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,...

The book is intended to provide in-depth reviews of the recent advances in major areas of metabolism in growing domestic animals. The study of metabolism represents a nexus of biological phenomenon that integrates the impact of nutrition, physiology, endocrinology, immunology, biochemistry, and cell biology in an organism. The development of new methodological techniques and experimental approaches have provide scientists with a greater understanding of how key nutrients or substrates are metabolized at the cellular, organ, and whole animal level. This book presents contributions from leading...

Part of the Biology of Growing Animals series, this book presents up-to-date information on the biology of animal nutrition. It describes how dietary modulation of the gastrointestinal function in young and growing farm animals is achieved through different kinds of feed additives, such as probiotics, prebiotics, organic acids, and novel sources of feed enzymes, as well as bioactive components and metabolic modifiers. The book also discusses the role of nutrition in immune response and animal health, the problem of antinutrients - including mucotoxins and some minerals - in animal nutrition,...