AbstractsPhysics

Development of a mobile open-circuit system based on indirect calorimetry for energetic metabolism studies in small ruminants

by LUJÁN MARÍA LÓPEZ




Institution: TDX
Department:
Year: 2016
Keywords: Gas exchange; Indirect calorimetry; Mobile open-circuit; Small ruminants; PRODUCCION ANIMAL
Posted: 02/05/2017
Record ID: 2121808
Full text PDF: http://hdl.handle.net/10251/50430


Abstract

[EN] For many years energy needs of ruminants have tried to be known to formulate rations adjusted, but it has been found that there are a variety of factors that affect them. Therefore, lots of studies are needed for evaluating the effect of these factors. Consequently, the main objective of this Thesis was to design and validate a respirometry system based on indirect calorimetry, which would allow assessing energy needs of small ruminants accurately. It was intended from the beginning it was a mobile system and of relatively low cost. Furthermore, a methane gas analyzer was incorporated to this system, which allowed the measurement of emissions of this greenhouse gas and quantification of energy losses in the form of methane. Initially the system had connected a mask, which was placed on the animal's face. A sample of exhaled gas was stored in a gas collection bag which was connected to the analyzer, and it measured the concentration of O2, CO2 and CH4 from the air. The proper functioning of the system was checked by a pilot experiment with dry Murciano-Granadina breed goats fed at maintenance level. Later this system was improved. Some of the most important changes were the replacement of the mask by a head hood in which the animal introduced the whole head, and the development of software that recorded and kept automatically concentrations of O2, CO2 and CH4 in exhaled air. This improvement allowed gas measurements during longer periods of time and recording more data. These changes were also validated through a pilot test with dry Manchega breed sheep. Subsequently, three experiments were performed. One of them with dry Guirra ewes and the other two with Murciano-Granadina goats during mid lactation. Diets were mixed rations that differed in the inclusion of cereal or fibrous by-products. In these experiments the effect of diet was studied on digestibility, energy balance and carbon-nitrogen, oxidation of nutrients, rumen parameters and methane production; in the case of lactating goats, also on milk performance. The determination of the calibration factor for O2 (1.005 ± 0.0101) confirmed the proper functioning of equipment. Moreover, small differences between the heat production obtained by indirect calorimetry and the carbon-nitrogen balance (2% in sheep and 1% in goats) demonstrated that this system allows determining the heat production of the animals reliably and accurately. In the experiments of this Thesis have been estimated maintenance energy needs of two Spanish native sheep breeds, such as the sheep from the Guirra and Manchega breeds; net maintenance requirements were 270 kJ/kg BW0.75, on average. In the case of Murciano-Granadina breed goats, in the middle of lactation, the average utilization efficiency of metabolizable energy for lactation was 0.61.