Anatomy and Physiology of Farm Animals

The anatomy and physiology of farm animals is an important topic that has implications ranging from human health to the economy. With the broad scope of topics associated with farm animal anatomy and physiology this book covers various animals including, cows (which are discussed in detail), horses, sheep, pig, and goats. The specific topics covered in this book include imaging modalities to study anatomy, physiologic responses to environment and diet, pharmacokinetics, reproductive physiology and developmental physiology. This book may interest both lay and professional individuals interested in furthering their understanding of a wide array of farm animal anatomy and physiology topics. The final section of this book introduces the consciousness of farm animals being slaughtered to highlight the importance of anatomy and physiology in the humane treatment of commercial animals. The text is comprised of fifteen chapters. First chapter provides a summary of the recent developments in the application of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, X-ray computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound in livestock. Second chapter provides an overview of new traits and phenotyping strategies in dairy cattle with a focus on functional traits. Succedingly, the aim of third chapter was to describe the response in terms of heart and respiratory rate (RR), Htc, rectal temperature (RT), and some plasma variables in stallions and mares of different ages performing a BEFT. Fourth chapter provides relevant information on the utilization of dietary fiber (DF) by pigs and its effects on gut physiological functions, microbiota and health. It delivers in-depth insight on both negative and positive effects of different fibers inclusion in swine diets. Additional knowledge to the use of sorghum, millet and cottonseed meal in commercial poultry production has been provided in fifth chapter and sixth chapter provides mechanistic information on the anabolic responses to growth hormone and ?-adrenergic agonist in sheep muscle. Seventh chapter highlights on the economic impact of claw lesions and lameness helps to understand how both the diseases influence economic losses, and indicates how these problems should best be addressed. Furthermore, it implicates that focus on housing in the insemination stable is important to improve the prevention strategy. In eighth chapter, we discuss approaches for comprehensive reporting in animal welfare studies. Ninth chapter aims to determine if TP concentrations differ in fresh and frozen/thawed samples; and to determine the correlation between serum and plasma samples. Tenth chapter focuses on factors affecting serum total protein and immunoglobulin G concentration in replacement dairy calves. Transcriptomics comparisons of Mac-T cells versus mammary tissue during late pregnancy, and recent advances in reproductive biotechnologies in sheep and goat are discussed in chapter eleven and twelve respectively. Thirteenth chapter reviews on environmental stress effect on animal reproduction. At present, it has been concluded that stress is one of the environmental factors that affects handling and decreases the production of livestock, it is considered that the main factor which should be controlled in units Animal Production, since it is closely related to pathogens and infectious agents that may try to the health of animals. Fourteenth chapter presents nutrigenomics approaches to fine-tune metabolism and milk production. Last chapter shows validation of indicators used to assess unconsciousness in veal calves at slaughter.