Feed storage and handling.

This chapter highlights some important tips on feed storage and handling which includes topics on concentrate feed storage equipment, storing roughage, calculating the amount of storage capacity needed, feed storage hygiene, and reducing diet selection by animals fed a formulated mixed ration.

Digestion of feeds.

In this chapter the feeding behaviour and digestive physiology, digestive tract function-intrinsic and microbial digestion; functions and anatomy of the digestive tract in animals are discussed.

Feed digestibility.

This chapter describes the effects of feed composition on the digestibility and nutrient availability of feeds.

Assessing nutritional status and nutrient supplements for grazing animals.

This chapter describes how to assess the body condition of domestic animals, methods for identifying mineral deficiencies, planning nutrient supplementation of grazing animals, supplement delivery methods, mineral supplementation methods, nonprotein nitrogen and protein supplements, responses to urea and protein supplements, economics of nutrient supplementation and survival feeding.

Feed processing.

This chapter describes the equipment, procedures and effects of tempering, milling, grinding, mixing, pelleting, extrusion, steaming, flaking and alkali treatment of feeds.

Disorders caused by feed-borne pathogens and poisons, and nutrient deficiencies.

In this chapter disorders caused by mycotoxins, phytoestrogens, secondary substances, bacterial, viral and prion diseases in feed are discussed. Disorders due to poisons and mineral deficiencies are also presented.

Animal feeds.

This chapter describes the classification of feeds according to their available nutrient content, the types and amounts of constituents such as fibre and starch, the feed's origin (animal or plant or processing byproduct), the part of the original material which makes up the feed, any processing that the feed has been subjected to and the feed's physical characteristics.

Nutrient requirements.

This chapter describes how animals use protein, energy, amino acids, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients and their requirements for these nutrients for physiological processes and production responses.

Effects of animal production on the environment.

This chapter discussed how animal production can influence the environment with emphasis on climate change and global warming.

Feed additives.

This chapter describes the use of metabolic modifiers, antibiotics, coccidostats, anthelmintics, growth promoters, enzymes, ionophores, probiotics, prebiotics, clay minerals, buffers and other feed additives to obtain better productive performance and improve digestive tract health of domestic animals.