis of immunity, as well as the immunological influences on nutri tional status. Despite advances in agricultural production, tance. However, both in vitro studies and tests in laboratory PEM continues to affect hundreds of millions ofthe world's animals may have little resemblance to what is experienced population. The functional impact of undernutrition varies in humans under field conditions. from mild morbidity to life-threatening infection.