The ninth edition of this best-selling book examines the biological principles, scientific relationships, and management practices of livestock production. Blending the discussion of science, disciplines and industries, it effectively introduces readers to Animal Science using a breadth and depth that is unparalleled. Following a logical organization, it first discusses animal products, then basic biological principles (growth, genetics, reproduction, nutrition, health, etc.) and finally the feeding, breeding and management of primary livestock industries. It also gives readers insight into the societal issues surrounding the livestock industry and an overview of the careers and opportunities available within the field.  Offers both breadth and depth that is unparalleled making this a best-seller and frequent reference for livestock producers and students.  Views livestock production from various disciplinessuch as growth, genetics, reproduction, nutrition, lactation, animal health, etc.  Covers eight primary livestock industriesincluding beef, dairy, sheep, swine, horses, poultry, goats, and aquaculture.  Gives insight into the societal issues surrounding the livestock industry.  Includes a separate chapter on Careers - Discusses professions within the production, science, agribusiness, food industry and international sectors.  Uses numerous photographs and line drawings - Communicates key points and major relationships in a quick, visual style.  Basic and sufficiently simple for those with limited livestock experience, Scientific Farm Animal Production is still informative for those who have a livestock production background; it is an excellent reference work for livestock producers and others desiring an overview of livestock production principles and management.

Robert E. Taylor was raised on an Idaho livestock operation where several livestock species were produced. He received a B.S. degree in animal husbandry and a Master's degree in animal production from Utah State University. This background, combined with his Ph.D. work in animal breeding and physiology from Oklahoma State University, provided much depth to his knowledge of livestock production. He has had practical production experience with beef cattle, dairy cattle, horses, poultry, sheep, and swine.

Dr. Taylor received teaching awards at Iowa State University (where he also managed a swine herd) and at Colorado State University. He also received the Distinguished Teaching Award from the American Society of Animal Science in recognition of his ability to organize and present materials to students. Many of his concepts for effective teaching are used in this book. Dr. Taylor passed away in 1998.

Thomas G. Field was raised on a Colorado cow-calf and seedstock enterprise. He managed a seedstock herd of cattle after completing his B.S. degree. A competitive horseman as a youth, he has had practical experience with seedstock cattle, commercial cow-calf production, stockers, and horses. He has a B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in animal science from Colorado State University.

Dr. Field has received teaching awards from the USDA National Excellence in Teaching program, the National Association of Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture, the American Society of Animal Sciences, and Colorado State University. Dr. Field is the teaching coordinator for the Department of Animal Sciences at Colorado State University and is responsible for coordinating the teaching herd.

1          Animal Contributions to Human Needs

            Contributions to Food Needs × Contributions to Clothing and Other Nonfood

            Products × Contributions to Work and Power Needs × Animals for Companionship,

            Recreation, and Creativity × Human Health Research × Other Animals

 2         An Overview of the Livestock and Poultry Industries

            U.S. Animal Industries: An Overview × The Beef Industry × The Dairy Cattle

            Industry × The Horse Industry × The Poultry Industry × The Sheep and Goat

            Industry × The Swine Industry × Industry Issues and Challenges

 3         Red Meat Products

            Production × Products × Kosher Meats × Composition × Nutritional Considerations ×

            Consumption × Marketing

 4         By-Products of Meat Animals

            Edible By-Products × Inedible By-Products × The Rendering Industry × Export

            Market

 5         Milk and Milk Products

            Milk Production × Milk Composition × Milk Products in the United States × Health

            Considerations × Consumption × Marketing

 6         Poultry and Egg Products

            Poultry Meat and Egg Production × Composition × Poultry Products × Health

            Considerations × Consumption × Marketing

 7         Wool and Mohair

            Growth of Hair, Wool, and Mohair × Factors Affecting the Value of Wool × Classes

            and Grades of Wool × Production of Wool and Mohair × Uses of Wool and Mohair

 8         Market Classes and Grades of Livestock, Poultry, and Eggs

            Market Classes and Grades of Red Meat Animals × Market Classes and Grades of

            Poultry Products

 9         Visual Evaluation of Slaughter Red Meat Animals

            External Body Parts × Location of the Wholesale Cuts in the Live Animal × Visual

            Perspective of Carcass Composition of the Live Animal

10        Reproduction

            Female Organs of Reproduction and Their Functions × Male Organs of

            Reproduction and Their Functions × What Makes Testicles and Ovaries Function ×

            Pregnancy × Parturition

11        Artificial Insemination, Estrous Synchronization, and Embryo Transfer

            Semen Collecting and Processing × Insemination of the Female × Extent of

            Artificial Insemination × Estrous Synchronization × Embryo Transfer

12        Genetics

            Production of Gametes × Spermatogenesis × Oogenesis × Fertilization × DNA

            and RNA × Genes and Chromosomes × Six Fundamental Types of Mating ×

            Multiple Gene Pairs × Gene Interactions × Interactions Between Genes and

            Environment × Biotechnology

13        Genetic Change Through Selection

            Continuous Variation and Many Pairs of Genes × Predicting Genetic Change ×

            Evidence of Genetic Change × Genetic Improvement Through Artificial

            Insemination × Selection Methods × Basis for Selection

14        Mating Systems

            Inbreeding × Outbreeding × Forming New Lines or Breeds

15        Nutrients and Their Functions

            Nutrients × Proximate Analysis of Feeds × Digestibility of Feeds × Energy

            Evaluation of Feeds × Feeds and Feed Composition

16        Digestion and Absorption of Feed

            Carnivorous, Omnivorous, and Herbivorous Animals × Digestive Tract of

            Monogastric Animals × Stomach Compartments of Ruminant Animals × Digestion

            in Monogastric Animals × Digestion in Ruminant Animals

17        Providing Nutrients for Body Functions

            Nutrient Requirements for Body Maintenance × Nutrient Requirements for ×

            Growth × Nutrient Requirements for Fattening × Nutrient Requirements for

            Reproduction × Nutrient Requirements for Lactation × Nutrient Requirements

            for Egg Laying × Nutrient Requirements for Wool Production × Nutrient

            Requirements for Work × Ration Formulation × Nutrient Requirements of

            Ruminants

18        Growth and Development

            Prenatal (Livestock) × Birth (Livestock) × Poultry × Basic Anatomy and

            Physiology × Growth Curves × Carcass Composition × Age and Teeth Relationship

19        Lactation       

            Mammary Gland Structure × Mammary Gland Development and Function ×

            Factors Affecting Milk Production × Milk Composition × Colostrum 

20        Adaptation to the Environment

            Major Environmental Effects × Changing the Environment × Changing the

            Animals

21        Animal Health

            Prevention × Detecting Unhealthy Animals × Major Diseases of Farm Animals

22        Beef Cattle Breeds and Breeding

            What Is a Breed? × Major U.S. Beef Breeds × Improving Beef Cattle Through

            Breeding Methods × Traits and Their Measurement × Bull Selection × Selecting

            Replacement Heifers × Cow Selection × Crossbreeding Programs for Commercial

            Producers

23        Feeding and Managing Beef Cattle

            Cow-Calf Management × Management for Optimum Calf Crop Percentages ×

            Management for Optimum Weaning Weights × Management for Low Annual Cow

            Costs × Stocker-Yearling Production × Feedlot Cattle Management × Costs

            and Returns

24        Dairy Cattle Breeds and Breeding

            Characteristics of Breeds × Dairy Type × Improving Milk Production ×

            Selection of Dairy Cows × Breeding Dairy Cattle × Sire Selection

25        Feeding and Managing Dairy Cattle

            Nutrition of Lactating Cows × Nutrition of Dry Cows × Nutrition of Replacement

            Heifers × Nutrition of Bulls × Calving Operations × Milking and Housing

            Facilities for Dairy Cows × Milking Operations × Controlling Diseases × Costs

            and Returns

26        Swine Breeds and Breeding

            Characteristics of Swine Breeds × Traits and Their Measurements × Selecting

            Replacement Females × Boar Selection × Effective Use of Performance Records ×

            Crossbreeding for Commercial Swine Producers

27        Feeding and Managing Swine

            Types of Swine Operations × Farrow-to-Finish Operations × Management of

            Purchased Feeder Pigs × Market Management Decisions × Costs and Returns

28        Sheep Breeds and Breeding

            Major U.S. Sheep Breeds × Breeding Sheep × Inherited Abnormalities

29        Feeding and Managing Sheep

            Production Requirements for Farm Flocks × Types of Farm Flock Producers ×

            Feeding Ewes × Care and Management of Farm Flocks × Facilities for Production

            of Range Sheep × Managing Range Sheep × Controlling Diseases and Parasites ×

            Determining the Age of Sheep by Their Teeth × Costs and Returns 

30        Horse Breeds and Breeding

            Breeds of Horses × Breeding Program × Conformation of the Horse × Unsoundness

            and Blemishes of Horses × Gaits of Horses × Ease of Riding and Way of Going ×

            Determining the Age of a Horse by Its Teeth × Donkeys, Mules, and Hinnies

31        Feeding and Managing Horses

            Feeds and Feeding × Managing Horses × Housing and Equipment × Controlling

            Diseases and Parasites

32        Poultry Breeding, Feeding, and Management

            Breeds and Breeding × Feeding and Management × Costs and Returns

33        Goat Breeding, Feeding, and Management

            Importance of Goats × Physiological Characteristics × Characteristics of Breeds

            of Dairy Goats × Care and Management × Controlling Diseases and Parasites ×

            The Angora Goat × The Meat Goat × The Pygmy Goat

34        Animal Behavior

            Major Types of Animal Behavior × Sexual Behavior × Maternal Behavior ×          

            Communication Behavior × Social Behavior × Feeding Behavior × Shelter-

            Seeking Behavior × Investigative Behavior × Allelomimetic Behavior ×

            Maladaptive or Abnormal Behavior

35        Animal Welfare and Animal Rights

            Animal Rights × Animal Welfare × Organizations × Summary

36        Making Effective Management Decisions

            Managing for Lower Costs and Higher Returns × The Manager × Financial

            Management × Income Tax Considerations × Estate and Gift-Tax Planning ×

            Computers × Management Systems

37        Careers and Career Preparation in the Animal Sciences

            Production × Science × Agribusiness × Food Industry × International

            Opportunities × Management Positions × Women in Animal Science Careers ×

            Future Career Opportunities × Career Preparation

38         Aquaculture

            Glossary

            Index