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.

How perceptive are cats to the good (or bad) behaviour of humans? How do they differ from breed to breed? Are some left handed and some right-handed? How can you tell if your pet is lonely? And just how similar is your cat to a tiger? In WHAT YOUR CAT IS THINKING the researcher, biologist and author Bo Soederstroem weaves together fascinating facts we're only just learning about man's best friends, with highly practical tips to help us better understand and care for the animals in our life. Research on cat and dog behaviour, and the complicated psychology which influences their responses and needs has formally exploded in the 21st century, with fascinating new knowledge gained every day. Bo Soederstroem has an iron grip on all the cutting edge research to match the most determined cat's hold on his favourite catnip toy, and here he presents the most interesting results in an easy-to-understand way. Learn about the interaction between man and pet, understand your cat's mysterious signals, immerse yourself in those earliest moments, and gain the ability to stare into your animal's eyes and think 'I get you'.

Laboratory Animal Anaesthesia, Fourth Edition provides a basic guide to anaesthesia for a very diverse audience needing content, with straight-forward, structured style of writing. Updated with effects of anaesthetics in different laboratory species, including sources of dose rates will be incorporated into tabular material. New information on pain assessment and pain management will be covered, and an increased emphasis on rats and mice for anaesthesia and perioperative care. With newly revised, full color illustrations to facilitate best learning, Laboratory animal Anesthesia, Fourth Edition provides procedures, key points and invaluable advice from a well-known and respected veterinary anesthetist and scientist with over 30 years of experience in the field.

So Far and Yet So Close provides a comparative study of frontier cattle ranching in two societies on opposite ends of the globe. It is also an environmental history that at the same time centres on both the natural and frontier environments. There are many points at which the western Canadian and northern Australian cattle frontiers evoke comparisons. Most obviously they came to life at about the same time: late 1870s-early 1880s. In both cases corporations were heavy investors and utilized an open range system in which tens of thousands of cattle roamed over thousands of square acres. Ranchers shared similar problems such as predators, disease, and weather, as well as markets. Ultimately, a nearly indistinguishable "country" culture developed in these geographically disparate and distant lands, which is still apparent today. Many similarities were in one way or another a reflection of frontier environmental conditions that is, conditions associated with the very "newness" of society. They included a lack of infrastructure (ie. fences), institutions (ie. police), and population (ie. consumers). However, the ranching people in these two societies had their differences too. In the end, the natural environment pushed agricultural development in these two regions along very different paths.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to make your own honey? Does the thought of keeping bees appeal to you? Are you looking for ways to live more sustainably? You are not alone. Thousands of people just like you have been raising bees and making their won honey right in their own backyards. Learn the ins and outs of the joy of keeping bees in this information packed guide. A Preview of What You Will Discover About the Fascinating Hobby of Bee Keeping Today Quickly get started. Get the right equipment. Learn about keeping bees in an urban environment. The power of the queen bee. Discover how to harvest your honey. And much more Packed full of practical tips that you can put into practice right away to care for your very first hive

A fresh, new guide to the backyard lifestyle The homesteading movement is continuing to grow, as more people are stepping up to have a hand in where their food comes from. Whether you want to dabble or immerse yourself completely in the do-it-yourself, back-to-basics lifestyle, Welcome to the Farm is a comprehensive, fully illustrated guide to growing the very best food right in your own backyard. Shaye Elliott takes readers on a journey that teaches them how to harvest baskets full of organic produce, milk a dairy cow (and make butter), plant a homestead orchard, can jams and jellies, and even raise chickens and bees. From her experience running The Elliott Homestead, Shaye provides all the how-to wisdom you need to know about: *The benefits of a home garden *The basics of seed starting *Building your own greenhouse *What belongs in the winter garden *Canning, freezing, and dehydrating techniques and recipes *The pros and cons of caged vs. free-range chickens *Keeping a dairy cow and what to do with all the milk *Raising animals for meat *Making your own cider and wine *And so much more! Welcome to the Farm is aimed to serve homesteaders and urban-farmers alike, guiding them through the beginning stages of small-area farming and utilizing whatever amount of space they have available for optimal and delicious food production.

Suzy Lowry Geno walks the hills and creek side of Old Field Farm seeking a simpler peace-filled life like those of her grandparents and great-grandparents who worked those acres before her. But as she finally began to rest in the true joys of faith, family and slower living, she was forced back into the realities of the world of technology in the struggle to save her husband's life. Journey with her as she hays goats, waters chickens, gathers eggs, makes goat milk soap; minds her little farm store; gets a traffic ticket racing her husband to a blood transfusion; tries, fails, and tries again to make her homestead a success; and suffers a frightening snake bite, all while walking through the Valley of the Shadow of Death. Join her in "Simple Times at Old Field Farm" as she emerges triumphantly on the mountainside "keeping her hands busy and her heart open."

"The Encyclopedia of Meat Sciences, Second Edition," prepared by an international team of experts, is a reference work that covers all important aspects of meat science from stable to table. Its topics range from muscle physiology, biochemistry (including post mortem biochemistry), and processing procedures to the processes of tenderization and flavor development, various processed meat products, animal production, microbiology and food safety, and carcass composition. It also considers animal welfare, animal genetics, genomics, consumer issues, ethnic meat products, nutrition, the history of each species, cooking procedures, human health and nutrition, and waste management.

Fully up-to-date, this important reference work provides an invaluable source of information for both researchers and professional food scientists. It appeals to all those wanting a one-stop guide to the meat sciences.
More than 200 articles covering all areas of meat sciencesSubstantially revised and updated since the previous edition was published in 2004Full color throughout

With good planning and preparation, your goats will be healthier and happier. Everything you Never thought you'd Need to Know About Goats provides advice before you get goats and afterwards. Topics include Herd Management, Nutrition, Breeding, Pregnancy and Kidding, Bottle Babies, Meat and Dairy Goats, Diseases and Illnesses, and Antibiotics and General Medications. It also provides a listing of useful resources and a glossary of terms often heard in the goat world.