Goat and cow milk powder-based diets with or without prebiotics influence gut microbial populations and fermentation products in newly weaned rats

Abstract The influence of goat and cow milk powders individually and in combination with prebiotics (inulin and oligofructose) on gut microbial populations, organic acid concentrations and gut morphology were studied in newly weaned rats fed for 21 days. The abundance of bacterial populations such as the Bacteroides-Prevotella-Porphyromonas group, Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillus spp. in the gastrointestinal tract (ileum, caecum or colon) of rats were influenced by goat and cow milk powder-based diets. Clostridium perfringens was decreased significantly ( P P P