Director:
Kem Singletary
(225) 763-0924
Co-Director:
Chris Morrison
(225) 763-3145
Staff:
Jennifer Terrebonne
(225) 763-3121
Animal Metabolism &
Behavior Core
Pennington Biomedical
Research Center
6400 Perkins Road
Baton Rouge, LA 70808
Hours:
8am - 4pm M-F
Closed Holidays
PBRC HOME :: AMBC HOME :: EQUIPMENT :: FOOD INTAKE
Food Intake
The BioDAQ Food and Water Intake Monitor was conceived and
designed as a tool to measure the episodic intake behavior of mice and rats. Episodic measurement allows the study of intake behavior in the context of the animal's undisturbed feeding and drinking activity. BioDAQ will monitor up to 24 modules at one time.
The BioDAQ hardware features a manually operated gate which closes to shut off access to food or water during weighing of unplugged hoppers. The gate can be closed with the hopper attached for fasting the animals.
BioDAQ incorporates the behavioral component of intake activity. The BioDAQ system reports food intake data as bouts, the smallest unit of episodic intake. The data stream associated with each bout includes a time and date stamp marking the initiation of intake activity, the period of the activity, and the weight of food or water consumed. The period of a bout is variable and is defined by the animal’s activity. This new way of recording intake data allows researchers to study food and water intake in the context of the animal's behavior.
The BioDAQ Food Intake Monitor collects bout data as shown above on up to 32 cages automatically. Water intake is based on the sample principles. The BioDAQ Data Viewer allows for the flexible analysis of the bout data on animals individually, as well as in groups. The utility of the Data Viewer is best understood with a live or web based demonstration.
For more information visit: BioDAQ
