Environment and Feed Composition on Animal Health Status

Dear Colleagues,

Recently, increasing attention has been focused on environment and feed composition change on stress responses in animals, as the welfare and productivity of animals could greatly dependent on these two factors. Environments including high stocking density would increase stress and affect the physiology and behavior of animals. Alteration of feed resources or inappropriate feeding times could also lead to stress. The stress caused by these two factors could adversely affect animal health, as energy consumption and immune response are highly enhanced.

This Special Issue of Life will publish reviews and original research articles covering the recent research advances in the influence of environmental factors and changes in feed composition on animal health. Environmental factors may include temperature, humidity, light, noise and stocking density, etc. The changes of feed formulation may mainly involve different levels of protein, fat and carbohydrate, etc.

We are particularly interested in studies that strength our understanding of the physiological and biochemical mechanisms of environment and feed composition on growth performance and health status of animals. In addition, the identification of biomarkers for stress caused by alterations of environmental factors and feed composition in animals are welcome.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

• The influence of environment and feed composition on animal health status;
• Host alterations in response to environment and feed that mediated stress development;
• Identification and characterization of biomarkers for stress in response to environment and feed composition.

Dr. Xihong Zhou
Dr. Hongbo Yi
Guest Editors

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