This book is based on a PhD study conducted at Newcastle University. The introductory chapters describe how low quality forages and secondary metabolites affect ruminal fermentation, debates environmental issues related to intensive livestock production and how wild shrubs can help smallholder farmers to raise livestock more sustainably. The third chapter evaluates the chemical composition of Solanum lycocarpum in different fractions. The fourth, fifth and sixth chapters discuss experimental data on the in vitro fermentation profiles and degradability parameters of Solanum lycocarpum fractions used solely as a roughage or an additive to ruminant diets. Methane production is also evaluated in some experiments presented. This book will be especially interesting for researchers involved in sustainable animal production and ruminant research. Special thanks to Dr. Abdul Chaudhry from Newcastle University for his input in this work and to Capes (Brazilian Federal Agency for the Support of Graduate Education) for funding my PhD studies.

Dr. Helio R. Lima Neto is BSc, UFLA(2005); MSc, UFMG(2007); PhD in Animal Science, Newcastle University(2012). Since 2012 Dr. Lima Neto is a Postdoctoral Researcher/Lecturer at Newcastle University. Dr. Edward Okello, PhD Biochemistry at Newcastle University is Lecturer/Executive Director of Medicinal Plant Research Group at the same institution.