Effect of caecectomy on growth, moisture in excreta, gastrointestinal passage time and uric acid excretion in growing chicks

1. The effect of caecectomy on nitrogen utilisation and excretion was exami ned in gm grow chicks fed on a commercial diet. 2. Caecectomy had no significant effect on food intake or body weight gain. 3. Caecectomy caused significantly higher moisture content in excreta (P<0. 01). 4. Gastrointestinal passage time of digesta was significantly shorter in ca ecectomised chicks than in control chicks (P<0.05). 5. Caecectomy tended to improve nitrogen utilisation rate in growing chicks . 6. The treatment significantly decreased uric acid excretion (P<0.01) and e xcretory uric acid-N/total nitrogen excretion (P<0.01). 7. It is concluded that the effects of caecectomy on nitrogen metabolism in growing chicks are similar to those in adult chickens.