Abstract
Optimal nutrition is essential to support growth and development of farm animals, and in combination with costs, is essential in maintaining economical animal production. Simplistically nutrition involves physiological and biochemical processes whereupon feedstuffs are consumed for energy and nutrient purposes, and through the myriad of digestive and metabolic mechanisms, provides the energy and nutrients to be used and/or deposited for productive purposes (e.g., bone, lean, and fat). While the individual parts of metabolism, and therefore nutrition, must add up to the animal as a whole, in the long-term energy and nutrients cannot be evaluated strictly on a reductionist basis. Thus, while research is conducted using methods to control outside and confounding effects, it is these influences and interactions that must be researched and understood in order to support optimal animal production in an economical and environmentally sustainable manner. Therefore, understanding basic mechanisms is critical in providing a scientific basis as to why a nutrient, feed additive, or feedstuff may ‘work’, but it does not guarantee such. As exhibited in Dr. Allee’s publications, development of students, and outreach activities, he often conducted basic research from which to use this knowledge in relationship to the whole animal on an applied basis. Portions of this presentation will discuss some specific areas (e.g., lipids and amino acids) of Dr. Allee’s career whereupon research was conducted to scientifically understand how and why energy and nutrients (feedstuffs) may improve animal productivity and efficiency on a real-world basis.