Annotation. Illustrated with review studies on animal health economics, this book presents information on the most important economic tools applied to livestock, covering both theory and practical applications. Topics covered include gross margin analysis, partial budgeting, investment and financial appraisal and cost-benefit analysis. There are also sections on decision tree analysis, optimisation methods, value chain analysis, new institutional economics, DALYs and a range of policy analysis tools. International experts contribute on important theoretical and practical aspects of animal health and production economics, with global themes on livestock and poverty.

A guide to the field of animal health economics and its underlying methodology. Supplied with this book is a diskette, containing practical exercises (in computer spreedsheets) on the various methods and techniques in animal health economics, including production function analysis.

Considering individual animals and herds as economic units makes health an economic consideration. Animal health economics is principally concerned with the economic decision making behind controlling animal diseases, from individual animals and local herds to the national herd and international disease control efforts. Climate change, the spread of exotic diseases, changes in national policies and the emergence of new diseases all impact upon animal health. This book discusses the tools and analysis behind measuring and evaluating animal health at various levels.

High producing farm animals are permanently challenged by a variety of factors: lack of proper nutrition (deficit/surplus), housing systems, infections and stress. The incidence, course and outcome of production diseases are changing continuously. Therefore new information on prevention, diagnosis and treatment of production diseases is needed. These problems are complicated by the discussion of animal welfare, the rapid changes in agricultural production and the economics of production. The following key topics are handled: Fatty liver in dairy cows Alternatives to growth-promoting antibiotics Chronic inflammation and animal production Animal behavior and welfare in intensive production systems Epidemiology of production diseases New techniques in immunoprophylaxis Nutrition-immunology and production-immunology relationships Phosphorus nutrition: animal health and environmental concerns Application of genomics to production disease Role of specific fatty acids in animal health, reproduction, and performance Trace mineral nutrition and metabolism Subclinical rumen acidosis This book is essential to scientists, veterinarians and others interested in animal production.

Livestock Health and Farming provides a detailed description of key aspects of livestock health issues and farming practices. Chapters cover such topics as antimicrobial resistance in livestock, nutrition and its role in animal health and farming, nutrition and health management in dairy animals, and livestock feeding in semi-arid regions.

"The economic costs and benefits of farm animal production and sustainability versus improving climate change and animal welfare presents one of the most complex dilemmas in agriculture today. This book, by top global authors and experts, outlines the problem whilst making policy-relevant recommendations"--

By 2050 the world's population is projected to grow by one-third, reaching between 9 and 10 billion. With globalization and expected growth in global affluence, a substantial increase in per capita meat, dairy, and fish consumption is also anticipated. The demand for calories from animal products will nearly double, highlighting the critical importance of the world's animal agriculture system. Meeting the nutritional needs of this population and its demand for animal products will require a significant investment of resources as well as policy changes that are supportive of agricultural production. Ensuring sustainable agricultural growth will be essential to addressing this global challenge to food security. Critical Role of Animal Science Research in Food Security and Sustainability identifies areas of research and development, technology, and resource needs for research in the field of animal agriculture, both nationally and internationally. This report assesses the global demand for products of animal origin in 2050 within the framework of ensuring global food security; evaluates how climate change and natural resource constraints may impact the ability to meet future global demand for animal products in sustainable production systems; and identifies factors that may impact the ability of the United States to meet demand for animal products, including the need for trained human capital, product safety and quality, and effective communication and adoption of new knowledge, information, and technologies. The agricultural sector worldwide faces numerous daunting challenges that will require innovations, new technologies, and new ways of approaching agriculture if the food, feed, and fiber needs of the global population are to be met. The recommendations of Critical Role of Animal Science Research in Food Security and Sustainability will inform a new roadmap for animal science research to meet the challenges of sustainable animal production in the 21st century.