ONTOGENY OF ENZYMATIC-ACTIVITIES IN THE GASTROINTESTINAL-TRACT OF YOUNG GOATS

The activity of 11 hydrolytic enzymes (lactase, maltase, invertase, am ylase, cellulase, xylanase, pectinase, fructanase, urease, protease, l ipase) was measured in the chymus of different parts of the digestive tract of goats between 9 and 112 days of age. Goats were weaned from m ilk in a stepwise manner at 7 weeks of age. High lactase activity was found in the duodenum, caecum and colon. The activity of lactase and p rotease declined in the postnatal period and activity of maltase and p olysaccharide-degrading enzymes increased. Activity of enzymes degradi ng non-starch plant carbohydrates and activity of urease were higher i n fermentative organs (rumen, caecum, colon) than in abomasum and smal l intestine. Activity of lipase was rather low in almost all samples e xamined. Age-related differences were more pronounced in the rumen tha n in other parts of the gastrointestinal tract. The results indicate t hat enzymatic activities found in weaned goats are adequate to deal wi th various plant matter components, except for a short period after we aning.