This two-volume work provides an overview on various state of the art experimental and statistical methods, modeling approaches and software tools that are available to generate, integrate and analyze multi-omics datasets in order to detect biomarkers, genetic markers and potential causal genes for improved animal production and health. The book will contain online resources where additional data and programs can be accessed. Some chapters also come with computer programming codes and example datasets to provide readers hands-on (computer) exercises. This second volume deals with integrated modeling and analyses of multi-omics datasets from theoretical and computational approaches and presents their applications in animal production and health as well as veterinary medicine to improve diagnosis, prevention and treatment of animal diseases. This book is suitable for both students and teachers in animal sciences and veterinary medicine as well as to researchers in this discipline.

This two-volume work provides an overview on various state of the art experimental and statistical methods, modeling approaches and software tools that are available to generate, integrate and analyze multi-omics datasets in order to detect biomarkers, genetic markers and potential causal genes for improved animal production and health. The book will contain online resources where additional data and programs can be accessed. Some chapters also come with computer programming codes and example datasets to provide readers hands-on (computer) exercises. This first volume presents the basic principles and concepts of systems biology with theoretical foundations including genetic, co-expression and metabolic networks. It will introduce to multi omics components of systems biology from genomics, through transcriptomics, proteomics to metabolomics. In addition it will highlight statistical methods and (bioinformatic) tools available to model and analyse these data sets along with phenotypes in animal production and health. This book is suitable for both students and teachers in animal sciences and veterinary medicine as well as to researchers in this discipline.

This book summarizes the results achieved so far by application of various biological systems (including genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics) involved in the pathomechanisms and early diagnosis of periparturient diseases as specific biomarkers of disease in cattle. These emerging technologies help to extensively enhance our understanding of the etiology and pathogenesis of periparturient diseases of transition dairy cows. The book includes a chapter dedicated to ‘omics’ sciences and one that discusses the myths established in animal and veterinary sciences in recent decades and emerging, new paradigms. The diseases discussed include metritis, mastitis, laminitis, ketosis, rumen acidosis, periparturient immunosuppression, gastrointestinal microbiota and their involvement in disease, infertility, fatty liver, milk fever, and retained placenta. This book is intended for academics, veterinarians, animal nutritionists, researchers, and graduate students working in the field of ‘omics sciences’ with a special interest in dairy cattle health.

Systems Biology is an interdisciplinary approach to the study of life made possible through the explosion of molecular data made available through the genome revolution and the simultaneous development of computational technologies that allow us to interpret these large data sets. Systems Biology has changed the way biological science views and studies life and has been implemented in research efforts across the biological sciences. Systems Biology and Livestock Science will be the first book to review the latest advances using this research methodology in efforts to improve the efficiency, health, and quality of livestock production. Systems Biology and Livestock Science opens with useful introductory chapters explaining key systems biology principles. The chapters then progress to look at specific advances in fields across livestock science. Coverage includes, but is not limited to, chapters on systems biology approaches to animal nutrition, reproduction, health and disease, and animal physiology. Written by leading researchers in the field, Systems Biology and Livestock Science, will be an invaluable resource to researchers, professionals, and advance students working in this rapidly developing discipline.

The complexity of the microbial population of the animal gastro-intestinal trac has been recognised long ago. However, thus far, investigations have been limited to a few major groups, considered to be dominating, and pathogens that are detrimental and may case diseases and concomitant financial losses in the production animal. Thanks to the latest developments, including improved micriological detection and sampling techniques, and the application of molecular tools to monitor the presence of specific strains in the intestine, our knowlede has increased rapidly in recent years. In addition, new approaches towards improving and/or stabilising animal health, are addressed, with special emphasis on probiotics, and also with regard to the use selected bacterial strains as vehicles for delivery of pharmaceutically active compounds to the muscosa. The book is unique in several respects, not only by its coverage of an extremely wide area in animal gut microbiology, but also by the fact that production animals such as fish and reindeer are included. Scope and treatment of the subject matter and the kind of information that can be found in the volume: Colonisation and development (succession), and mucosal surface composition of the normal microbial population flora in the healthy animal are addressed, whilst estensive information is given on diverse and dominating bacterial populations of different animal types. Reference is also made to those microbial groups considered to be of special benefit to the health and immune protection of the (young) animal bacteria. The development and application of models of the Gastro-Intestinal tract provides a solid basis for studying gut microbial interactions, whilst molecular approaches and the us of molecular tools to monitor the presence of specific strains in the intestine is treated in a comprehensive manner. Wide coverage of different animal types and their gut microbial ecology Extensive and partly new information on the major microbial groups associated with the animal gastro-intestinal tract The book is unique and partly new information and up-to-date information proved in the chapters as a whole

Proteomics, like other post-genomics tools, has been growing at a rapid pace and has important applications in numerous fields of science. While its use in animal and veterinary sciences is still limited, there have been considerable advances in this field in recent years, in areas as diverse as physiology, nutrition and food of animal origin processing. This is mainly as a consequence of a wider availability and better understanding of proteomics methodologies by animal and veterinary researchers. This book provides a comprehensive, state-of-the-art account of the status of farm-animal proteomics research, focusing on the principles behind proteomics methodologies and its specific applications and offering clear example.