Biology of the Domestic Pig
Edited by Professors Wilson G. Pond & Harry J. Mersmann
Hardback 745 pages
List price: US$75.00 UK£48.95 currency converter (new window)
Published by Cornell University Press ISBN 0-8014-3468-8
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As veterinarians, it is always useful to know what is normal so that we can recognize the abnormal. This book gives an excellent base line, for what is the normal and the editors have intentionally avoided particular attention to infectious diseases and pathology. However, they have highlighted the tremendous advances that have been made with regard to the research made into the domestic pig for both biomedicine and agriculture. The increased demand for the pig to be used as an animal for human medicine is highlighted in every chapter, especially the last on xenotransplantation.
The first three chapters deal with general characteristics, ethology, psychology, husbandry, anaesthesia and surgery of the pig. The section on anaesthesia is of particular interest from the veterinary point of view. Genetics and reproductive physiology are covered next with an interesting update on the limited successes of transgenics, especially for targeted disease resistance. The section on colostrum was most detailed and informative.
Growth, body composition, nutrient requirements and metabolism were extensively covered. The use of neonatal pigs as a model in human medicine has become very important.
There was a systematic and detailed description of the digestive, skeletal and muscular, respiratory, cardiovascular, haematology and excretory systems, followed by the integument, endocrinology, and immunology leading to xenotransplantation. The amount of new research work stimulated by the interest and need in human medical applications is very clear and this will continue to be the driver for a greater understanding of the biology of the pig.
"The Biology of the Domestic Pig" is an excellent and informative book for reference by both the veterinary and applied medical fraternity.
D.G.S. Burch