Abstract
Growth and acid production were quite different for Bifidobacterium bifidum B. angulatum, B. longum, and B. breve tested in this study. Species of bifidobacteria which produced acid early during growth were less tolerant to acidity than those which produced it later during the growth. Addition of L-cysteine-HCI enhanced only the growth of B. breve and B. angulatum. Although the 4 species of bifidobacteria were bile tolerant, B. longum and B. angulatum were more resistant to bile than the other 2 species. Adherence of the 4 species to the epithelial cells of the small intestine of sheep was observed in this study.