Book excerpt: This book contains an edited collection of papers, taken from a series of one day seminars, devoted to bringing together the disciplines of monogastric animal production, feed, gut physiology, microbial populations and immunity, in an understandable manner for practical nutritionists and meat producers. It provides an overview of key elements of related disciplines, some highly technical, whilst relating the science back to practical animal production. It is intended as an update on the status of specialised topics of the gut. As animal science becomes more 'multi-factorial' in its nature, understanding across disciplines will become crucial in adapting animal production practices to meet both economic and welfare demands. Contents: Future challenges in poultry meat production Early gut development: the interaction between feed, gut health and immunity Interaction of nutrition with intestinal microbial communities Commensal bacteria and intestinal development: studies using gnotobiotic pigs Regulation of gut function and immunity Controlling gastrointestinal disease to improve absorptive membrane integrity and optimize digestion efficiency Impact of mannan oligosaccharide on gut health and pig performance Index This book is ideal for nutritionists, animal producers, students and researchers studying animal and applied biological sciences.