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Determination of gastrointestinal passage rate using three different markers in laying hens
Author(s) -
Kolakshyapati Manisha,
Bailey Craig,
Zimazile Sibanda Terence,
Morgan Natalie,
Ruhnke Isabelle
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.651
H-Index - 56
eISSN - 1439-0396
pISSN - 0931-2439
DOI - 10.1111/jpn.13145
Subject(s) - gizzard , proventriculus , zoology , chemistry , food science , gastroenterology , biology , medicine , anatomy
The titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) marker technique is currently widely practiced as a method to evaluate gastrointestinal (GI) passage rate in poultry. However, this method requires sacrificing the animal to obtain digesta samples, is labour‐intensive and eliminates the possibility of follow‐up studies with the same individual. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the radiographic methods barium‐impregnated polyethylene spheres (BIPS) and barium sulphate (BaSO 4 ) suspension are in agreement with the TiO 2 technique and can be used as an alternative method for GI passage rate determination in laying hens. Whole‐body radiographs were taken at different time points. Hens of group 3 ( n = 55) were orally inoculated with 5 g of feed mixed with 0.15 g TiO 2 , 5 hens per time point sacrificed, and whole gastrointestinal organs (crop, proventriculus, gizzard, small intestine and large intestine) were collected and analysed for TiO 2 content. The average marker passage rate of hens administered BaSO 4 was significantly faster than those administered BIPS (gizzard: 15.2 hr vs. 43.2 hr; small intestine: 15.2 hr vs. 38.4 hr, respectively). A greater percentage of BIPS remained in the crop at 0, 0.5, 2, 3 and 8 hr post‐inoculation (p.i.) and in the gizzard at 2, 24, 36 and 48 hr p.i. (all p < 0.05) compared to TiO 2 . In conclusion, the evaluation of the GI transit time is feasible using BIPS, TiO 2 and BaSO 4 . The evaluation of the GI transit time using BIPS and BaSO 4 needs further investigation.