J. L. McNAUGHTON

Cholesterol metabolism in poultry, Gallus domesticus: fecal neutral sterol and bile acid excretion☆

1. 1. Fecal neutral sterol and bile acid excretion of White Leghorn pullets and laying hens, Gallus domesticus, were determined. 2. 2. Variations in poultry fecal neutral sterol excretion were detected between different ages. Neutral sterol variations correlated with egg laying capacity. 3. 3. Variations in poultry fecal bile acid excretion were detected between different ages. No correlation was found between bile acid excretion and poultry egg laying capacity. 4. 4. Variations in total poultry fecal steroid excretion were detected between different ages. No correlation was found between total fecal steroid excretion and poultry egg laying capacity. 5. 5. Intestinal microbial modification of fecal neutral sterols and bile acids varied with poultry age. No microbial modifications of fecal steroids were detected at 8 weeks of age, but were found to develop through 26 and 58 weeks of age.