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Ovine Nutritional Responses to Elevated Ambient Carbon Dioxide¹

Animal and Veterinary Sciences Department, University of Maine, Orono, Maine 04473

Nutritional responses were investigated in mature wether sheep exposed to six levels of CO₂: ambient, 2, 4, 8, 12 and 16%. Two methods of exposure were employed: 1) abrupt exposure in which CO₂ was increased to the desired level in 2 hours or less and then maintained for 7 days, and 2) gradual exposure in which CO₂ was increased to the desired level over a 3-day period and then maintained for 7 days. In both treatments, increased CO₂ levels resulted in significant decreases in voluntary intake of feed and water and decreased urine excretion. Feed digestibility was decreased only at the 16% CO₂ exposures. Rumen function was also affected, as reflected in decreases in volatile fatty acid levels. In certain parameters the abrupt exposures caused significantly greater depressions than did the gradual treatments. Among these were feed intake and digestibility. Rate of passage and blood glucose levels were not significantly affected by levels of CO₂ or treatments. Responses of most parameters investigated remained relatively stable until CO₂ reached 12% abrupt and 16% gradual where marked decreases occurred.

KEY WORDS: • carbon dioxide • hypercapnia • anorexia

¹ Supported in part by National Aeronautics and Space Administration Grant Ns G-338.

Manuscript received 6 May 1971.

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