Helping to make students' initial inquiry into animal science both an exciting and rewarding one, this well-rounded book covers the animal industry in its totality-from global trends in animal product consumption, to feed manufacturing, the ruminant digestive system, nutrition and feedlot management, farm animal reproduction, genes and chromosomes, the importance of milk production in different species, growth and development, marketing meat animals, the merchandising and promotion of wool, the business of producing eggs, and much more. Accessible to majors and non-majors alike, and organized for maximum course flexibility, it fosters an awareness that successful animal production ventures are the result of astute and timely application of animal science and business principles.