Volume 91, Issue 6, June (2004), pp. 867-872 © The Author 2004
doi:10.1079/BJN20041129

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Viscoelastic properties of the small intestinal and caecal contents of the chicken

T. Takahashi¹, M. Goto² and T. Sakata^3
1Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture, Okayama University, Tsushimanaka 1-1-1, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
²Faculty of Bioresources, Mie University, Kamihama-cho 1515, Tsu 514-8507, Japan
³Department of Basic Sciences, Ishinomaki Senshu University, Ishinomaki 986-8580, Japan<

 (Received 16 May 2003–Revised 30 January 2004–Accepted 16 February 2004)

We measured the coefficients of viscosity, shear rates and shear stresses of chicken small intestinal and caecal contents, including solid particles, using a tube-flow viscometer. The coefficients of viscosity of chicken small intestinal and caecal contents were correlated negatively with their shear rates, a characteristic typical of non-Newtonian fluids. The coefficient of viscosity of the small intestinal contents was lower than that of the caecal contents at a shear rate of 1 s⁻¹. Chicken caecal contents were more viscous than pig caecal contents. The exponential relationship between shear stress and shear rate showed that chicken small intestinal and caecal contents had an apparent Herschel–Bulkley fluid nature. These results indicate that solid particles, including uric acid crystals, are mainly responsible for the viscosity of the digesta in the chicken.

Keywords:
Broiler, Intestinal contents, Viscoelasticity, Flow behaviour