Project

Contact: PD Dr. rer. nat. habil. Björn Kuhla

Duration: 2022-2027

Funding: EU - HORIZON

Abstract:

AgroServ is an EU funded infrastructure project which aims to provide the scientific community with large, high profile research services to facilitate and enable interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research in agroecology and foster open science and innovation. Within this project FBN offers services related to the use of the open-circuit indirect calorimetry system consisting of 4 respiration chambers for larger livestock species. Chambers can be light-cycle and climate controlled in the temperature and relative humidity range from 0°C to 35°C and 50% to 70%, respectively. The airflow through the chambers can be controlled by a bypass which also allows the gas exchange measurement of smaller animals, i.e. calves. Continuous measurements of O2, CO2 and CH4 concentrations allow to estimate energy expenditure, nutrient oxidation and CH4 emissions. Continuous measurements of NH3 concentrations complement studies aiming to measure N-balances. Chambers are equipped with a feed bin placed on a scale which is connected to an electronic registration device to measure feed intake as disappearance from the bin. Water intake is registered by water flow meters. Cows can be milked in the chamber in a way that the tubing of the milking device is connected to a pipe in the chamber wall to which a milking machine from outside can be connected. Cows can be milk without interfering gas exchange measurement and milk samples are analysed for lactose, fat, protein urea and cell count once weekly. Standing and lying of the animals is registered by a photoelectric switch to assess physical activity. In order to monitor posture changes and the behaviour of the animals, each chamber is equipped with an infrared reflector and a camera plugged into a video computer. Blood can be withdrawn from catheterised animals, via a catheter which is guided by rolls and ends outside the chamber. One unit of access is “cow.week”.