Effects of age and diet on the viscosity of intestinal contents in broiler chicks

Abstract

1. A standard methodology was developed for the determination of the viscosity of digesta in broiler chickens. 2. The best variables considered for use (those which gave the most consistent results) were: digesta obtained from the foregut area (defined as the region from the pancreas to Meckel's diverticulum) using a minimum of 6 replicates and offering experimental diets for 5 d before slaughter at 25 d of age. 3. There was evidence that the viscosity of digesta obtained from the hindgut (defined as the region between Meckel's diverticulum and the ileo-caecal junction) was reduced the longer the birds were fed on one diet, suggesting possible dietary acclimatisation. Hindgut digesta viscosity from birds fed on a barleybased diet over a longer period was 10% to 30% less than that of birds fed for 5 d. 4. There was an apparent reduction in viscosity with age of bird up to 45 d of age, with hindgut digesta viscosity from birds fed on barley-based diets falling from 20.6 cps at 25 d to 9.8 cps at 45 d. 5. In an assessment of the procedure developed, the following digesta viscosities were obtained at 25 d: 3.1 cps (wheat-based diet, foregut), 19 8 cps (barley-based diet, foregut), 5.7 cps (wheat-based diet, hindgut), 22.8 cps (barley-based diet, hindgut).