This book contains key contributions to the Xth International Symposium on Ruminant Physiology (ISRP)

Proceedings from past ISRP symposia have had a major influence on research and teaching in animal science over the years. Without a doubt the peer-reviewed chapters in this book, written by some of the best scientists in the field, will live up to this fine tradition.

The chapters cover a wide range of topics spanning from digestion and absorption to metabolism, reproduction and lactation. Advancement of knowledge within important issues related to rumen fermentation, absorption mechanisms and splanchnic metabolism is treated in nine chapters. A number of chapters address the relationship between nutrition and gene expression illustrating important progress in scientific knowledge that can be obtained by applying the molecular biology methods to the field. Several chapters address the effects of nutrition on immunology and cover topics related to the health and welfare of production animals. In keeping with the increased attention on the relationship between food and human health, the book contains two important chapters on this topic.

CONTENT

SECTION ONE: Rumen fermentation

• Characterisation and quantification of the microbial population of the rumen
• The role of thermodynamics in the control of ruminal fermentation
• Digestion and passage of fibre in ruminants

 SECTION TWO: Absorption mechanisms

• Transport systems in the epithelia of the small and large intestines
• Urea transporters and urea recycling in ruminants
• Ruminal SCFA absorption: channelling acids without  harm 

SECTION THREE: Splachnic metabolism 

• Splanchnic metabolism of long-chain fatty acids in ruminants
• Splanchnic amino acid metabolism in ruminants
• Splanchnic metabolism of short-chain fatty acids in the ruminant

 SECTION FOUR: Nutritional regulation of gene expression

• Patterns and putative regulatory mechanisms of high-affinity glutamate transporter expression by ruminants
• Characterisation and nutritional regulation of the main lipogenic genes in the reuminant lactating mammary gland
• Roles of growth hormone and liptin in th eperiparturient dairy cow

SECTION FIVE: Lactation and reproduction physiology

• Prenatal nutrition, getal programming and opportunities for farm animal research
• Mammary cell turnover: relevance to lactation persistency and dry period managment
• Milk fat depression: concepts, mechanisms and management applications

SECTION SIX: Nutrition and immunology

• Endocrine effects on immune function: defining opportunities based on knowledge from gowing calf and periparturient animal models
• Energy and protein effects on the immune system
• Vitamin and trace mineral effects on immune function of ruminants

SECTION SEVEN: Nutrition and stress physiology

• Feeding management and stess in calves
• Effects of nutrition on stress reactivity

SECTION EIGHT: Human health aspects

• Milk fatty acids and human health: potential role of conjugated linoleic acid and trans fatty acid
• Does cow's milk enhance linear growth: evidence from developing and industrialized countries

SECTION NINE: Workshop reports

• The use of reuminants in less developed counties and the priorities within ruminant physiology research to assist in development
• Methods used for studying particle size and digesta flow