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Books > Professional & Technical > Agriculture & farming > Animal husbandry > General
"...this book covers a range of algal phyla, specialised algal
bioprocessing and application topics that make it very interesting
for a broad audience. Each chapter covers a theme in such a way
that can easily be read by a non-specialist but, as the authors
incorporate recent published papers, the book will also be
interesting for experts...I also recommend the book for
entrepreneurs and technical staff working in different algal-based
operations." (Journal of Phycology) As the global demand for meat
increases due to population and economic growth, more pressure has
been placed on the animal feed sector to support sustainable
livestock production, whilst also ensuring the nutritional value
and palatability of feed. With traditional sources of protein,
including oilseeds and distiller grains, considered as major
contributors to climate change, there is growing interest in
establishing alternative, more 'climate-smart' sources of protein,
such as seaweed and other forms of microalgae that can supplement
livestock diets. Seaweed and microalgae as alternative sources of
protein summarises current advances in utilising macroalgae and
microalgae as alternative sources of proteins. The collection
reviews processes of protein formation in macroalgae and
microalgae, macroalgae farming and processing as well as microalgae
bioprocessing. Chapters also discuss the practical application of
seaweed as an alternative protein source in ruminant, pig, poultry
and fish diets. Edited by Professor Xin Gen Lei, Cornell
University, USA, Seaweed and microalgae as alternative sources of
protein will be a standard reference for researchers from
universities or other research centres involved in
macroalgae/microalgae production and livestock nutrition, companies
involved in the manufacture or supply of animal feed or livestock
nutrition services, government and other agencies regulating the
animal feed sector, as well as farmers interested in furthering
their knowledge on recent developments in the animal feed/livestock
nutrition sector.
This collection features five peer-reviewed literature reviews on
the environmental impact of livestock production. The first chapter
discusses life cycle assessment (LCA) and its role in evaluating
the environmental footprint of farming systems. The chapter also
explores how the practical trade-off between feasibility and
scientific rigour should be addressed in the field of ruminant
production systems. The second chapter explores some of the many
facets of livestock's contributions to climate change and the
difficulties involved in quantifying them, with a closer look into
the contribution of livestock methane emissions to changing
atmospheric methane concentrations over the last few decades. The
third chapter presents a review of the environmental sustainability
impacts of swine production, focused at the farm level because the
majority of environmental impacts occur by this stage of the supply
chain. The fourth chapter considers the potential strategies that
can be implemented to improve the environmental performance of
intensive poultry systems. The final chapter examines how LCA can
be used as a tool to quantify multiple resource use and
environmental impacts. The chapter details how potentially harmful
emissions can be assessed and measured at each stage in the life
cycle of sheep products.
With growing concern from consumers and regulatory agencies about
the welfare of farmed animals such as pigs, the livestock sector
must assess how animal welfare can be improved whilst ensuring
livestock production remains economically and environmentally
sustainable. Understanding the behaviour and improving the welfare
of pigs is a comprehensive review of key research in this important
area. This collection reviews genetic and developmental factors
affecting pig behaviour and current welfare issues at different
production stages, as well as specific issues such as tail biting
and castration. The book concludes with an assessment of ways to
measure welfare, including techniques to monitor pig behaviour.
With its distinguished editor and international team of expert
authors, Understanding the behaviour and improving the welfare of
pigs will be a standard text for university researchers in
pig/swine and veterinary science as well as ethology. It will also
be a key reference for government and other agencies involved in
regulating and monitoring farm animal welfare, as well as farmers
and companies involved in pig production.
Written as per the Fifth Deans' Committee Report of ICAR, the book
meticulously describes in a nutshell the basic and applied aspects
of Livestock Production Management in Indian context. The book
primarily covers all important information about farm animals (like
cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat and pig) and poultry-their breeds,
reproduction and breeding, feeds and feeding, housing requirement,
care and management, and health control measures. The text is
designed for the students pursuing undergraduate courses in
agriculture and dairy technology. Moreover, it is also of immense
use for the students of veterinary science and animal husbandry at
undergraduate level. Key Features It is written in a simple and
lucid language for easy grasping. The text is supported with
numerous examples, tables, photographs and diagrams for clear
understanding of the concepts. A large number of objective as well
as subjective questions given at the end of each chapter is an
added attraction of the book, which will be of help to the
concerned students for their internal short tests and final
examination. Answers to objective questions are provided at the end
of each chapter for students' self-assessment. The information is
up-to-date and given in concise form in such a manner that the book
can be used as a substitute of class notes. It will also help the
concerned teachers in teaching this course in a time-bound
schedule.
These guidelines seek to develop a consensual, harmonized,
science-based approach to the use of water in livestock production,
including the assessment of water flows. Given growing competition
between users, sectors and uses, it is vital to understand the
distribution of, and demands for, fresh water in livestock
production. Water usage for this sector should be considered an
integral part of agricultural water resource management, taking
into account the type of production system (e.g. grassland-based,
mixed crop/livestock or landless) and scale (intensive or
extensive), livestock species and breeds, and social and cultural
aspects of livestock farming in different countries. The guidelines
propose scientific, yet practical, approaches that build on
existing or developing methodologies. They also help identify areas
where ambiguity or differences exist concerning the methodological
framework.The publication is a product of the Livestock
Environmental Assessment and Performance Partnership, a
multi-stakeholder initiative whose goal is to improve the
environmental sustainability of livestock supply chains through
better methods, metrics and data. It is expected to benefit
organizations, governments, consumers, farmers, companies,
investors and other interested parties worldwide by providing
transparency, consistency, reproducibility and credibility for
assessing and reporting the water demand for livestock products.
This publication constitutes a practical tool for implementing the
sustainable food value chain framework with a focus on small-scale
livestock producers, targeting an audience of project design teams
and policymakers. Small-scale livestock producers are important
actors in food production, human health and management of
landscapes and animal genetic resources. However, they face a
number of challenges that hamper their productivity, access to
market, and competitiveness vis-a-vis their larger counterparts.
This collection reviews key research addressing key challenges
faced by organic animal farming in improving yields, animal
nutrition and health. Part 1 assesses current research on
environmental impact, promoting animal health, enhancing
naturalness and welfare. It also reviews how organic systems fit in
with agroforestry, pastoralist and other smallholder farming
systems. The second part of the book includes case studies from
leading experts on current research in improving the farming of
particular species. Chapters review challenges and opportunities in
organic dairy and beef farming, sheep and goats, pigs and poultry.
There are also chapters on organic aquaculture as well as organic
and natural beekeeping. With its distinguished editors and
international team of expert authors, this will be a standard
reference for all those researching organic animal farming as well
as the organic livestock farmers, organic certification and
regulatory bodies.
What does it take to raise a happy pig? Armed with experience from
running the largest organic hog operation in Maine, author Alice
Percy is well equipped to answer this question. Pigs are much
closer to their cousin, the wild boar, than other domesticated
animals. Ethically managing pigs requires an understanding of their
natural mannerisms, including factors such as social grouping,
mating, territory, housing, and, of course, their love of wallowing
in the mud. In Happy Pigs Taste Better Percy offers a comprehensive
look at raising organic, pasture-fed, gourmet meat. She advises
readers on pasturing and feeding hogs organically, as well as
managing the breeding herd and administering effective natural
healthcare. In addition, she provides an overview of marketing and
distribution for those looking to turn their hog farming operation
into a lucrative business. This book is the first of its kind to
offer an in-depth approach to organic, high-welfare commercial
production, including information on: - Designing a hog business
from the ground up - Housing pigs, including benefits and drawbacks
of various housing systems - Evaluating the nutritional content of
common organic feedstuffs - Butchering humanely and economically -
Recordkeeping, with templates for financial tracking Whether you're
looking to convert a conventional operation to organic, grow your
backyard hog operation into a viable business, or start from
scratch, this comprehensive book has got you covered, nose to tail.
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