Organic livestock production is gaining increased interest all over the world at the present time. From being mainly driven by relative few idealistic farmers and dedicated consumers, the expansion of organic farming and livestock production is now taking place as a response to widespread societal concerns about farming and consumer demands. One might say that organic farming is going through professionalism, and thus there is a need for a more widespread understanding of the framework for organic livestock production and its challenges among diff erent professionals within the livestock production sector. This book off ers this understanding for organic milk and beef production.
The book includes an extensive and unique description of the international guidelines for organic production, the implementation of them in many diff erent parts of the world, and not least the implications for trade with organic products. The basic nutritional requirement of catt le is described as a basis for understanding challenges for organic production and two chapters deal with genotypes and feeding systems in organic production, respectively. These chapters combine the most recent scientifi c literature with valuable practical refl ections and considerations. As a bonus the reader gets a good general overview of the relevant genotypes for meat and dairy production and the present evidence of genotype × environment interactions of importance for organic production. 
Product quality issues are covered extensively. These include biophysical characteristics – not least with emphasis on the fatt y acid composition as impacted by forage-based and organic production – as well as consumer perceptions and experiences from consumer studies. This book, Nutrition and Feeding of Organic Catt le, completes a trilogy of books by Professor Robert Blair dealing with the nutrition and feeding of farm animals that are produced organically. Together with its predecessors Nutrition and Feeding of x Foreword Organic Pigs and Nutrition and Feeding of Organic Poultry, this book makes a very valid reference in understanding scienti fi c and practical challenges within organic livestock  production.