Prenatal life is the period of maximal development in animals, and it is well recognised that factors that alter development can have profound effects on the embryonic, fetal and postnatal animal. Scientists involved in research on livestock productivity have for decades studied postnatal consequences of fetal development on productivity. Recently, however, there has been a surge in interest in how to manage prenatal development to enhance livestock health and productivity. This has occurred largely due to the studies that show human health in later life can be influenced by events during prenatal life, and establishment of the Fetal Origins and the Thrifty Phenotype Hypotheses. This book, Managing the Prenatal Environment to Enhance Livestock Productivity reviews phenotypic consequences of prenatal development, and provides details of mechanisms that underpin these effects in ruminants, pigs and poultry. The chapters have been divided into three parts: Quantification of prenatal effects on postnatal productivity, mechanistic bases of postnatal consequences of prenatal development and regulators of fetal and neonatal nutrient supply.Managing the Prenatal Environment to Enhance Livestock Productivity is a reference from which future research to improve the level of understanding and capacity to enhance productivity, health and efficiency of livestock in developing and developed countries will evolve. It is particularly timely given the development of molecular technologies that are providing new insight into regulation and consequences of growth and development of the embryo, fetus and neonate.

First livestock-specific book quantifying consequences of fetal programming

Introduction.- Foreword.- List of Contributors.- Chapter 1: Postnatal consequences of the maternal environment and of growth during prenatal life for productivity of ruminants Paul L. Greenwood, Andrew N. Thompson and Stephen P. Ford.- Chapter 2: Quantification of prenatal effects on productivity in pigs Pia M. Nissen and Niels Oksbjerg.- Chapter 3: Managing prenatal development of broiler chickens to improve productivity and thermotolerance Zehava Uni and Shlomo Yahav.- Chapter 4: Biological mechanisms of fetal development relating to postnatal growth efficiency and carcass characteristics in ruminants John M. Brameld, Paul L. Greenwood and Alan W. Bell.- Chapter 5: Mechanistic aspects of fetal development relating to postnatal fibre roduction and follicle development in ruminants C. Simon Bawden, Dave O. Kleemann, Clive J. Mclaughlan, Greg S. Nattrass, and Stephanie M. Dunn.- Chapter 6: Mechanistic aspects of fetal development relating to postnatal health and metabolism in pigs Matthew E. Wilson and Lloyd L. Anderson.- Chapter 7: Regulatory aspects of fetal growth and muscle development relating to postnatal growth and carcass quality in pigsCharlotte Rehfeldt, Marcus Mau and Klaus Wimmers.- Chapter 8: Placental Vascularity: A Story of Survival Stephen P. Ford.- Chapter 9: Management and Environmental Influences on Mammary Gland Development and Milk Production Anthony V. Capuco and R. Michael Akers.- Index.