All animals must ingest a balance of nutrients to survive and prosper. Scientists at the nutrition laboratory study the amounts of nutrients animals need, how animals meet these needs through the foods they eat, and ways to improve the nutrition of animals in zoos and, in some cases, in the wild. Equipment Wiley mill grinds food into particles for analysis. Drying oven removes moisture, making it possible to calculate the water content of foods.
Bomb calorimeter measures the energy content of foods and animal products such as milk and dung.
Infrared spectrophotometer measures concentrations of deuterium, a stable isotope which, in turn, is used to measure water and milk intake in animals in zoos and in the wild. Respiratory equipment measures oxygen consumption and the carbon dioxide production of animals.