Modeling Ruminant Digestion and Metabolism

Abstract

Our general objective in this chapter is to provide an overview of our research program which for the past 25 years has involved the use and coordination of both experimental and modeling research approaches. Our overall goal has been to advance our understanding of animal digestion (particularly in ruminants) and metabolism, and devise objective and quantitative means to bridge the gap between our knowledge of basic animal functions and animal performance. Early on we came to the view that systems analysis may be the only approach available which enables rigorous quantitative evaluations of our knowledge of animal functions and full utilization of this knowledge in the solution of problems in animal production. This approach is compatible with the view of science depicted in schematic form (Fig. 1) by Thornley and France (1984) and discussed in greater detail by Forbes and France (1993) and Baldwin (1995).