Carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in farm animals

Abstract

Much research on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in farm animals conducted over the second half of the 20th century has focused primarily on increasing the production efficiency and improving the quality and acceptability of animal-derived foods. Research was also performed with the express interest in greater understanding of biochemistry and metabolism of livestock species with ultimate application in the food industry. Knowledge about basic nutritional concepts and differences in metabolism among farm animals, however, has been accumulated and has been used successfully to better understand different health problems in humans such as obesity, atherosclerosis, diabetes, and others that are associated with disturbances in metabolism and nutrition. Here we focus on researchers who made major contributions to our understanding of the synthesis and degradation including digestion of carbohydrates and lipids during the past half-century and to our understanding of the growth and development of meat-producing animals (e.g., pigs and cattle) and milk-producing dairy cattle. These findings will serve as the basis for current and future animal biologists to develop newer concepts and methods for use in improving the efficiency of conversion of animal feed to food and the healthfulness of that food for human consumers. © 2007 American Society for Nutrition.