CALORIMETRY FACILITY

The calorimetry facility allows to measure heat production by the animal through indirect calorimetry (i.e., by measuring O₂ consumption and CO₂ production).

For 40 years, the infrastructure has been leading the developments in this area, and includes the use of equipment that allows measuring physical activity of the animal, the use of stable isotopes to determine the dynamics of nutrient utilization, and statistical analysis techniques that allow estimating different components of heat production and energy utilization. The infrastructure offer access to three calorimeters that range in volume from 1.7 to 12 m³, which allow measuring the heat production in individual or in small groups of animals.

The calorimetry installation requires some presence time of the beneficiary during the experiment. As such, it offers a unique training playground for young scientists with an interest in energy metabolism.