Pedro Carvalho

By Ricardo Reis e Silva, Ana Luiza Costa Cruz Borges, Pedro Henrique de Araujo Carvalho, André Santos Souza, Paolo Antonio Dutra Vivenza, Juliana Sávia da Silva, Helena Ferrreira Lage, Alexandre Lima Ferreira, Lúcio Carlos Gonçalves, Eloisa Oliveira Simões Saliba, Iran Borges, Warley Efrem Campos and Norberto Mario Rodriguez

The gaseous exchange between an organism and the environment is measured by respirometry or indirect calorimetry. Once the oxygen consumption (O2) and the production of carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) are known, the energy losses by gas and heat can be calculated. Energy metabolism and methane production have been studied in the Calorimetry and Metabolism Laboratory of the Federal University of Minas Gerais, located in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Animals used are mainly Zebu cattle and their crossbreeds that represent most beef and dairy cattle breed grazed on tropical pastures. System calibration and routine work are addressed in this text. The results obtained on respirometric chambers are expressed in net energy (NE), which can be net energy for maintenance (NEm), lactation (NEL), weight gain (NEg), and pregnancy (NEp). NE is, in fact, what is used by the animal for maintenance and each productive function. The values of k (conversion efficiency of ME into NE) for maintenance (km), milk (kL), weight gain or growth (kg), and pregnancy (kp) are determined. Thanks to the peculiarity of the respirometric technique, the same animal can be evaluated several times, in different physiological states and planes of nutrition.

Part of the book: Animal Husbandry and Nutrition