This book is based on papers presented at a symposium held in 2005 in South Africa. It brings together the most recent academic writings on modeling concepts, problems and applications of models and looks at the development, usefulness and limitations of models in pigs and poultry. Contents includes; description of growth and feed intake, modelling social systems and disease effects, nutrient flow models, energy transactions and energy feed systems, optimization of broiler nutrition and modeling egg production in layering hens.

Farmers and fanciers keep an astonishing variety of poultry breeds in North America. These birds provide meat and eggs to nourish us and feathers to keep us warm. Their quirky personalities and charming good looks make them barnyard favorites. They inspire passionate devotion from show breeders and provide a living for farmers.
Presented here, breed by breed, are more than 120 barnyard fowl -- from chickens and turkeys to emus and pheasants. For each animal, readers will find stunning color photography, a brief history, and a detailed description. The identifying characteristics included for each breed are: class (standard and bantam); size (for cocks and hens); appearance of comb, wattles, and earlobes; color (everything from black-breasted red to silver laced); place of origin; conservation status; and special qualities (including longevity, size and quantity of eggs, quality of meat, and other relevant uses). Author Carol Ekarius provides enough information to satisfy both the dedicated browser and the serious farmer weighing the pros and cons of multiple breeds.
In 2005, "Storey's Illustrated Guide to 96 Horse Breeds of North America" celebrated horses in a coffee-table reference that captivated enthusiasts of all ages. Now farmers, breeders, backyard chicken keepers, and unabashed poultry fanatics will have a definitive guide of their own. If it's poultry -- fair or fowl -- it's in this book.

This textbook provides an integrated view of beef cattle production with a systems based approach, discussing the interrelationships of a broad range of aspects with the overall goal of optimising cattle production. This book provides the background to allow cattle producers to match their production environments with genetic, management, and marketing opportunities for sustainable beef production globally. This logic and resulting considerations can then be tailored to address specific regional challenges and opportunities worldwide. Considerations and examples for extreme situations will be provided, such as very small herds, very large herds, communal-group situations, and minimal artificial input systems. This practical book will be important reading for upper level undergraduate and postgraduate students in animal and veterinary science, producers, extension workers and veterinarians.

This book brings together studies by national scientists on traditional transhumant grazing systems, emphasizing grazing management and overall land use. Focus is on two zones in temperate Asia: the Himalaya-Hindu Kush and the colder areas of China, Mongolia and parts of Central Asia. Under prevailing conditions, mobile herding is the only sustainable way the population can make best use of the natural resources, but systems were dislocated by collectivization. In the Himalaya there is conflict between herders and sedentary groups. While poor pasture condition is a major constraint, the main problems are socio-economic and institutional and relate to land tenure and grazing rights. Fodder crops are, however, of great interest for settled groups who use the same pastures. Focus on technical solutions, herder training and participatory approaches should be within the context of political decisions.

"Oocyte Physiology and Development in Domestic Animals" reviews the most recent advances in the research of physiological and biochemical mechanisms underlying oocyte growth and development, providing readers with the fundamental understanding of these key processes and summarizing this important field of research. The book covers multiple molecular and physiological mechanisms including initiation of oocyte growth during folliculogenesis and in vitro follicle culture to support oocyte competence, that are critical to health and quality. Physiological process ranging from gene expression to metabolism will be covered with an eye toward using these factors to uncover biomarkers that will further advance the field. In addition, the text looks at the effects of in vitro maturation environments on oocyte quality and developmental outcome.

This beginner s guide to beekeeping clearly explains everything you need to know, from getting your first bees to harvesting your first crop of honey. Spectacular macro photography brings the inner workings of the hive to life, while the playful text gives you the information you need to make it through your first year. Everything is addressed here, from allergies, permits and restrictions, and how to deal with the neighbors to hive structure, colony hierarchy, and bee behavior."

Mark Purdey's life changed one day in 1984 when a Ministry of Agriculture inspector told him he must administer a toxic organophosphate pesticide to his dairy herd. Passionately committed to organic farming and convinced of the harmful effects of chemicals in the environment, he refused to comply. 'It was as if my whole life became focused', he explained later. Before they had a chance to prosecute, Purdey took the Ministry to court and won his case. These experiences led him to challenge the orthodox line on the origins of Mad Cow Disease and its human counterpart variant CJD. Could the insecticide used in the official programme have precipitated the spread of the disease?Purdey's quest to discover the truth was hampered at every turn by government bureaucracies and self-serving scientific cliques who sought to smear and marginalize him. Dogged by dirty tricks and forced to work alone as something of a scientific sleuth, he struggled to reveal hidden interests and dangerous secrets. His supporters included many members of the public, as well as Prince Charles and the poet Ted Hughes. The latter wrote to him expressing 'a million congratulations'.Increasingly sceptical of the official narrative, Purdey was certain that toxic environmental factors would provide answers, and so embarked on a self-funded worldwide odyssey to investigate. "Animal Pharm" follows him on these eco-detective trails to locations as diverse as Iceland, Sardinia, Colorado and Australia. Purdey uncovers contamination from industry, munitions, pesticides, nuclear experiments and natural geology, linking these with the emergence of a range of neurodegenerative diseases. His research is at once compelling and disturbing, helping to create a paradigm shift in our understanding of the relationship of pollutants to disease and health.

Reproductive Biology of the Crocodylia is based on over 40 years of research on global crocodiles, alligators and caimans. It brings together data and information previously scattered across publications to synthesize knowledge on the history, ecology, physiology and anatomy of crocodilians. The book provides a comprehensive look at the physiology, current taxonomy, ecology and sexual maturity factors of these reptiles. It then delves into the anatomy and cycles of both male and female reproduction systems, including nesting and incubation, temperature-dependent sex determination, and sex ratios across various species populations. Finally, the book focuses on conservation efforts to protect the reproductive cycle, taking factors such as pollution, climate change, and human disruption into consideration. It is an ideal resource for wildlife biologists and herpetologists seeking up-to-date and thorough research data on conservation efforts. It will also be helpful for exotic animal veterinarians, zookeepers, and alligator or crocodile farmers.

From addled to wind egg, crossed beak to zygote, the terminology of everything chicken is demystified in "The Chicken Encyclopedia", a comprehensive A-to-Z reference volume presented in a friendly, highly illustrated format. Whether it's the difference between wry tail, split tail, and gamy tail; the meaning of hen feathered, forced molt, or quill feather; the characteristics of droopy wing; the content of granite grit; or the translation of a chicken's alarm call, here are all the answers to every chicken question and quandary, from the practical to the curious. The in-depth entries go beyond simple definitions to offer solutions to problems, instructions for tasks from catching a chicken to candling an egg, and historical origins of poultry-related terms. The fascinating lore behind breeds such as the Dutch Bantam and the Egyptian Fayoumi are detailed, as well as the reasons for behaviours from beak beating to head shaking.

Red Panda: Biology and Conservation of the First Panda, Second Edition, provides the most up-to-date research, data, and conservation solutions for the red pandas, Ailurus species. Since the publication of the previous edition in 2010, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) updated the threat level of red pandas, and they are now considered to be endangered. This latest edition is updated to provide an in-depth look at the scientific and conservation-based issues urgently facing the red panda today. Led by one of the world's leading authorities and advocates for red panda conservation, this new edition includes data from the Population and Habitat Viability (PHVA) workshops conducted in three of the species' range states, Nepal, China, and India; these workshops utilized firsthand information on the decrease of red panda populations due to factors including deforestation, illegal pet trade, human population growth, and climate change. This book also includes updated information from the first edition on reproduction, anatomy, veterinary care, zoo management, and fossil history.

Sore paws and eyes, fleas, upset tummies, rheumatic aches, eczema, smelly kennels and blankets, puppies missing their mothers, digging, chewing and flatulence are all familiar problems to pet owners, who collectively spend millions of pounds each year on ready-made pills and treatments. Yet often pets can be cured in a simple, effective and almost cost-free way by using remedies that have been folk knowledge for centuries. The author collects together hundreds of health tips from around the country using ingredients anyone can find in their kitchen cupboards, or growing in fields and gardens. Each cure listed in the book is entirely natural, kind and safe and is intended as an alternative to expensive, over-the-counter preparations for everyday ailments.

The fifth edition of this important book reviews recent advances in livestock mineral nutrition, updated throughout with new references that reflect the growing complexity of mineral metabolism. Major related themes covered include the assessment of the 'mineral value' of feeds, the false hopes placed on organic mineral supplements and limiting the 'mineral footprint' of livestock production to lower environmental pollution. Also discussed are new developments and concepts including: Salt tolerance and optimizing production in salt-rich environments. Use of phytase rather than phosphate supplements in pig and poultry rations. Demineralization of the skeleton during confinement. Recognition of sub-acute, clinical hypocalcaemia as a disorder in dairy cows. The assay of 'free' plasma B12 to assess cobalt status of cattle. Limitations of cell culture and ligated loop techniques for assessing bioavailability. Following a clear and easy to reference structure, the book also considers potential pitfalls, such as misleading estimates of mineral requirements for growth, and misinterpretation of genomic markers for mineral requirements and bioavailability of supplements. An essential resource for researchers and students in animal nutrition, agriculture and veterinary medicine, this book also forms a useful reference for veterinary practitioners and those concerned with human nutrition and environmental protection.

With more than eighty colour and black-and white photographs, this book rivals the presentation of any coffee table book. A comprehensive, easy-to-use guide, Chameleons: Their Care and Breeding shows how to choose a healthy chameleon, house and feed it, diagnose and treat problems, successfully breed and raise popular chameleon species, and much more. Professional chameleon breeder Linda Davison wrote this book with the assistance of the most-respected breeders in the field.

More and more people are deciding to raise their own meat, from farmers to homesteaders, even chefs. This is the book that shows them exactly how to handle the slaughter and butchering of their livestock in a humane and sustainable way. With step-by-step photographs of the farm to table process, it is destined to be the bible on the topic. It begins with general information about food safety, freezing and packaging, tools and equipment, butchering methods, and pre-slaughter conditions before moving into the specifics of slaughtering and butchering cattle. It includes detailed descriptions of specialty cuts and how to make them.

Take a look at the packaging on a container of milk and you're likely to see bucolic idylls of red barns, green pastures, and happy, well-treated cows. In truth, the distance from a living cow to a glass of milk is vast, and nearly impossible to grasp in a way that resonates with an average person ticking items off a grocery list. To translate this journey into tangible terms, Kathryn Gillespie had a brilliant idea: to follow the moments in the life cycles of individual animals-animals like The Cow with Ear Tag #1389. In contrast to the widely known truths of commercial meat manufacture, the dairy industry enjoys a relatively benign reputation, with most consumers unaware of this kitchen staple's backstory. The Cow with Ear Tag #1389 explores how the seemingly nonthreatening practice of raising animals for milk is just one link in a chain that affects livestock across the agricultural spectrum. Gillespie takes readers to farms, auction yards, slaughterhouses, and even rendering plants to show how living cows are transformed into food. The result is an empathetic look at cows and our relationship with them, one that makes both their lives and their suffering real-in particular, the fleeting encounter with the cow of the title, just one animal whose story galvanized Gillespie to write this book. The myriad ways that the commercial meat industry causes harm are at the forefront of numerous discussions today. The Cow with Ear Tag #1389 adds a crucial piece to these conversations by asking us to consider the individual animals whose lives we may take for granted.

Pigs are everywhere in United States history. They cleared frontiers and built cities (notably Cincinnati, once known as Porkopolis), served as an early form of welfare, and were at the center of two nineteenth-century "pig wars." American pork fed the hemisphere; lard literally greased the wheels of capitalism. J. L. Anderson has written an ambitious history of pigs and pig products from the Columbian exchange to the present, emphasizing critical stories of production, consumption, and waste in American history. He examines different cultural assumptions about pigs to provide a window into the nation's regional, racial, and class fault lines, and maps where pigs are (and are not) to reveal a deep history of the American landscape. A contribution to American history, food studies, agricultural history, and animal studies, Capitalist Pigs is an accessible, deeply researched, and often surprising portrait of one of the planet's most consequential interspecies relationships.

AS SEEN ON BBC TWO'S HIT TV-SHOW 'THIS FARMING LIFE' 'A heartwarming tale of life on the land' Alan Titchmarsh 'There's love and loss, challenge and adversity, but above all it's warm, insightful and inspiring' Helen Skelton 'Will inspire any reader to look at the countryside - and all those who work there - with newfound appreciation' Jimmy Doherty 'Uplifting, charming and beautifully written' Adam Henson Emma Gray was just twenty-three when she moved to an isolated farm in Northumberland, becoming Britain's youngest solo shepherdess. In the seasons that followed, Emma fell in love with its rolling fields, surrounding forest and sturdy farmhouse, tending her sheep and training her dogs - and even found romance. But when Emma finds herself suddenly alone again, heartbroken and recovering from a serious accident, she wonders if her isolated existence is still such a sensible idea. Even if she recovers, how could she make a proper living on Fallowlees Farm? In her heartwarming book, Emma tells the story of how she picked herself up and expanded her cattle herd, added more horses to her menagerie, and became one of the country's most successful breeders and trainers of Border Collies - unexpectedly discovering true love and lasting happiness along the way. Written with warmth and humour, My Farming Life is a joyous celebration of nature and community, and a delight for anyone who's ever dreamed of living closer to the countryside.

Edited by world-renowned animal scientist Dr Temple Grandin, this practical book integrates scientific research and industry literature on cattle, pigs, poultry, sheep, goats, deer, and horses, in both the developed and developing world, to provide a practical guide to humane handling and minimizing animal stress. Reviewing the latest research on transport systems, restraint methods and facilities for farms and slaughterhouses, this fully updated fifth edition of Livestock Handling and Transport includes five new chapters: The Introduction, Genetics and Handling, Goat Handling and Transport, Robotic Milking, and Transport of Livestock by Sea. There is also new coverage of temperament testing and change, the principles of good stockmanship as well as including new video material to further explain key information contained in the book. Key features include: - Edited by world-renowned animal scientist Temple Grandin. - Two new chapters on the testing and control of temperament and the principles of good stockmanship. - Online videos to further illustrate the key points.

Listen to the bees.

Bees reflect human society - understand them and we can get a little closer to understanding ourselves. Humans and bees have enjoyed a close relationship for millennia, and the entries in this book reflect at least two thousand years of fascination with the world's favourite insect. Monarch, celebrity, monk, peasant, warrior or regular Joe, there are few who haven't fallen under the spell of bees and the riches they bring. From superstition to science, cake recipes to self-help, these quotes are a mirror to ourselves - our hopes and fears, our lives and deaths. Not to mention our taste-buds.

This book offers everything you need to plant and nurture a garden that will invite these vital pollinators in, creating spaces bursting with vibrant colour and giving off heady, bee-friendly scents from the right kinds of plants. In doing so you will, of course, begin to cultivate an environment in which beneficial insects thrive, and pests are controlled, meaning that your gardens, balconies and containers create a delightful environment for people as well as bees.

Horses have been taken from their natural environment and enclosed in paddocks and stables, dramatically changing both life-style and feeding habits. Feeding time has been greatly reduced and cereal and protein concentrates introduced into the diet. As a result, horses are prone to many problems associated with feeding.

This book clearly explains the science of nutrition and combines this with the art of feeding to encourage an understanding of how to feed horses to keep them healthy, and allow them to reach their full performance potential. This new edition - the first since 1992 - has been fully updated and extended to include new feeds and feeding practices and explains new advances in scientific knowledge. It provides clear guidelines for feeding competition horses, older horses and problem animals, and explains the role of feeds and feeding in maintaining the immune system and soundness.

"Horse Nutrition and Feeding" is the recognised text for students studying horses at colleges, for BHS examinations, and for horse-owners.