CONJUGATED BILE-ACIDS AND INTESTINAL FLORA DURING THE PRERUMINANT STAGE IN GOAT - INFLUENCE OF A LAMB MILK REPLACER

A total of 45 preruminant gents were fed either goat milk or a milk su bstitute to compare the evolution of taurine and glycine conjugated bi le acids and the evolution of the intestinal flora during the first mo nth of life. Samples of hepatic bile were obtained from kids of 1, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days old and conjugated bile acids were measured by hig h performance liquid chromatography. Bacterial flora were determined i n 14 and 28 day old animals. Ours results show that under our experime ntal conditions tauraconjugated bile acids clearly predominated over t he conjugated with glycine. This pattern of preferential tauroconjugat ion persisted at all ages tested and in both groups studied. On the ot her hand, it seems that the quality of the protein and fat used in the elaboration of the milk replacer effects the intestinal flora: and th e postnatal evolution of conjugated bile acids.