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This textbook deals comprehensively with livestock production diseases and their prevention in the major species: ruminants, swine, and poultry. It gives an interdisciplinary view on pathophysiology, prophylaxis, and health management.Livestock breeding and husbandry is often accompanied by a conflict of interest between the animal´s biological requirements and economic producer needs. This conflict is increasingly gaining attention not only by producers, animal scientists, and veterinarians, but also by the public. It creates significant future challenges, which are described and addressed in this book. The main topics covered are: •the use of antimicrobials with emphasis on security and safety for producers/consumers•the impact of locomotion disorders on performance and welfare of farm animals •the interactions of gut microbiome, genetics, climate change, metabolic status and mineral homeostasis with reproduction, performance, animal health and welfare•infectious and respiratory diseases•the raising of neonatesA special section is devoted to behavioural signs indicating an impaired animal welfare. These are the basis for precision livestock farming (PLF) technology and the development of new management concepts. The present work is a valuable resource for veterinarians, students, as well as expert readers from animal and agricultural sciences, food safety and technology. Supplementary videos can be accessed online as well as directly from the print book; simply download the Springer Nature More Media App for free and scan the links with the play button.

This book provides a comprehensive coverage of all aspects of the welfare of cattle. It starts with a consideration of animal welfare science and its application to the management of cattle and moves through to discussions of the challenges and opportunities for providing good welfare for cattle in farming and husbandry systems across the globe. The first section comprises three chapters that discuss the social, behavioural and physiological methods that can be used to assess welfare in cattle. The second section considers the welfare challenges of beef and dairy cattle in extensive and intensive systems. The third section details welfare challenges such as at slaughter, during handling and in the growing period and details solutions such as the use of sensors and application of animal breeding techniques. The final section addresses welfare challenges and solutions in achieving sustainability, in smallholder farms in Africa and new entrant dairying in Asia and cow shelters in India. This work makes a valuable contribution to the field of animal welfare and modern livestock farming. It is a must-read for researchers and students, veterinarians as well as industry personnel and informed farmers and producers.