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Function and nutritional roles of the avian caeca: a review

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2013

B. SVIHUS ,
M. CHOCT  and
H.L. CLASSEN
B. SVIHUS*
Affiliation:
Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, PO Box 5003, N-1432, Aas, Norway
M. CHOCT
Affiliation:
Poultry Cooperative Research Centre, PO Box U242, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia
H.L. CLASSEN
Affiliation:
Department of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5A8, Canada
*
Corresponding author: birger.svihus@umb.no
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Abstract

The role of the avian caeca in the maintenance of gut health, fermentation of undigested nutrients, re-cycling of nitrogen from urine, and modulation of the gut microflora is not well understood. Thus, this review details the function of the avian caeca from anatomical, physiological, microbial and nutritional points of view in the context of poultry production. Due to anatomical and physiological adaptations, only small and/or soluble particles will be refluxed into the caeca together with urine and digestive fluids. Here, salts and water will be reabsorbed, and uric acid and carbohydrates will be fermented by the abundant microflora to ammonia and volatile fatty acids. Thus, the caeca may play a role for the nutritional status of the bird, although the quantitative significance for high-yielding domesticated poultry remains to be elucidated.

Keywords

poultrycaecafermentationvolatile fatty acids
Type
Review Article
Information
World's Poultry Science Journal , Volume 69 , Issue 2 , June 2013 , pp. 249 - 264
Copyright
Copyright © World's Poultry Science Association 2013

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