title: Determination of the equation parameters of carbon flow curves and estimated carbon flow and CO2 emissions from broiler production.
abstract: The objective of this study was to determine the equation parameters of carbon (i.e., C) flow curves and to estimate C flow and carbon dioxide (i.e., CO2) emissions from the production of 1- to 49-day-old broilers from different genetic strains. In total, 384 1-day-old chicks were used, distributed into 4 groups: high-performance males (Cobb-M) and females (Cobb-F), and intermediate-performance males (C44-M) and females (C44-F), with 6 replicates/treatment according to a completely randomized study design. Carbon intake and retention were calculated based on diet and body C composition, and expired C was stoichiometrically estimated as digestible C intake-C retention-C in the urine. Litter C emission was estimated as initial litter C+C in the excreta-final litter C. Carbon flow curves were determined fitting data by nonlinear regression using the Gompertz function. Expired CO2 was calculated based on expired C. The applied nonlinear model presented goodness-of-fit for all responses (R2>0.99). Carbon dioxide production was highly correlated with growth rate. At 42 d age, CO2 expiration (g/bird) was 3,384.4 for Cobb-M, 2,947.9 for Cobb-F, 2,512.5 for C44-M, and 2185.1 for C44-F. Age also significantly affected CO2 production: to achieve 2.0 kg BW, CO2 expiration (g/bird) was 1,794.3 for Cobb-M, 2,016.5 for Cobb-F, 2617.7 for C44-M, and 3,092.3 for C44-F. The obtained equations present high predictability to estimate individual CO2 emissions in strains of Cobb and C44 broilers of any weight, or age, reared between 1 and 49 d age.
authors.affiliation: Animal Science Department of Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Avenida Bento Gonçalves, 7712. ZIP: 91540-000 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil Embrapa Swine and Poultry, BR 153, km 110, 89700-000, Concórdia, SC, Brazil joao.henn@embrapa.br.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Henn
authors.affiliation: Animal Science Department of Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Avenida Bento Gonçalves, 7712. ZIP: 91540-000 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bockor
authors.affiliation: Animal Science Department of Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Avenida Bento Gonçalves, 7712. ZIP: 91540-000 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Borille
authors.affiliation: Embrapa Swine and Poultry, BR 153, km 110, 89700-000, Concórdia, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Coldebella
authors.affiliation: Animal Science Department of Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Avenida Bento Gonçalves, 7712. ZIP: 91540-000 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: A M L
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.affiliation: Animal Science Department of Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Avenida Bento Gonçalves, 7712. ZIP: 91540-000 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Kessler
mesh_terms: D000392:Air Movements; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis*; D002645:Chickens / Q000378:metabolism*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005430:Floors and Floorcoverings; D008297:Male; D008962:Models, Theoretical
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D002244:Carbon
keywords: Cobb; gas emission; growth curves; litter fermentation; respiration