The primary purpose of each of the subsequent chapters of this book is to promulgate quantitative approaches concerned with elucidating mechanisms in a particular area of the nutrition of ruminants, pigs, poultry, fish or pets. Given the diverse scientific backgrounds of the contributors of each chapter (the chapters in the book are arranged according to subject area), the imposition of a rigid format for presenting mathematical material has been eschewed, though basic mathematical conventions are adhered to.

Mathematical modelling is increasingly applicable to the practical sciences. Here, mathematical approaches are applied to the study of mechanisms of digestion and metabolism in primary animal species. It also explores common themes between species, and provides an integrated approach to mathematical modelling in animal nutrition.

Role of mathematical models; Dynamic deterministic models; Mathematical programming; Basic biological processes; Growth functions; Simple dynamic growth models; Simple ecological models; Envinment and weather; Plant and crop processes; Crop models; Crop husbandry; Plant diseases and pests; Animal processes; Animal organs; Whole-animal models; Animal products; Animal husbandry; Animal diseases; Solutions exercises; Mathematical glossary.

For more than 30 years, modelling has been an important method for integrating, in a flexible, comprehensive and widely applicable way, basic knowledge and biological concepts on digestion and metabolism in farm animals. The purpose of this book is to present the 'state of art' in this area. The chapters are written by leading teams and researchers in this field of study, mainly from Europe, North America and Australasia. Considerable progress has been made in topics dealing with: modelling methods, feeding behaviour, digestion and metabolic processes in ruminants and monogastric animals. This progress is clearly illustrated by the emergence of a new paradigm in animal nutrition, which has moved from the aim to cover the requirements of the animal to explaining and predicting the responses of the animals to diets (e.g., productivity and efficiency, impact on quality of products, environmental aspects, health and well-being). In this book several chapters illustrate that through empirical models, meta-analysis is an efficient tool to synthesize information gathered over recent decades. In addition, compared with other books on modelling farm animal nutrition, two new aspects received particular attention: expanding knowledge of the individual animal to understanding the functioning and management of herds, and the consideration of the environmental impact of animal production. This book is a valuable source of information for researchers, nutritionists, advisors, and graduate students who want to have up-to-date and concise information on mathematical modelling applied to farm animals.

This short textbook introduces students to the concept of describing natural systems using mathematical models. We highlight the variety of ways in which natural systems lend themselves to mathematical description and the importance of models in revealing fundamental processes. The process of science via the building, testing and use of models (theories) is described and forms the structure of the book. The book covers a broad range from the molecular to ecosystems and whole-Earth phenomena. Themes running through the chapters include scale (temporal and spatial), change (linear and nonlinear), emergent phenomena and uncertainty. Mathematical descriptions are kept to a minimum and we illustrate mechanisms and results in graphical form wherever possible. Essential mathematical details are described fully, with the use of boxes. The mathematics supports but does not lead the text.

". The topics covered are nutrient analysis and characterisation, nutrient-bioavailability, post-absorptive nutrient utilisation, the principles of animal growth and the mathematical modelling of growth. Practical aspects of feed processing, anti-nutritional factors, the use of markers in nutrition studies, predicting bioavailable nutrients and the principles of feed formulation are highlighted in the context of pig, poultry and companion animal nutrition."--Publisher's website

Geoffrey R. Dolby, PhD One of the principal characteristics of a scientific theory is that it be falsifiable. It must contain predictions about the real world which can be put to experimental test. Another very important characteristic of a good theory is that it should take full cognisance of the literature of the discipline in which it is embedded, and that it should be able to explain, at least as well as its competitors, those experimental results which workers in the discipline accept without dispute. Readers of John Parks' book will be left in no doubt that his theory of the feeding and growth of animals meets both of the above criteria. The author's knowledge of the literature of animal science and the seriousness of his attempt to incorporate the results of much previous work into the framework of the present theory result in a rich and imaginative integration of diverse material concerned with the growth and feeding of animals through time, a theory which is made more precise through the judicious use of mathematics. The presentation is such that the key concepts are introduced gradually and readers not accustomed to a mathematical treatment will find that they can appreciate the ideas without undue trauma. The key concepts are clearly illustrated by means of a generous set of figures. The crux of the theory comprises three differential Eqs. (7. 1-7.