A Comparison of the Microbiological Conditions in the Small Intestine and Caeca of Wild and Captive Willow Grouse (Lagopus Lagopus Lagopus)

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Abstract
The study compares the microbiological conditions in the small intestine and caeca of captive and wild willow grouse. The small intestine of wild willow grouse scarcely contained bacteria, while the caeca, without exception, contained high numbers of microorganisms including spirochetes, small gram-negative anaerobe rods, flagellates and amoebae. In 50 % of the birds a low number of E. coli was found in the caeca. The types, numbers and distribution of intestinal microorganisms of captive willow grouse were very similar to that of the domestic fowl and thus quite unlike that of the wild grouse. These results help to explain why captive grouse digest natural food less efficiently than wild birds. Hence captive grouse should not be used in experiments which aim to clarify digestive capacity and functions in the wild grouse.