This presentation aims to present and discuss methodologies used to model and integrate classical knowledge in animal nutrition, and new discoveries produced by new molecular sciences like nutrigenomics, proteomics and metabolomics. These sciences and bioinformatics are helping to expand >very quickly the knowledge of the biological systems of interest in animal nutrition. I will discuss the importance of dedicating part of our efforts to integrate current knowledge to prioritize research problems using the most adequate tools. This will help to avoid research duplication that causes waste of valuable resources. Compartmental mathematical modeling using computer software could be one of the best ways to accumulate this information. It can help to integrate new discoveries, communicate the knowledge about animal systems and nutrient metabolism to a new generation of scientists, and advance to more accurate determination of nutrient requirements.
biological systems; compartmental modeling; metabolomics; nutrition
