Environmental Physiology of Livestock

Environmental Physiology of Livestock By
2012 | 348 Pages | ISBN: 0813811767 | PDF | 4 MB
Environmental stress is one of the most significant factors affecting livestock performance and health, and it is only expected to increase with effects of global warming. Environmental Physiology of Livestock brings together the latest research on environmental physiology, summarizing progress in the field and providing directions for future research. Recent developments in estimating heat stress loads are discussed, as well as key studies in metabolism, reproduction, and genetic expressions. Environmental Physiology of Livestock begins with a survey of current heat indexing tools, highlighting recent discoveries in animal physiology, changes in productivity levels, and new technologies available to better estimate stress response. Using this synopsis as a point of orientation, later chapters hone in on major effects of heat stress, including changing metabolic pathways and nutrient requirements, endocrine regulation of acclimation to environmental stress, and reduced reproductive performance. The text concludes with a thorough discussion of environmental effects on gene expressions, providing important insight for future breeding practices. Environmental Physiology of Livestock is a globally contributed volume and a key resource for animal science researchers, geneticists, and breeders.Content: Chapter 1 From Heat Tolerance to Heat Stress Relief: An Evolution of Notions in Animal Farming (pages 1-16): Amiel BermanChapter 2 Physiological Basics of Temperature Regulation in Domestic Animals (pages 17-34): Donald E. SpiersChapter 3 Heat Stress and Evaporative Cooling (pages 35-48): Kifle G. GebremedhinChapter 4 Regulation of Acclimation to Environmental Stress (pages 49-63): Kajal Sankar Roy and R. J. CollierChapter 5 Environment and Animal Well?Being (pages 65-80): S. D. EicherChapter 6 Effects of Environment on Metabolism (pages 81-100): Lance Baumgard and Robert P. RhoadsChapter 7 Impact of Hot Environment on Nutrient Requirements (pages 101-128): Umberto BernabucciChapter 8 Effects of Environment on Animal Health: Mechanisms and Regulatory Inputs (pages 129-164): Ted H. Elsasser, Cong?Jun Li, Jessica Shaffer and Robert J. CollierChapter 9 Effect of Environment on Immune Functions (pages 165-179): Nicola LaceteraChapter 10 Strategies for Improvement of Thermal and Reproductive Responses under Heat Stress (pages 181-198): David Wolfenson and William W. ThatcherChapter 11 Prospects for Improving Fertility during Heat Stress by Increasing Embryonic Resistance to Elevated Temperature (pages 199-208): Peter J. HansenChapter 12 Environmental Heat Stress Impairs Placental Function, Fetal Growth and Development, and Postnatal Performance in Livestock (pages 209-228): Dustin T. Yates, Xiaochuan Chen and Sean W. LimesandChapter 13 Effects of Photoperiod on Domestic Animals (pages 229-242): Geoffrey E. Dahl and Izabella M. ThompsonChapter 14 Rethinking Heat Index Tools for Livestock (pages 243-265): J. B. Gaughan, T. L. Mader and K. G. GebremedhinChapter 15 Strategies to Reduce the Impact of Heat and Cold Stress in Dairy Cattle Facilities (pages 267-288): John R. Smith and J. P. HarnerChapter 16 Genotype by Environment Interactions in Commercial Populations (pages 289-307): Ignacy Misztal and Peter LovendahlChapter 17 Responses of Poultry to Environmental Challenges (pages 309-335): J. Brake and S. Yahav