Evaluation of tast-response calorimetry, used for calibration of the relationship between heart rate and heat production in farm animals

Abstract

A fast-response method for measuring heat production (HP) was evaluated by N2-injection and by alcohol-burning in both poultry and sheep chambers. The speed of response and accuracy achived by these systems was satisfactory for more precise studies on the relation between heart rate (HR) and HP in farm animals. The results indicated a good correspondence between HR and HP which were measured simultaneously at one min intervals both for a laving hen and a sheep. The prediction errors (sy•x/y, %) associated with the estimation of HP from HR were within the range 7-8%. These values were the same level as those calculated from average values using mask and head cage methods in cattle. The fast-response calorimetry would be very useful not only for calibration of the relation between HR and HP, but also for calculating dynamic physiological parameters in behavioural studies on farm animals.