Good animal health is of great importance for the efficient production of animal-derived foods at a low cost. The demand for solutions for animal health maintenance and disease prevention is a major global challenge in animal production, food safety, and public health. The animal body has a complete self-defense system, including oxidation and anti-oxidation balance, immune activation and suppression balance, pro- and anti-inflammatory balance, which can help the host against various factors that endanger normal life activities. Nowadays, the strategy of nutrition-based health has become an increasingly important solution for animal health maintenance and disease prevention. Nutrients (carbohydrates, fats, proteins, minerals, vitamins, et al.) and nutricines (carotenoids, enzymes, fatty acids, flavors, oligosaccharides, organic acids, phospholipids, polyphenols, et al.) are two major categories of components in feeds. Nutricines and some derivatives of nutrients (vitamin derivatives, amino acid derivatives, et al.) have been intensively studied in animal and cell culture models, and their roles in animal health maintenance and disease prevention are intimately known.

This book introduces this wholly new concept in food components. The author, following years of research, describes the nature and mode of action of nutricines and highlights their significance in disease avoidance and health maintenance. In his view, food should now be seen as being made up of two groups of components; nutrients and nutricines.

As a result of an increasing reluctance to use medication to maintain animal health, this in-depth examination evaluates nutrition-based health as a strategy to avoid disease and maintain their health.

Discussing the worldwide problem of overweight pets, this comprehensive writing explains how behavior—both of pets and people—is a critical aspect of any proper diet. It discusses how pets are poorly adapted to cope with a constant excess of soluble carbohydrate, a common feature found in the majority of dry kibble diets. Therefore, this reference shows how, oftentimes while pet owners believe that they are providing the best nutrition for their pets, they are actually silently robbing their companions of health and longevity in their failure to restrict carbohydrates. In response to this situation this informative book draws on anthropology, genetics, and behavior to establish logical nutrition, thereby educating pet owners on how they can improve the length and quality of their pets' lives.

A forum of speakers was gathered during the 14th VICTAM Utrecht 2001 Exhibition & Trade Fair to discuss the theme 'Nutritional Technology' in a series of five different sessions: feed formulation, emerging processing technologies, ingredient characteristics, additives and feed & food safety. The principle objective of the Conference was to bring together experts in the field of ingredient evaluation and feed processing with day-to-day practical nutritionists, the latter being experienced in nutritional requirements, whereas the former knows about the short-comings and possibilities of feed plant facilities.