The levels of short-chain fatty acids are quite low in
the distal small intestine and ceca of the young chick,
but then increase and plateau by approximately 15 d of
age (van der Wielen et al., 2000). These authors showed
a correlation between pathogen control and the presence
of undissociated, but not total, levels of acetate, propionate,
and butyrate in the ceca. In addition to its bactericidal
activity, butyrate appears to play a role in development