An automated multi-calorimeter system: preliminary experiments on laying hens.

Area of Science:

• Animal Science
• Metabolic Research
• Avian Physiology

Background:

• Understanding energy metabolism in fowl is crucial for optimizing poultry production and welfare.
• Accurate measurement of metabolic rate requires sophisticated and reliable instrumentation.
• Diurnal variations in metabolism can significantly impact energy balance studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a novel open-circuit, automated, multi-calorimeter system for avian energy metabolism research.
• To validate the accuracy of discontinuous metabolic rate measurements compared to continuous monitoring.
• To investigate the diurnal patterns of metabolic rate in laying hens under different feeding conditions.

Main Methods:

• Development and implementation of an automated, multi-calorimeter system for fowl.
• Comparison of 10-minute discontinuous measurements with 22-hour continuous measurements.
• Training protocols for hens prior to calorimeter experiments.
• Observation of metabolic rate patterns in starving and fed hens of two laying strains.

Main Results:

• The automated multi-calorimeter system provides reliable data on fowl energy metabolism.
• Discontinuous 10-minute observations showed good agreement with continuous 22-hour measurements.
• Hen training is essential for consistent and accurate experimental outcomes.
• A distinct diurnal variation in metabolic rate, entrained by light, was observed in both fed and starved hens.

Conclusions:

• The described automated system is effective for studying energy metabolism in fowl.
• Discontinuous measurements offer a time-efficient alternative to continuous monitoring without significant loss of accuracy.
• Diurnal rhythms significantly influence the metabolic rate of laying hens, irrespective of feeding status.
• This research provides valuable insights into the metabolic physiology of laying hens.