Since the time of domestication more than 10,000 years ago, cattle have played an increasingly crucial role in the development of human civilizations. Progress has been quite remarkable since the turn of the century; the sequencing of the bovine genome in 2009 launched new avenues for furthering our understanding of theoretical and practical aspects of cattle genetics. Covering a vast array of questions, this book reviews major topics from molecular and developmental genetics, disease resistance and immunogenetics to genetic improvement of dairy and beef breeds, addressing all current problems in the field. This second edition includes a new team of authors and completely new chapters on the genetics of fat production, nutrition, feed intake and efficiency, growth and body composition. Fully updated throughout, it provides a valuable resource on cattle genetics for researchers, breeders, veterinarians and postgraduate students.

Wood surface attributes can be established by examining its several different physical or chemical properties. Differences in the wood surfaces occur between the manufacturing and post-treatment processes as well. Understanding how their unique anisotropic molecular organization, chemical linkages, branching, and other molecular features govern micro- and macroscale accessibility is essential for coating and complex modification processes. It is therefore important for scientific as well as practical reasons to qualify and quantify the effects of wood surface treatments and modifications. Challenges still exist to fully understanding the effect of the numerous applied chemicals and the wide range of treatment processes on wood surfaces.

It is very important to understand the recent advances and basic concepts of veterinary genetics to explore the possibilities for control of diseases in animals. They are also significant for enhancing animal production and reproduction. Our book Trends and Advances in Veterinary Genetics provides a concise introduction and details to the aspects of genetics relevant to animal science and production. This is the first edition of the book so it covers the introductory level of topics which are ideal for veterinary students, classroom use, and practitioners who require more guidance with genetics. The book coverage includes the following main sections: Biotechnology and Reproductive Genetics, Advances in Embryonic Genetics, Conservation and Basic Genetics, and Veterinary Genetics and Future. Each book section comprises two chapters from renowned experts from the area and gives readers a unique opportunity to explore the topic.

Different tests have been developed for evaluating the temperament of cattle, pigs, and sheep and some studies appear to have conflicting results. This may be due to confusion between the basic emotional systems of fear and separation distress (panic). Methods used for temperament tests can alter results such as how tightly an animal is restrained in a squeeze chute during temperament evaluation. Animals with a more reactive (fearful) temperament will exhibit greater agitated behavioral reactions when suddenly confronted with novel objects. Animals can be habituated to new things but learning is very specific. Habituation to one type of strange object may not transfer to other types of objects. Animals with smaller-diameter leg bones and slender bodies may be more reactive (fearful). Facial hair whorl position is related to a vigilant temperament and it may be more evident in populations with more diverse genetic backgrounds.