Design and construction of low-cost respiration chambers for ruminal methane measurements in ruminants

  1. Jorge Rodolfo Canul Solis 1
  2. Angel Trinidad Piñeiro Vázquez 1
  3. Jeyder Israel Arceo Castillo 5
  4. José Armando Alayón Gamboa 2
  5. Armín Javier Ayala Burgos 1
  6. Carlos Fernando Aguilar Pérez 1
  7. Francisco Javier Solorio Sánchez 1
  8. Octavio Alonso Castelán Ortega 3
  9. Manuel Lachica López 4
  10. Patricia Quintana Owen 5
  11. Juan Carlos Ku Vera 1
  1. 1 Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán
    info

    Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán

    Mérida, México

    ROR https://ror.org/032p1n739

  2. 2 El Colegio de la Frontera Sur
    info

    El Colegio de la Frontera Sur

    Villahermosa, México

  3. 3 Universidad del Estado de México
  4. 4 Consejo Suoerior de Investigaciones Científicas
  5. 5 Instituto Politécnico Nacional
    info

    Instituto Politécnico Nacional

    Ciudad de México, México

    ROR https://ror.org/059sp8j34

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Journal:
Revista Mexicana de Ciencias Pecuarias

ISSN: 2448-6698,  2007-1124

Year of publication: 2017

Volume: 8

Issue: 2

Pages: 185-191

Type: Article

DOI: 10.22319/RMCP.V8I2.4442 DIALNET GOOGLE SCHOLAR lock_openOpen access editor

More publications in: Revista Mexicana de Ciencias Pecuarias

Abstract

Ruminant animals contribute significantly to methane emissions in tropical regions. Nonetheless, there are few facilities available in those regions of the world for in vivo measurement of methane production in cattle. The aim of the present work was to describe the design, construction and operation of respiration chambers for in vivo measurement of methane production in cattle in Mexico. Locally available materials were used in the construction. Walls, roof and doors were constructed of thermic panels with two windows of acrylic at the front so the animal can be observed at all times. Chambers have an air volume of 9.97 m3. Air is drawn from the chamber at a rate of 500 L/min by the effect of mass action flow generators. Methane was measured in air samples with an infrared analyzer. Chambers operate under a slight negative pressure of around -500 Pa. Air temperature inside the chambers is kept at 23 °C with an air conditioner, while relative humidity is maintained at 55 % with a dehumidifier. Functioning of the chambers was evaluated in Bos indicus, Nelore cattle fed Taiwan grass (Pennisetum purpureum) and a concentrate (18 % crude protein), and measurements were made during runs of 23 h duration. Methane production was on average 173.2 L per day, while the emission factor was 17.48 L methane per kilogram o dry matter consumed. It concludes that this respiration facility is capable of measuring methane production accurately in cattle fed tropical rations.

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