Respiratory activity and metabolic rate of burros, Equus asinus: Effect of age

1. 1. Under laboratory conditions the respiratory parameters of pulmonary ventilation rate, tidal volume, respiratory frequency and oxygen consumption were measured in burros weighing between 40-221 kg. 2. 2. Linear increases were seen in pulmonary ventilation rate, tidal volume and rate of oxygen consumption (metabolic rate) when compared to body weight and correlation coefficients ranged from 0.6 - 0.9. 3. 3. Diurnal rhythm was demonstrated in the 4 young burros weighing between 40-79 kg and significant (P < 0.05) decreases were seen in pulmonary ventilation rate and oxygen consumption at night between 2100 and 0300 hr.