Preface

In the next decade, the demand for animal products will be nearly double. Livestock sciences must evolve to produce more livestock products as the world's population rises. Thus, it is crucial to utilize the latest techniques of omics, systems biology, and bioinformatics interventions to improve livestock production and meet demand. To address key challenges with respect to livestock health and diseases, one must utilize experimental data along with advanced computational approaches. The complementary methods shall aid in deciphering the intricacies of biological under-wiring in livestock animals and help in their probable mitigation and prevention of diseases.

The book is divided into four sections with 13 chapters. Section A: Introduction to systems biology and its perspectives comprises 3 chapters wherein the authors throw light on the introduction of systems biology and bioinformatics approaches for scientists involved in animal science research. It was followed by two other chapters that emphasize computational modeling methods and physiome modeling relevant to biological investigations. Section B: Systems Biology to study livestock and related diseases includes 4 chapters focused on the investigation of the gut microbiome, viral diseases, livestock animals, and fisheries with the tools of omics and systems biology. Section C: Integration of recent and developing techniques with Systems Biology for better outcomes highlights different techniques of proteomics, single-cell sequencing and nanobiotechnology in livestock health and sciences. Section D: Future Aspects of Systems Biology in Livestock Sciences sheds light on the application of advanced methods of systems biology, including genomics and AI/ML, in animal sciences and their future prospects.

To summarize, in order to advance the field, the current edition offers a comprehensive compilation of the existing, ongoing approaches and future prospects of omics along with systems biology. In addition, to provide avenues for systems biology in the field of livestock sciences, these chapters and critical analyses will likely motivate further research in the area apart from benefiting a wide range of other scientific disciplines.

We want to express our gratitude to our esteemed contributors for giving their valuable and scientific aptitude to contribute to the chapters related to omics and systems biology studies in this post-Covid era where we are still struggling to attain our old state of mind. It would not have been developed into a ready reference for researchers in the animal science field without contributors.