Effect of Milk on Gizzard Erosion and Cholic Acid in the Chick

Abstract

The preventive and curative effect of cholic acid on dietary gizzard erosion of chicks has been reported. 1 , 2 The effect is similar in the case of gizzard erosions produced by the use of either a basal diet or a practical rearing diet to which cincophen has been added. 2 We desire to report at this time evidence for the existence in cow's milk of a labile substance which acts like cholic acid.

Dried milk products were fed by mixing in the diets; liquid milk products were given to the chicks in place of the drinking water. The diets and the details of the experimental procedure have been described. 1 , 2

The results given in the table show no effect on the characteristics measured in the case of dried whole milk. This has also been found true in the case of commercial dried skim milk, dried buttermilk and dried whey. On the other hand, liquid milk products distinctly reduce the severity of gizzard erosion, increase the gall bladder bile volume per chick and increase the quantity of cholic acid per chick. The data show that this effect of liquid milk products is stable to heating up to the boiling point. Other experiments have indicated that the activity is not removed by steam distillation. The effects of liquid milk products are very distinct with both types of erosion producing diets.

The evidence presented is consistent with earlier reports 1 linking gizzard erosions with a deficient formation of bile, especially of cholic acid, within the chick. It is further indicated that a substance with an activity like that of cholic acid exists in cow's milk. Attempts to detect cholic acid in skim milk yielded only negative results.