Click on “Download PDF” for the PDF version or on the title for the HTML version.

If you are not an ASABE member or if your employer has not arranged for access to the full-text, Click here for options.

A three chamber indirect calorimeter has been a part of the Environmental Laboratory at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (MARC) for over 25 yr (Nienaber and Maddy, 1987). Corrosion of the animal chamber and unreliable temperature control has forced major repairs. There is a strong demand for heat production measurements; therefore, a new four chamber calorimetry system was designed and constructed. The chambers are both temperature and humidity controlled, with air handling units contained within each animal chamber to reduce air leak potential. Both temperature and humidity controllers are capable of cyclic and constant temperature patterns within a nominal range (10 to 40 C), and humidity control above 20% relative humidity. The objective of this paper is to describe the design of the chambers, heating system, cooling system, controllers with sensors, and the animal penning system. The existing gas analysis and data collection equipment was modified to accommodate four animal chambers.