RETROGRADE FLOW OF URINE FROM CLOACA TO CECA IN LAYING HENS IN RELATION TO DIFFERENT LEVELS OF NITROGEN INTAKE

Retrograde flow of urine into the caeca provides a more efficient reco very of nutrients and supplies a nitrogen source for the caecal microb es. 30 laying hens of Leghorn type were used in the present experiment s. Hens were randomly divided into three treatment groups and fed a hi gh nitrogen (19.8 % crude protein in dry matter), medium (15.0 % crude protein in dry matter), or low (10.6 % crude protein in dry matter) i socaloric diet for fourteen days prior to and during the experimental period (8 h). Results from the study show that the retrograde flow of urine from cloaca to caeca is significantly higher in birds given a lo w protein diet compared to medium or high levels. It also shows that t he produced amount of urine is significantly higher in hens given a lo w protein diet compared to the medium level diet.