Production of foods derived from animals has a major impact on the United States' agricultural economy.  Annual cash receipts of $100 billion from livestock and poultry products account for more than 50 percent of receipts from all  agricultural products.  Identification and use of livestock and poultry with appropriate genotypes will have a major impact on  quality of animal products used for food, international competitiveness, and efficiency of production.  Research integrating  nutrition, genetics, reproduction, physiology, microbiology, immunology, and molecular biology lead to discoveries and applications in production efficiency, sustainability, animal and environmental well-being, and high quality products that are imperative for animal agriculture to be economically viable.