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"The result is a refreshing balance between readability and practicality, underpinned by true science and the appliance of science… as a comprehensive resource on the breadth of information available with the combination of general principles, up-to-date advice, coupled with an excellent provision of further reading and resources for every chapter, makes this an essential addition to any poultry library!" (Dr Stephen A. Lister, review in Avian Pathology)

Diseases remain a significant burden to poultry production and its future, with outbreaks of disease resulting in catastrophic financial losses to the sector. Whilst it is widely recognised that vaccines have a major role in inducing protection, they can only be considered as part of the solution to this rapidly growing problem.

Optimising poultry flock health instead reviews ways of optimising preventative measures to reduce the risk of disease in flocks. The book reviews the wealth of recent research on the mechanisms of transmission for infectious diseases and how this understanding can be used to improve poultry flock health.

By showing how poultry flock health can be optimised at different stages of production, the book showcases the extent of preventative measures available to farmers and producers, as well as how these measures can be implemented effectively to protect their flocks against disease.

This collection features three peer-reviewed literature reviews on pre- and probiotics in poultry production.

The first chapter summarises the safety and efficacy of individual monocultures for prophylactic and/or therapeutic efficacy against Salmonella infections in poultry under both laboratory and field conditions. The chapter also considers the development of novel, cost-effective, feed-stable, direct-fed microbials with potential for widespread utilisation and improved production, delivery and clinical efficacy for animal use.

The second chapter discusses the establishment of prebiotics as a series of feed compounds that serve as specific substrates for gastrointestinal tract (GIT) bacteria. The chapter reviews the impact of prebiotics on bird health, GIT function, and prevention of foodborne pathogen GIT colonization. Particular attention is drawn on the impact of prebiotics on the avian intestinal microbiome, cecal microbiome and the avian upper GIT.

The final chapter considers current concerns surrounding the application of probiotics in poultry production, primarily due to mixed experiences of their effectiveness and lack of knowledge regarding the scientific basis for their modes of action. In contrast, prebiotics have been readily accepted by the sector. This chapter summarises recent research on the effects of both types of treatment, their possible modes of action, as well as the strengths and limitations of their use.

This collection features five peer-reviewed reviews on dietary supplements in dairy cattle nutrition.

The first chapter addresses the manipulation of rumen fermentation to maximise the efficiency of feed utilisation and increase ruminant productivity. It considers a wide variety of approaches, including the use of dietary buffers.

The second chapter reviews the use of probiotics as supplements for ruminants to promote digestive efficiency and productivity. The chapter summarises the benefits and modes of action of probiotics, as well as their role in optimising feed efficiency and reducing methane production.

The third chapter considers the beneficial roles of plant secondary compounds in sustainable ruminant nutrition. It describes the effects and composition of the three major groups of plant secondary compounds: essential oils, tannins and saponins.

The fourth chapter discusses the growing need for alternative feed sources as a result of increasing demand for meat and dairy products. The chapter reviews the nutritional composition of seaweed and introduces it as a potential novel protein supplement in animal feeds.

The final chapter evaluates the role of macroalgae as a potential anti-methanogenic ruminant feed resource and reviews its impact on animal production and performance.

“The editors of this excellent book, Dr Julia Buitink and Dr Olivier Leprince, are two world-renowned seed scientists. They have brought together a fantastic team of experts for the ten book chapters with topics covering the broad and diverse field of seed science, providing the latest technological advances and bridging the fundamental and applied research relevant for supporting a more sustainable crop production. In summary, this is a highly attractive and comprehensive book into advances in seed science and technology for more sustainable crop production, written by world experts. It is a valuable source of information for advanced-level university students, academic and industrial researchers, and other professionals across a wide range of plant science disciplines and beyond in seed sector agencies. The attractive format of the chapters with many excellent colour figures and extensive lists of relevant literature are beneficial for university-level teaching and industrial workshops. This illuminating book addresses the key challenges facing seed science and deserves high recommendation.” (Book Review by Professor Gerhard Leubner, Royal Holloway University of London, UK – Published in Seed Science Research)

With the continued effects of climate change threatening the security of the global food system, there is a greater emphasis on ensuring successful crop establishment as a means of optimising agricultural production.

Advances in seed science and technology for more sustainable crop production considers how an improved understanding of seed quality, germination and seedling emergence can address this challenge. The book reviews the development of new techniques to ensure seed quality control, including seed phenotyping, as well as the role of genetic and environmental factors in determining seed longevity.

In its comprehensive exploration of seed science and technology, the book highlights how an informed understanding of seed biology can contribute to mitigating the effects of climate change on seed quality and consequently crop production.

This collection features four peer-reviewed reviews on infertility and other reproductive disorders in dairy cattle.

The first chapter discusses the physiology of the main impediments to fertility and management issues that need to be addressed to ensure good fertility of dairy cows. The chapter focusses on parturition and uterine health, the importance of the post-partum environment and the role of oestrus, as well as methods of establishing pregnancy and the effect of heat stress on cows’ fertility.

The second chapter considers recent developments in automated monitoring of livestock fertility and pregnancy, focussing on its implementation in dairy cattle production. The chapter explores the physiological basics of the reproductive cycle in dairy cattle and the use of artificial intelligence to monitor and report changes in animal behaviour.

The third chapter reviews progress in understanding the role of genetics in addressing the decline in fertility rates in dairy cattle. The chapter discusses strategies to improve the reproductive performance of dairy cattle, including the use of different breeds, measures of fertility and genomic data.

The final chapter reviews best practices to detect reproductive problems and limitations in dairy cattle. The chapter identifies key areas which are known to limit performance and provides strategies which can be implemented to optimise reproductive performance and maximise animal health.

The first chapter reviews evidence of the human health impact of wheat flour fortification and how it is measured and studied.

The chapter explores the benefits to wheat flour fortification, citing the process’s ability to address widespread health problems caused by nutrient deficiencies, such as iron deficiency and anaemia.

The second chapter examines the biofortification of maize with Provitamin A carotenoids and its potential in improving micronutrient intake for the population of food insecure people. The chapter refers to the Zambia maize biofortification programme as a case study to demonstrate this.

The third chapter similarly considers the rising threat of micronutrient malnutrition, but highlights the integral role biofortified legume crops have in offsetting this. The chapter reviews the genetic variability of iron and zinc content in many legume crops, and shows how this is being used to guide breeding efforts through both transgenic approaches and agronomic management.

The final chapter assesses the problem of vitamin A deficiency in countries where cassava is considered a key crop and consumed as a main food source. The chapter reviews the HarvestPlus breeding programme for increasing the nutrient density of cassava, as well as strategies that can be implemented to promote the use of pro-vitamin A varieties by farmers and consumers.

This specially curated collection features five reviews of current and key research on improving water management in crop cultivation.

The first chapter focuses on site-specific variable rate irrigation systems utilised across agriculture and examines site-specific data acquisition and mining approaches, such as soil mapping and zone delineation.

The second chapter considers the main deficit irrigation strategies used in agriculture to improve crop water productivity. It also explores the status of site-specific irrigation management and its role in minimizing agricultural water use.

The third chapter reviews progress in winter wheat water management and water-use efficiency (WUE), drawing on long-term field experiments in the U.S. southern Great Plains. It discusses the key relationships between yield, evapotranspiration, WUE and best management practices.

The fourth chapter considers the key techniques for improving rice water productivity through enhanced irrigation practices aiming to reduce irrigation water use in rice cultivation, such as the Alternate Wetting and Drying technique.

The final chapter examines the main irrigation methods used in dryland sorghum production. It also reviews the relationship between soil properties and irrigation management.

This collection features four peer-reviewed literature reviews on soil erosion in agriculture.

The first chapter identifies different types of soil degradation, focussing primarily on soil erosion by water. The chapter explores the impact of soil erosion processes on soil properties that relate directly to crop growth, including soil depth, water-holding capacity, carbon content and nutrient reserves.

The second chapter reviews advances in techniques used to assess and measure soil erodibility by water, such as computer aided tomography. The chapter considers the role of static and dynamic soil properties in the erosion process, as well as the challenges that have developed as a result of climate change.

The third chapter assesses the impact of heavy metal contamination on soil and its consequent role in the degradation of soil health. The chapter describes the sources, impacts, indicators and remediation of heavy metal contamination, as well as the development of improved soil management practices, including effective pollution control strategies.

The final chapter discusses the implementation of integrated strategies under Conservation Agriculture (CA) farming systems to restore soil productivity in degraded agricultural lands in tropical and subtropical regions in Brazil. The chapter additionally considers the adoption of CA as a tool to prevent and reverse instances of soil degradation.

It has been estimated that around 15% of global agricultural production costs on-farm are energy-related. With heightened concerns around the sustainability of crop and livestock production, the agricultural sector must develop and invest in alternative methods of farming that recoup the same results but have a reduced environmental impact.

Energy-smart farming: Efficiency, renewable energy and sustainability reviews recent research undertaken on the ways of reducing the costs and environmental impact of on-farm energy use. The collection explores advances in improving energy efficiency on farms, renewable energy technologies such as agrivoltaics, biomass combustion, gasification and pyrolysis, as well as how more sustainable energy use can be delivered in practice in livestock production systems.

Edited by a leading expert in the field, Energy-smart farming: Efficiency, renewable energy and sustainability will be a standard reference for university and other researchers in renewable energy deployment and policies, environmental scientists, government and other agencies tackling the challenge of climate change, as well as farmers and representatives from food manufacturers and suppliers dedicated to reducing their carbon footprint.

This collection features four peer-reviewed literature reviews on improving piglet welfare.

The first chapter reviews the main welfare challenges faced during farrowing and lactation, including the occurrence of painful husbandry procedures, such as tooth resection, tail docking and castration. The chapter also highlights various mitigation strategies that can be implemented to optimise the welfare of both sows and piglets in the farrowing environment.

The second chapter addresses some of the main welfare concerns that can arise during the weaning and nursery stage as a result of separation between piglet and sow and exposure to a new environment. The chapter also summarises the most important fields of environmental, nutritional and social stress and how these experiences can be mitigated with the correct strategies.

The third chapter considers the demand for improved welfare and animal handling systems from governments, non-governmental organisations and consumers. The chapter reviews recent advancements in technology that have the potential to improve animal wellbeing, profitability and performance during the weaning period.

The final chapter discusses the main etiological agents acting in the period of transition from weaning, the risk factors for their introduction and diffusion within the farm and the main measures available for their control.

This collection features four peer-reviewed literature reviews on tropical agroforestry.

The first chapter addresses the challenges associated with incorporating agroforestry into agroecological intensification and sustainable landscapes. The chapter also considers the challenge of developing policies in support of agroforestry, and the challenge of developing agroforestry at scale.

The second chapter reviews to what extent agroforests are able to meet the objectives of sustainable forest management, focusing on biodiversity conservation, supply of forest products and carbon capture. The chapter also highlights the potential limits of system intensification in delivering ecosystem goods and services.

The third chapter presents an overview of the ecosystem services that can be delivered by tropical agroforestry systems. The chapter presents practical approaches for trade-off analysis between ecosystem services and plant biodiversity for better design (or redesign) and how management of agroforestry systems can be optimised.

The final chapter summarises the importance of cocoa-based agroforestry systems to global agricultural landscapes. The chapter reviews the different cocoa system technologies (e.g. cocoa-timber systems) and presents a four-step guide for analysing the shade canopy of shaded cocoa systems to ensure a diverse, resilient agroforestry system is in place.

This collection features four peer-reviewed literature reviews on drought-resistant crops.

The first chapter assesses the genes involved in drought and heat tolerance, as well as the physiological traits related to increased tolerance to abiotic stress in wheat. It reviews advances in our understanding of the molecular markers associated with these physiological traits, and the roles of key genes in determining a wheat plant’s response to heat and drought stress.

The second chapter discusses mechanisms of drought resistance in rice. It reviews ways of assessing drought tolerance performance, identifying genes promoting drought tolerance through quantitative trait loci (QLT) analysis, as well as breeding for drought tolerance.

The third chapter highlights the genetic diversity and quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with the traits contributing to drought and heat tolerance in soybean. It also reviews genomic resources that can facilitate a better understanding of phenotype-genotype associations and formulate genomic-assisted breeding strategies.

The final chapter addresses the polygenic nature of tolerance to drought and to heat in grain legumes. It reviews advances in understanding plant adaptation to stress, the assembly of molecular and phenotyping tools to support breeding and the development of tolerance through traditional and molecular breeding techniques.

This collection features three peer-reviewed literature reviews on feather-pecking in poultry.

The first chapter describes the three main forms of injurious pecking (IP) in poultry: tissue pecking (TP), aggressive pecking (AP) and feather-pecking (FP). It discusses the origin of severe FP, the most severe form of IP. The chapter concludes with a discussion on the risk factors and current management strategies used to reduce IP in poultry production.

The second chapter assesses the use of beak trimming of laying hens as an effective preventative strategy for injurious pecking (IP). It considers the welfare costs and benefits of the two different methods: hot blade (HB) and infrared (IR). The chapter concludes with a section on alternative strategies that could reduce the need for beak trimming.

The final chapter reviews the different types of featherpecking and considers the origins of this behaviour. The chapter offers a detailed discussion on the management techniques available for the prevention of feather-pecking, during both rearing and the laying period.

This collection features four peer-reviewed reviews of septoria tritici blotch in cereals.

The first chapter reviews the various methods for managing septoria tritici blotch (STB), from the the use of fungicides to marker-assisted breeding for increased resistance to STB. It also surveys research on the molecular basis of host-pathogen interactions in STB.

The second chapter reviews current research on the main fungal diseases affecting barley, focussing on biotrophic foliar diseases, such as stem rust and powdery mildew, as well as necrotrophic diseases, such as septoria tritici blotch and fusarium head blight. The chapter also discusses the implications for achieving sustainable resistance to the pathogens responsible for these diseases.

The third chapter addresses advances in understanding the epidemiology of septoria tritici blotch in the major cereal crops. The chapter also reviews the taxonomy and life cycle of Zymoseptoria tritici - the cause of septoria tritici blotch, as well as the economic impact of the pathogen.

The final chapter reviews recent research on genetic resistance loci and breeding strategies based on both conventional and biotechnology-based breeding approaches to achieve durable resistance to septoria tritici blotch infection, whilst simultaneously minimising the risk of grain yield losses.

“As Editor, Alexander Hristov has gathered together some scientifically excellent contributions from a very select group of eminent animal nutrition experts to create an up to date, readable and comprehensive account of dairy cow nutrition. So, where there have been ‘Advances’ I am confident they will have been covered. Talking to colleagues, enthusiasm was expressed for the quality of the research covered, and I have little doubt that this book will find a place on many bookshelves.” (Professor C. Knight Institute of Veterinary Clinical and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark)

Global demand for milk and other dairy products continues to grow. As a result of this increased consumer demand, the sector’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have risen dramatically. It is therefore crucial that the livestock sector reacts to these developments and considers areas for improvement that could reduce the sector’s contribution to climate change.

Advances in sustainable dairy cattle nutrition provides a comprehensive review of the wealth of research on recent advances in understanding and improving dairy cattle nutrition to reduce the carbon footprint of the dairy sector. This collection explores the role of nutritional requirements in optimising gut function and overall animal health, as well as its influence on milk yield and quality. Chapters also review the use of dietary supplements, such as plant extracts and direct-fed microbials (DFM) to optimise dairy cattle nutrition.

This collection features three peer-reviewed literature reviews on pesticide residues in agriculture.

The first chapter outlines the ways in which pesticide use can lead to increased pest problems, such as pest resurgence and replacement, and the development of pesticide resistance. The chapter examines current strategies for mitigating the impacts of pesticides and refers to a detailed case study on the diamondback moth (DBM) to demonstrate the practical application of these strategies.

The second chapter explores the threat of pesticide poisoning to human health, either via deliberate self-poisoning or via occupational exposure. It discusses how best to monitor exposure to pesticides, as well as how to minimize the human health risks that may arise as a result of their use/exposure. The authors refer to a case study on smallholder cotton farmers in the Republic of Benin to emphasise the global pesticide poisoning crisis.

The final chapter reviews the environmental impacts of pesticide use in agriculture, focussing on their contribution to global human and ecological health issues. It provides an overview of how pesticides are currently addressed in emission inventory and impact assessment, and discusses the relevance of spatiotemporal variability in modelling emissions and the toxicity and ecotoxicity impacts of pesticides.

This collection features four peer-reviewed literature reviews on plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria in agriculture.

The first chapter considers the use of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) as plant biostimulants in agriculture. It considers the benefits of PGPR, such as their ability to promote plant growth and productivity under both normal and abiotic-stressed induced environments. The chapter also looks towards PGPR application as a sustainable and efficient method to enhance crop production.

The second chapter reviews recent research on the use of PGPR as biofertilizers to enhance root function and improve nutrient uptake, with emphasis on their effects on root architecture, metabolism and adaptation to abiotic stress.

The third chapter explores the use of microbial bio-effectors and their ability to optimise the mineral nutrition of agricultural crops. The chapter also reviews the wealth of research on the mechanism of action, applications and efficacy of key plant growth-promoting microorganisms (PGPMs).

The final chapter reviews the use of plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) as a biocontrol agent against invertebrate pests. The chapter analyses the effects of PGPB species against these pest types and enlists a case study on the PGPB species Pseudomonas protegens to further demonstrate this.

"The book contains many contributions informed by recent research. These will be of value to nutritionists, dairy scientists and technologists working in research, industrial and teaching roles…the editors have achieved their aim of producing a reference work that addresses the nutritional and functional properties of milk and its contribution to human nutrition. It is a valuable reference source for dairy professionals."
(International Journal of Dairy Technology)

The dairy sector is under increasing scrutiny on environmental and health grounds. Optimising the nutritional and functional properties of milk as part of a balanced diet offers one solution to these challenges. This book draws on a wealth of knowledge from a team of internationally-renowned dairy experts to show how this can be achieved.

Understanding and improving the functional and nutritional properties of milk reviews the latest research on the remarkable range of functional and nutritional properties of milk that make it both a key food source and ingredient in a wide range of dairy products. The collection discusses proteins, lipids, carbohydrates and other components of milk, as well as how our understanding can be used to optimise the quality of milk and dairy products such as cheese and yoghurt.

Insect pests remain a major threat to crop production primarily because of their ability to inflict severe damage on crop yields, as well as their role as key vectors of disease. Early identification of pests is critical to the success of integrated pest management (IPM) programmes and essential for the development of phytosanitary/quarantine regimes to prevent the introduction of invasive insect pests to new environments.

Advances in monitoring of native and invasive insect pests of crops reviews the wealth of research on techniques to monitor and thus prevent threats from both native and invasive insect pests. The book considers recent advances in areas such as sampling, identifying and modelling pest populations.

With its considered approach, the book explores current best practices for the detection, identification and modelling of native and invasive insect pests of crops. The contributors offer farmers informed advice on how to mitigate a growing problem which has been exacerbated as a result of climate change.

With growing concerns surrounding the impact of climate change on both native and invasive pest invasions, coupled with the rising threat of global food insecurity, more research is required to understand the major insect pests of cereals, including how best to control and monitor them.

Advances in understanding insect pests affecting wheat and other cereals provides a comprehensive review of the wealth of research that addresses this challenge. This collection discusses the most recent developments in fundamental and applied research on major pests and shows how better understanding of these pests can be used to improve integrated pest management strategies.

The emergence of fungicide resistance is a major challenge facing agriculture. With increasing regulation and costs limiting the development of new fungicides, farmers remain reliant on a relatively small group of working fungicides, many of which are decreasingly effective as major crop disease pathogens develop resistance to them.

Understanding and minimising fungicide resistance provides an authoritative review on the wealth of research on understanding the development of fungicide resistance in agricultural crops and the establishment of preventative measures which can be implemented to limit its spread and the consequent impact of disease on yields. This collection includes ways of understanding and preventing resistance to key groups of fungicides, such as SBI, Qol, SDHI and OSBPI.

This collection features five peer-reviewed literature reviews on ensuring animal welfare during transport and slaughter.

The first chapter examines the impact of transport on beef and dairy cattle, as well as the effects of transport on carcass quality issues, such as bruising and dark cutting beef. It details how conditions can be optimised to ensure the welfare needs of the animal are met during all stages of transport.

The second chapter reviews the legislation and codes of practice surrounding the transport and slaughter of cows to be culled as a result of disease or the development of health conditions such as lameness.

The third chapter considers the effects of transport, handling and slaughter practices on pigs as well as physiological effects on carcass and meat quality.

The fourth chapter explores current approaches used to stun poultry before slaughter, including electrical stunning and controlled atmosphere stunning. The chapter reviews the associated risks and benefits of each approach to overall bird health and welfare.

The final chapter reviews the main welfare issues associated with management of sheep once they leave the farm, including transport by road and sea, use of holding facilities as well as handling and stunning of sheep at abattoirs.