Utilisation of rye by chickens: effect of microbial status, diet gamma irradiation and sodium taurocholate supplementation.

Several experiments were conducted to determine the influence of intestinal microflora when rye diets are fed to young chicks. In a conventional environment dietary rye severely depressed growth, amino acid and fat retention, and metatarsal bone ash. These conditions could be effectively alleviated by gamma irradiation of the diet and maintenance in a germ-free environment. In gnotobiotic chicks associated with streptococci dietary rye caused effects similar to those seen in a conventional environment, however the responses were less severe. Since addition of sodium taurocholate improved fat retention from a rye diet to a greater extent than from a wheat diet, a deficiency of conjugated bile salts might contribute to the steatorrhea observed in rye-fed chicks.