Good animal health is of great importance for the efficient production of animal-derived foods at a low cost. The demand for solutions for animal health maintenance and disease prevention is a major global challenge in animal production, food safety, and public health. The animal body has a complete self-defense system, including oxidation and anti-oxidation balance, immune activation and suppression balance, pro- and anti-inflammatory balance, which can help the host against various factors that endanger normal life activities. Nowadays, the strategy of nutrition-based health has become an increasingly important solution for animal health maintenance and disease prevention. Nutrients (carbohydrates, fats, proteins, minerals, vitamins, et al.) and nutricines (carotenoids, enzymes, fatty acids, flavors, oligosaccharides, organic acids, phospholipids, polyphenols, et al.) are two major categories of components in feeds. Nutricines and some derivatives of nutrients (vitamin derivatives, amino acid derivatives, et al.) have been intensively studied in animal and cell culture models, and their roles in animal health maintenance and disease prevention are intimately known.

As a result of an increasing reluctance to use medication to maintain animal health, this in-depth examination evaluates nutrition-based health as a strategy to avoid disease and maintain their health.

This book introduces this wholly new concept in food components. The author, following years of research, describes the nature and mode of action of nutricines and highlights their significance in disease avoidance and health maintenance. In his view, food should now be seen as being made up of two groups of components; nutrients and nutricines.

This unique work compiles the latest knowledge around veterinary nutraceuticals, commonly referred to as dietary supplements, from ingredients to final products in a single source. More than sixty chapters organized in seven sections collate all related aspects of nutraceutical research in animal health and disease, among them many novel topics: common nutraceutical ingredients (Section-I), prebiotics, probiotics, synbiotics, enzymes and antibacterial alternatives (Section-II), applications of nutraceuticals in prevention and treatment of various diseases such as arthritis, periodontitis, diabetes, cognitive dysfunctions, mastitis, wounds, immune disorders, and cancer (Section-III), utilization of nutraceuticals in specific animal species (Section-IV), safety and toxicity evaluation of nutraceuticals and functional foods (Section-V), recent trends in nutraceutical research and product development (Section-VI), as well as regulatory aspects for nutraceuticals (Section-VII). The future of nutraceuticals and functional foods in veterinary medicine seems bright, as novel nutraceuticals will emerge and new uses of old agents will be discovered. International contributors to this book cover a variety of specialties in veterinary medicine, pharmacology, pharmacognosy, toxicology, chemistry, medicinal chemistry, biochemistry, physiology, nutrition, drug development, regulatory frameworks, and the nutraceutical industry. This is a highly informative and carefully presented book, providing scientific insight for academia, veterinarians, governmental and regulatory agencies with an interest in animal nutrition, complementary veterinary medicine, nutraceutical product development and research.

Following the success of Nutricines, the author considers the practical implications and implementation of the theories laid out therein. The strategic use of a wide variety of disease avoidance and health maintenance measures will contribute to an improved and more acceptable system of animal production without the use of antibiotic growth promoters. Contents Problems of perception: animal production, food safety and public health Virtues of cleanliness: feed quality and hygiene Eating to live: voluntary feed intake Raw material processing: digestion and absorption of nutrients Struggle for supremacy: management of the gastrointestinal tract External enemies: immune system and defence in a dangerous world The enemy within: non-infectious diseases and oxidative stress Monitoring performance: assessment of total nutrition and feeding standards Difficult demands: safe food, low cost, ethical issues, environmental impact Index

This book focuses on the animal husbandry and nutrition based on significant evaluations by the authors of the chapters. Many chapters contain general overviews on animal husbandry and nutrition from different countries. Also, the sections created shed light on futuristic overlook with improvements for animal husbandry and feeding sector. Details about rearing and feeding different animal races are also covered herein. It is hoped that this book will serve as a source of knowledge and information on animal husbandry and nutrition sector.