Principles of Protein Nutrition of Ruminants is a cutting-edge examination of the current state of knowledge in this important field. It explores current techniques and concepts, pointing out limitations to these techniques and introducing ideas and criticisms that will be useful in developing new paradigms for research. The scope of the book covers the whole spectrum of investigation from grazing behavior of wild ruminants to cellular and molecular phenomena. Unique aspects of the book include its emphasis on the energy status of the animal as the primary factor in affecting amino acid supply and its discussion of the nature of nitrogenous compounds in feedstuffs.

Ruminant animals are the most important source of meat and milk consumed by humans. In addition, they do not need to compete with humans for food but can thrive on feed unsuitable for monogastric animals. The particular nature of ruminant digestion and the special role played by the rumen micro-organisms involves an extra dimension of complexity compared with other mammals. Feeding ruminants is, at least in part, the process of feeding the complex community of microorganisms of all types that inhabit the rumen. The interplay between the members of this community and their host is not only of great intrinsic interest, but of vital importance if the world's ruminants are to be fed and managed to give the best results. Particular progress has been made in the last decade in the understanding of rumen fungi and their role in digestion. New methods of measuring amino acid requirements have also been developed and led to some interesting observations in this respect. Improved studies of urea recycling and the measurement of purine excretion have enabled better estimates of rumen microbial protein production, as well as progress in how to manipulate fat stores in ruminants via protein supply. In the Second Edition of his book, Dr. Orskov brings this subject up to date, providing both a comprehensive reference and an invaluable primer for advanced students and research scientists in animal nutrition and husbandry. Particular attention has been paid to management systems able to put this new knowledge to work in practical situations.

Animals are biological transformers of dietary matter and energy to produce high-quality foods and wools for human consumption and use. Mammals, birds, fish, and shrimp require nutrients to survive, grow, develop, and reproduce. As an interesting, dynamic, and challenging discipline in biological sciences, animal nutrition spans an immense range from chemistry, biochemistry, anatomy and physiology to reproduction, immunology, pathology, and cell biology. Thus, nutrition is a foundational subject in livestock, poultry and fish production, as well as the rearing and health of companion animals. This book entitled Principles of Animal Nutrition consists of 13 chapters. Recent advances in biochemistry, physiology and anatomy provide the foundation to understand how nutrients are utilized by ruminants and non-ruminants. The text begins with an overview of the physiological and biochemical bases of animal nutrition, followed by a detailed description of chemical properties of carbohydrates, lipids, protein, and amino acids. It advances to the coverage of the digestion, absorption, transport, and metabolism of macronutrients, energy, vitamins, and minerals in animals. To integrate the basic knowledge of nutrition with practical animal feeding, the book continues with discussion on nutritional requirements of animals for maintenance and production, as well as the regulation of food intake by animals. Finally, the book closes with feed additives, including those used to enhance animal growth and survival, improve feed efficiency for protein production, and replace feed antibiotics. While the classical and modern concepts of animal nutrition are emphasized throughout the book, every effort has been made to include the most recent progress in this ever-expanding field, so that readers in various biological disciplines can integrate biochemistry and physiology with nutrition, health, and disease in mammals, birds, and other animal species (e.g., fish and shrimp). All chapters clearly provide the essential literature related to the principles of animal nutrition, which should be useful for academic researchers, practitioners, beginners, and government policy makers. This book is an excellent reference for professionals and a comprehensive textbook for senior undergraduate and graduate students in animal science, biochemistry, biomedicine, biology, food science, nutrition, veterinary medicine, and related fields.

Principles of Animal Nutrition deals with classification and function of nutrients, deficiency symptoms, digestive processes, characterization of feedstuffs and formulation of diets for domestic animals. Animal nutrition entails the study of the composition and characteristics of the material consumed by the animal, the manner in which this material is metabolized (converted, utilized, and excreted) in the digestive tract and body cells of mono gastric animals (pigs, broilers, layers), ruminants (sheep, cattle, goats), and lower digestive tract fermenters (horses, ostriches). The nutrient requirements of different species animals for various production functions are also addressed. Nutrition is important for a variety of reasons. Animals need the proper nutrition for growth and maintenance, and to provide energy for work and vital functions. Maintenance is the nutrition required for an animal to maintain its current weight. Energy is the ability of the body to perform functions. Proper nutrition is also needed to maintain body temperature, produce milk, reproduce, and develop proper bone structures. Without proper nutrition, animals can develop health problems, which could result in treatment costs or even fatality. Good nutrition is essential for all of the systems of an animal to function and work together properly. This book contains the fundamental and basic information of subject and the selection of contents makes it an appropriate book for the students as well as for scholars.

This book is intended to be a companion volume to 'Protein Nutrition in Ruminants' (1982, Academic Press), which emphasized both the role of proteins and new systems for their evaluation. Here the focus is on energy-yielding nutrients and problems involved in evaluating them. Nonetheless in both volumes there is explicit recognition of the interdependence of energy and protein nutrition. I have not attempted to review comprehensively all the literature relating to ruminant energy nutrition and must apologize to colleagues whose work is not fully reported. Where possible tables and figures are taken from the studies of our group at the Rowett Research Institute since, if for no other reason, I am most familiar with these data. I have first considered the nutrition of the newborn and have stressed the role of behaviour 'in determining whether nutrients enter or bypass the rumen. The development of the rumen, the of anaerobic fermentation and the roles of various principles . species of rumen bacteria, protozoa and fungi in relation to different substrates, are summarized. This is followed by accounts of the factors affecting the utilization of different substrates and the v vi Preface absorption and metabolism of the end-products of fermentation and digestion, together with estimates of digestive capacity in various segments of the gut. The ruminant's requirements for energy-yielding nutrients is considered in relation to the per formance of various activities and to environmental conditions, particular attention being paid to the requirement for glucose precursors.