Hostname: page-component-745bb68f8f-hvd4g Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-01-26T07:13:02.976Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Volatile fatty acids in the digestive tract of the fowl

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

E. F. Annison ,
K. J. Hill  and
R. Kenworthy
E. F. Annison
Affiliation:
Unilever Research Laboratory, Colworth House, Sharnbrook, Bedford
K. J. Hill
Affiliation:
Unilever Research Laboratory, Colworth House, Sharnbrook, Bedford
R. Kenworthy
Affiliation:
Unilever Research Laboratory, Colworth House, Sharnbrook, Bedford
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

1. Examination of the digesta from all regions of the avian digestive tract showed that volatile fatty acids (VFAs) were present in greatest concentration in the caeca and that they comprised mainly acetic, propionic and butyric acids.

2. All droppings contained VFAs but they were present in highest concentration in those of caecal origin. Caecectomy was followed by a marked reduction in the total output of VFAs.

3. Birds 14–20 weeks of age had similar concentrations of VFAs along the tract and similar numbers and distribution of micro-organisms.

4. Portal blood contained all the VFAs found in the digestive tract whilst peripheral blood contained only acetic and formic acids.

5. The almost complete absence of VFAs from the tract contents of germ-free birds showed that the VFAs normally present in the tract were of microbial origin.

6. The presence of similar levels of acetate in the peripheral blood of conventional and germfree birds indicated that circulating acetate was mainly of endogenous and not microbial origin.

7. The significance of VFAs as an energy source is discussed.

Type
Research Article
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 22 , Issue 2 , May 1968 , pp. 207 - 216
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 1968

References

Akester, A. R., Anderson, R. S., Hill, K. J. & Osbaldiston, G. W. (1967). Br. Poult. Sci. 8, 209.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Annison, E. F. (1954). Biochem. J. 58, 670.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Annison, E. F., Shrimpton, D. H. & West, C. E. (1967). European Association of Animal Production, IVth Energy Symposium,Warsaw. (In the Press.)Google Scholar
Beattie, J. & Shrimpton, D. H. (1958). Q. Jl exp. Physiol. 43, 399.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Browne, T. G. (1922). J. comp. Path. Ther. 35, 12.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Coates, M. E. (1962). In Nutrition of Pigs and Poultry, p. 161. [Morgan, J. T. and Lewis, D., editors.] London: Butterworths.Google Scholar
Coates, M. E. & Jayne-Williams, J. D. (1966). In Physiology of the Domestic Fowl, p. 183. [Horton-Smith, C. and Amoroso, E. C. editors.] Edinburgh and London: Oliver and Boyd.Google Scholar
Fegler, G. & Hill, K. J. (1958). Q. Jl exp. Physiol. 43, 189.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Forbes, M. & Park, J. T. (1959). J. Nutr. 67, 69.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Halnan, E. T. (1949). Br. J. Nutr. 3, 245.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hill, K. J. & Noakes, D. E. (1964). In Small Animal Anaesthesia. [Graham-Jones, O., editor.] London: Pergamon Press.Google Scholar
Hirsch, A. & Grinsted, E. (1954). J. Dairy Res. 21, 101.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
James, A. T. & Martin, A. J. P. (1952). Biochem. J. 50, 679.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kenworthy, R. & Crabb, W. E. (1963). J. comp. Path. Ther. 73, 215.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lev, M. & Briggs, C. A. E. (1956). J. appl. Bact. 19, 224.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Masson, M. J. (1954). Wld's Poult. Congr. x, Edinburgh, p. 105Google Scholar
Miles, A. A. & Misra, S. S. (1938). J. Hyg., Camb. 38, 232.Google Scholar
Reyniers, J. A., Trexler, P. C., Ervin, R. F., Wagner, M., Luckey, T. D. & Gordon, H. A. (1949). Lobund Rep. no. 2.Google Scholar
Rogosa, M., Mitchell, J. A. & Wiseman, R. F. (1951). J. Bact. 62, 132.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Roseler, M. (1929). Quoted in Biology and Comparative Physiology of Birds (1960). [Marshall, A. J., editor.] Vol. 1. New York and London: Academic Press Inc.Google Scholar
Shrimpton, D. H. (1963). J. appl. Bact. 26, i.Google Scholar
Shrimpton, D. H. & Stevens, B. J. H. (1965). J. gen. Microbiol. 41, v.Google Scholar
Sturkie, P. D. (1965). Avian Physiology, 2nd ed. London: Baillière, Tindall and Cassell.Google Scholar
Thornburn, C. C. & Willcox, J. S. (1965). Br. Poult. Sci. 6, 23.CrossRefGoogle Scholar