Veterinary medicine is being overwhelmed. We are losing our ability to control existing diseases, while new diseases that we cannot currently control are emerging. Governments are spending more on animal and human health; the veterinary training and research initiative in the UK is particularly helpful. But money is limited and there is a need for increased efficiency and effectiveness, especially in veterinary science. Biotechnology offers some hope. This volume describes some of the most promising applications of biotechnology in animal health and production, including assisted reproduction, better vaccines, enhanced diagnostic capabilities, transgenic animals and plants as well as the use of genetic markers to enhance selection. The reviews are written by invited authors who provide their opinions about current and future developments. There is a lot of overlap as different authors stray into overlapping areas. This overlap enhances the book by providing different perspectives; generally the more remote the author the more rosy the assessment. The reviews do not provide instructions on how to use biotechnology but they do provide a comprehensive set of references that contain detailed instructions. There is not a lot of detail on parasitological diseases and, in general, the book lacks detail and bite on specific problems. But the manual is well worth reading. I certainly learned a lot and intend to pursue some of the applications mentioned in this manual.