  We use neutron diffraction, magnetometry and low temperature heat capacity to
probe giant magneto-elastic coupling in CoMnSi-based antiferromagnets and to
establish the origin of the entropy change that occurs at the metamagnetic
transition in such compounds. We find a large difference between the electronic
density of states of the antiferromagnetic and high magnetisation states. The
magnetic field-induced entropy change is composed of this contribution and a
significant counteracting lattice component, deduced from the presence of
negative magnetostriction. In calculating the electronic entropy change, we
note the importance of using an accurate model of the electronic density of
states, which here varies rapidly close to the Fermi energy.
