The animal energy metabolism system is an emerging independent discipline that is closely related to and intersects with biochemistry and animal nutrition. It is widely applied in various fields such as animal physiology, animal energy research, animal nutrition, animal growth, pharmacology, ecology, and feed.
The animal energy metabolism system is an emerging independent discipline that is closely related to and intersects with biochemistry and animal nutrition. It is widely applied in various fields such as animal physiology, animal energy research, animal nutrition, animal growth, pharmacology, ecology, and feed. In 1780, French scientists invented the guinea pig respiratory calorimeter, which, for the first time, measured the amount of heat and oxygen consumption produced in animals and the amount of carbon dioxide produced. In 1823, Dulong discovered the relationship between carbon production and oxygen consumption and proposed respiratory entropy, the theoretical basis of indirect calorimetry.
Principles and Methods of Animal Energy Metabolism Testing
Several commonly used methods internationally measure the heat and various net energies animals generate, including direct calorimetry, indirect calorimetry, and isotope calibration. Direct calorimetry has high environmental and equipment requirements, and most research now uses indirect calorimetry.
Direct Calorimetry Method
The direct calorimeter is mainly used to measure the amount of heat emitted from the body to the outside of an animal directly. Under normal physiological conditions, animals can adjust the amount of heat emitted outside the body to maintain a constant body temperature.