Hypothalamus-pituitary axis transcriptomic modification dependent on growth rate in geese (Anser anser domesticus).

The hypothalamus-pituitary axis is involved in digest processing, stress response, energy storage and many other processes. In birds, this control differs from in mammals, such as regulation of appetite and satiety centre. The transcriptomics analyses of both brain structures can explain and identify the molecular processes related to body growth and development and nutritional status. Many reports describe chicken transcriptome in literature, but gene expression studies in the other poultry species are extremely rare. Therefore, the present research undertook the attempt to explain hypothalamus-pituitary processes in domestic geese-Polish White Koluda®, main Polish line. After 16 weeks of fattening, significant differences in geese weight were observed. Therefore, transcriptome of pituitary and hypothalamus profiles could be compared between low and high growth rate geese groups. Due to the lack of domestic geese genome assembly in the public databases, we used three mapping approaches: de novo analysis, mapping to two other pink-footed and swan geese genomes. The functional examination showed that the most enriched biological process in the geese hypothalamus covered the immune response. Moreover, in the hypothalamus, proteins typical for the pituitary such as PRL and GH were differentially expressed (DE). Our study recommends one gene as a candidate for growth rate in geese-the FOS gene, which encodes Fos proto-oncogene-DE in both analysed tissues. The FOS gene is involved in regulating feeding behaviour, immune regulation, stimulating cellular proliferation and controlling growth hormone synthesis. Moreover, the present investigation indicates DE genes involved in gene expression regulation. The study delivers new information about the changes in the pituitary-hypothalamic axis in geese dependent on growth rate differences.

Identification and Validation of Marketing Weight-Related SNP Markers Using SLAF Sequencing in Male Yangzhou Geese.

Growth performance is a complex economic trait for avian production. The swan goose (Anser cygnoides) has never been exploited genetically like chickens or other waterfowl species such as ducks. Traditional phenotypic selection is still the main method for genetic improvement of geese body weight. In this study, specific locus amplified fragment sequencing (SLAF-seq) with bulked segregant analysis (BSA) was conducted for discovering and genotyping single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with marketing weight trait in male geese. A total of 149,045 SNPs were obtained from 427,093 SLAF tags with an average sequencing depth of 44.97-fold and a Q30 value of 93.26%. After SNPs' filtering, a total of 12,917 SNPs were included in the study. The 31 highest significant SNPs-which had different allelic frequencies-were further validated by individual-based AS-PCR genotyping in two populations. The association between 10 novel SNPs and the marketing weight of male geese was confirmed. The 10 significant SNPs were involved in linear regression model analysis, which confirmed single-SNP associations and revealed three types of SNP networks for marketing weight. The 10 significant SNPs were located within or close to 10 novel genes, which were identified. The qPCR analysis showed significant difference between genotypes of each SNP in seven genes. Developed SLAF-seq and identified genes will enrich growth performance studies, promoting molecular breeding applications to boost the marketing weight of Chinese geese.

Effects of marketable ages on meat quality through fiber characteristics in the goose.

Goose meat is increasingly popular among consumers because of its good quality. The fiber characteristics have been well demonstrated to be key contributing factors of meat quality, and the marketable ages are also closely related to meat quality. However, little is known about the effect of different marketable ages on the quality of goose meat through its fiber characteristics. Here, fiber characteristics of Yangzhou geese of different marketable ages (70, 90, and 120 d) and their effect on meat quality were investigated. The results showed that only fast-twitch fibers were present in breast muscle, irrespective of age, and that few slow-twitch fibers could be identified in leg muscle, especially in gastrocnemius and extensor digitorum longus. Fiber diameter in breast muscle increased rapidly from age 70 d to 90 d, from 19.88 to 26.27 µm, and remained stable for 90 d thereafter. The diameter and cross-sectional area of muscle fiber continue to grow with day increasing in leg muscle. In addition, we measured the proximate composition and physical properties at different ages. Among the 3 marketable ages investigated, the 120-day-old geese had higher intramuscular fat and protein content, as well as lower moisture content, both in breast and leg meat. Greater lightness and pressing loss, with lower redness and shear force, were observed in the breast and leg meat of 70-day-old geese when compared with 90- or 120-day-old geese. Taken together, although older marketable age hardly affected muscle fiber type in geese, it would contribute to larger muscle fiber area, higher intramuscular fat and protein content, as well as redder and chewier meat. As a result, the reasonable marketable age should be taken into account to improve quality in goose meat production, and the marketable age of 90 or 120 d was recommended and it could potentially improve meat quality in goose meat production.

Comprehensive analysis of lncRNAs, miRNAs and mRNAs related to thymic development and involution in goose.

Thymic involution is a sign of immunosenescence, but little is known about it in goose. miRNAs and lncRNAs are critical factors regulating organ growth and development. In this study, we comprehensively analyzed the profiles of lncRNAs, miRNAs and mRNAs during the development and involution of the thymus in Magang goose. The results showed that 2436 genes, 16 miRNAs and 417 lncRNAs were differentially co-expressed between the developmental (20-embryo age, 3-day post-hatch and 3-month age) and degenerative (6-month age) stages. The functional analysis showed that these differentially expressed genes were significantly enriched in cell proliferation, cell adhesion, apoptotic signaling pathway, and Notch signaling pathway. In addition, we established a gene-gene network through the STRING database and identified 50 key genes. Finally, we constructed a miRNA-mRNA network followed by a lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA network. These results suggest that lncRNAs and miRNAs may be involved in the regulation of thymic development and involution in goose.

Effect of feeding frequency on the growth performance, carcass traits, and apparent nutrient digestibility in geese.

This study was conducted to determine the effect of feeding frequency on growth performance, carcass traits, and apparent nutrient digestibility in geese from 28 to 70 D of age. In experiment 1, a total of 240 geese were distributed in a completely randomized design into 4 treatments and 6 replicates of 10 birds each. The treatments were free access to the feeder (ad libitum) and access to the feeder 3, 4, and 5 times daily. Geese fed 3 times daily had a lower (P < 0.05) BW, ADG, and ADFI and a higher (P = 0.064) feed conversion ratio (FCR) from 28 to 41 D of age compared with the other groups. Geese fed 4 times daily had a higher (P < 0.05) ADG and ADFI and a lower (P < 0.05) FCR from 42 to 55 D of age compared with ad libitum fed geese. Geese fed 3 times daily had a higher (P < 0.05) ADG from 56 to 69 D of age than geese fed ad libitum and 4 times daily. No differences (P > 0.05) in BW, ADFI, ADG, and FCR were observed between ad libitum and feeding frequency groups from 28 to 69 D of age. Carcass traits and gastrointestinal development were not affected (P > 0.05) by feeding frequency. In experiment 2, the apparent nutrient digestibility in geese from 71 to 77 D of age fed using different feeding frequencies was determined using the total fecal collection method. Feeding frequency did not affect (P > 0.05) the apparent digestibility of DM, CP, crude ash, calcium, phosphorous, or ether extract in geese. Our study demonstrates for the first time that compensatory growth can be gained by enhancing feed intake when a lower feeding frequency is imposed on geese. Both ad libitum feeding and fixed feeding frequency for 3 to 5 times daily are suitable for geese from 28 to 70 D of age to achieve optimum production.

Metabolomic Analysis of SCD during Goose Follicular Development: Implications for Lipid Metabolism.

Stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) is known to be an important rate-limiting enzyme in the production of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs). However, the role of this enzyme in goose follicular development is poorly understood. To investigate the metabolic mechanism of SCD during goose follicular development, we observed its expression patterns in vivo and in vitro using quantitative reverse-transcription (qRT)-PCR. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used to determine a cellular model of SCD function in granulosa cells (GCs) via SCD overexpression and knockdown. qRT-PCR analysis showed that SCD was abundantly expressed in the GC layer, and was upregulated in preovulatory follicles. Peak expression was found in F1 and prehierarchal follicles with diameters of 4-6 mm and 8-10 mm, respectively. We further found that mRNA expression and corresponding enzyme activity occur in a time-dependent oscillation pattern in vitro, beginning on the first day of GC culture. By LC-MS/MS, we identified numerous changes in metabolite activation and developed an overview of multiple metabolic pathways, 10 of which were associated with lipid metabolism and enriched in both the overexpressed and knockdown groups. Finally, we confirmed cholesterol and pantothenol or pantothenate as potential metabolite biomarkers to study SCD-related lipid metabolism in goose GCs.

Effects of dietary chitosan on growth rate, small intestinal morphology, nutrients apparent utilization and digestive enzyme activities of growing Huoyan geese.

Dietary chitosan (CS) supplementation could improve the growth rate, small intestinal morphology, nutrients apparent digestibility and digestive enzyme activities in pigs, broiler chickens, rats and fish, whereas no data has been reported about the effect of CS on the growing Huoyan geese. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the effects of CS on growth rate, small intestinal morphology, nutrients apparent utilization and digestive enzyme activities of growing Huoyan geese. Three hundred and twenty (28 days of age, gender balance) Huoyan geese were randomly divided into control, CS100, CS200 and CS400 groups (based on BW) with 20 geese per pen and 4 replicates pen per group, and the feeding experiment lasted for 4 weeks. The 4 diets contained 0, 100, 200 and 400 mg CS per kg feed, respectively. The results showed that CS200 groups had higher average daily gain, final BW, apparent utilization of DM and CP, and lower feed/gain ratio compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, CS100 and CS200 groups had higher villus height, villus height/crypt depth ratio and lower crypt depth in duodenum and jejunum than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The geese in CS100 and CS200 groups had higher villus height, villus height/crypt depth ratio and lower crypt depth of ileum compared with those in control and CS400 groups (P < 0.05). In addition, compared with the control group, CS200 group has higher trypsin activities and lower lipase activities in duodenal, jejunal and ileal contents (P < 0.05). The results suggested that addition of 200 mg/kg CS had positive effects on growth rate, small intestinal morphology, nutrients apparent utilization and digestive enzyme activities of growing Huoyan geese.

Effects of dietary supplementation of chitosan on carcass composition and meat quality in growing Huoyan geese.

This present study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of chitosan (CS) on carcass composition and meat quality in growing Huoyan geese. A total of 320 (28-day-old) growing Huoyan geese (sex balance) with similar body weight were randomly divided into the following 4 main groups: basal diet (control), basal diet + 100 mg/kg CS (CS100), basal diet + 200 mg/kg CS (CS200), and basal diet + 400 mg/kg CS (CS400) groups. Each group includes 4 replicates with 20 geese per replicate, and the feeding trail lasted for 4 wk. The results showed that the geese in CS200 group had lower abdominal fat percentage, b∗ value, shear force, crude fat content, and drip loss of breast and thigh muscle than those in the control group (P < 0.05). In addition, the CS200 group had higher glutamic acid, glycine, lysine, valine, total nonessential amino acids, total essential amino acids, total amino acids, C22:0, C16:1, C18:1, C20:1, C20:2, C20:5, total monounsaturated fatty acids concentration and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), and saturated fatty acids (SFA) ratio and lower total SFA, total PUFA concentration, and total n-6:n-3 ratio in breast muscle than the control group (P < 0.05). Taken together, these results indicated that addition of 200 mg/kg CS improved meat quality in growing Huoyan geese through altering slaughter performance, meat traits, amino acids, and fatty acids composition.

Effects of dietary supplementation of chitosan on immune function in growing Huoyan geese.

This present experiment was performed to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of chitosan (CS) on immune function in growing Huoyan geese. A total of 320 28-day-old healthy growing Huoyan geese (sex balance) with similar body weight were randomly allotted into control, CS100, CS200, and CS400 groups. Each group includes 4 replicates with 20 geese per replicate, and the feeding trial lasted for 4 wk. The 4 diets contained 0, 100, 200, and 400 mg CS per kg feed, respectively. The results showed that compared with the control group, the relative weight of thymus, serum concentrations of IGF-I, INS, GH, T3, T4, IgM, IgG, IgA, complement C3, and IL-2 in CS200 group were significantly higher at both 42 and 56 D of age, respectively (P < 0.05). In addition, relative weight of bursa of fabricius (BF), spleen, serum complement C4, and TNF-a concentrations in CS200 group were higher at 56 D of age (P < 0.05), no differences were observed at 42 D of age (P > 0.05). These results indicated that addition of 200 mg/kg CS enhanced immune organs weight, serum concentrations of immunoglobulins, complements, hormone, as well as cytokines, and improved immune function of growing Huoyan geese.

The role of CTNNB1 and LEF1 in feather follicles development of Anser cygnoides and Anser anser.

BACKGROUND: Wingless-types/beta-catenin (Wnt/ß-catenin) signaling pathway is one of the most extensively studied transcriptional cascades involved in various types of organogenesis including embryonic and postnatal development. Downy feather quantity is primarily affected by follicular development and gene regulations. OBJECTIVE: This research was aimed to investigate the role of catenin beta-1(CTNNB1) and lymphoid enhancerbinding factor-1 (LEF1) on feather follicles development at different developmental stages. METHODS: Fluorescence quantitative PCR, Western-blot and immunohistochemical methods were used in Anser cygnoides and Anser anser embryos (E12, E13 E18, and E28) and after birth gosling stages (G18, G48, G88) for gene expression analysis. RESULTS: CTNNB1 and LEF1 genes were expressed in Anser cygnoides and Anser anser at different embryonic and after-birth gosling developmental stages and the expression levels were significantly different in different stages (p < 0.05). The mRNA expression of CTNNB1 and LEF1 genes reached the highest level at D88 in Anser cygnoides, while the highest expression levels were at D18 and D88 in Anser anser, and the expression levels of CTNNB1 genes at D88 in all embryonic stages were significantly lower than after-birth stages. CTNNB1 and LEF1 protein expression were the highest at E12 and E28 for Anser cygnoides feather follicles development. While at a similar stage for Anser anser, the expression of CTNNB1 and LEF1 protein was the highest at D48 and D18. Protein expression at embryonic stages was in the epidermis (E) and the hair basal plate (P), the expression site for after-birth stages was in the dermal papilla (DP). CONCLUSION: Our study illustrated that CTNNB1 and LEF1 has an impact on Anser cygnoides and Anser anser feather follicles growth and development.

Impacts of colored light-emitting diode illumination on the growth performance and fecal microbiota in goose.

Besides on the reproductive performance, the light also has an important effect on the growth in birds. In the present study, we for the first time investigated effects of colored light-emitting diodes (LED) on both growth performance and fecal microbiota in meat geese. We randomly selected a total of 120 geese at birth (0-day), divided them into 3 groups evenly (i.e., 40 geese each group), and then reared them under 3 colored light-emitting diodes (i.e., blue, red, and white) with the same photoperiod for 9 wk, respectively. We collected fecal samples at the experimental day 35 and 63, respectively. We observed that geese in blue light had higher body weight than those in red and white lights at the early stage of the experiment but showed lower body weight at the late stage, particularly at day 63 (P < 0.05). Interestingly, we found that the relative abundances of 3 dominant bacteria phyla, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Cyanobacteria, were comparable among 3 groups at day 35, while at day 63, the blue light group had the significantly (P < 0.05) lowest and highest abundance for Firmicutes and Proteobacteria, respectively. Functional enrichment analyses revealed that the fecal microbiota in the red light group was mainly involved in metabolism at day 35, whereas at day 63, the fecal microbiota were engaged into membrane transportation and transcription. In contrast, the blue light group had more enriched pathways relevant with membrane transportation at day 63 than day 35 and had several pathways involved in metabolism at day 63 as well. Collectively, our results revealed that the light with different colors affects the growth performance of geese via the gut microbiota, which in turn influences the digestion and absorption of geese.

Effect of dietary Moringa stem meal level on growth performance, slaughter performance and serum biochemical parameters in geese.

Moringa stem meal (MSM) with a high level of crude fibre (CF) might be developed and utilized in herbivorous geese as an unconventional feedstuff. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the MSM level in the diet on the growth performance, slaughter performance, breast meat quality and serum biochemical parameters in geese from 22 to 70 days of age. A one-factor completely randomized design was adopted in our study. A total of one thousand eight 21-day-old geese were randomly divided into six groups, with six replicates per group and 28 birds per replicate. The geese were fed diets containing MSM levels of 0, 20, 40, 60, 80 or 100 g/kg during day 22-70. The dietary MSM level had no effect (p > .05) on the final body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG) or average daily feed intake (ADFI). The feed/gain ratio (F/G) increased linearly (p < .001) as the dietary MSM level increased. No differences (p > .05) were observed in the slaughter performance, meat quality and the relative organ weight (except for thymus) of the geese (p > .05). The relative weight of the thymus in the geese fed diets with supplementation of MSM was higher than that in the non-supplemented MSM control group (p < .05). In addition, 100 g MSM/kg of diet decreased the serum glucose (GLU) level (p < .05) and increased the alanine transaminase (ALT) enzyme activity (p = .03). Dietary MSM levels of no more than 60 g/kg had no effects on the growth performance and slaughter performance, whereas diets with 100 g MSM/kg increased the F/G and serum ALT enzyme activity, as well as decreasing the serum GLU level. Therefore, MSM provided at a reasonable level could be developed as an unconventional feedstuff for geese at the finisher period.

The effect of different dietary levels of sodium and chloride on performance and blood parameters in goslings (1-28 days of age).

A total of 702 1-day-old male Jiangnan White goslings were used to study the effects of varying levels of Na+ and Cl- on their growth performance and blood parameters. In this experiment, goslings were randomly allotted to nine treatments, with six pens per treatment in a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement, and fed diets with three concentrations of added Na+ (0.10%, 0.15% and 0.20%) and three concentrations of added Cl- (0.15%, 0.20% and 0.25%). The purpose of this experiment was to investigate the sensitivity of goslings to Na+ and Cl- during brooding to determine the appropriate levels of Na+ and Cl- in their feed. The results are as follows: (a) Different levels of Na+ and Cl- in the diet, especially low Na+ and Cl- , significantly affected the body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG) and feed/gain ratio (F/G) of the 28-day-old goslings (p < .05). But Na+  × Cl- has no significant effect on water consumption (p > .05). (b) Serum concentrations of urea increased linearly with Na+ content (p < .05). Serum concentrations of creatinine (CR) and uric acid (UA) increased linearly with Cl- content (p < .05). (c) Na+  × Cl- has a significant impact on the serum sodium (Na) and chlorine (Cl; p < .05). The content of serum Na and Cl increased linearly with increasing levels of Na+ and Cl- . These results show that low levels of Na+ and Cl- had significant adverse effects on the growth of 1- to 28-day-old goslings. The results of the experiment support a recommendation to supplement the diet of goslings with 0.20% Cl- and not <0.15% Na+ .

Dynamic characteristics of lipid metabolism in cultured granulosa cells from geese follicles at different developmental stages.

Previous studies have shown that lipid metabolism in granulosa cells (GCs) plays a vital role during mammalian ovarian follicular development. However, little research has been done on lipid metabolism in avian follicular GCs. The goal of the present study was to investigate the dynamic characteristics of lipid metabolism in GCs from geese pre-hierarchical (6-10 mm) and hierarchical (F4-F2 and F1) follicles during a 6-day period of in vitro culture. Oil red O staining showed that with the increasing incubation time, the amount of lipids accumulated in three cohorts of GCs increased gradually, reached the maxima after 96 h of culture, and then decreased. Moreover, the lipid content varied among these three cohorts, with the highest in F1 GCs. The qPCR results showed genes related to lipid synthesis and oxidation were highest expressed in pre-hierarchical GCs, while those related to lipid transport and deposition were highest expressed in hierarchical GCs. These results suggested that the amount of intracellular lipids in GCs increases with both the follicular diameter and culture time, which is accompanied by significant changes in expression of genes related to lipid metabolism. Therefore, it is postulated that the lipid accumulation capacity of geese GCs depends on the stage of follicle development and is finely regulated by the differential expression of genes related to lipid metabolism.

The effect of dietary vitamin A supplementation in maternal and its offspring on the early growth performance, liver vitamin A content, and antioxidant index of goslings.

This study investigated the effect of dietary VA supplementation on maternal and its offspring in terms of the early growth performance, antioxidant index, and tissue VA content of the goslings. Yangzhou geese aged 180 D were selected and randomly distributed into 5 experimental groups with 15 female geese and 3 male geese in each group. The geese were fed a basal diet supplemented with 0, 4,000, 8,000, 12,000, or 16,000 IU/kg VA. Eggs were collected from each group starting at 300 D. After hatching, 96 goslings were selected from each maternal group and randomly distributed into 2 experimental groups with factorial arrangement (6 replicates × 8 geese), including 2 levels of VA supplementations, 0 and 9,000 IU/kg. The results are as follows: (1) Different levels of maternal VA supplementation significantly affected the BW and weight gain of 7-day-old offspring (P < 0.05). The weight gain of offspring administered 9,000 IU/kg VA was significantly higher than that of offspring administered the basal diet (P < 0.05). (2) Maternal VA levels significantly affected the T3, T4, and insulin levels of the offspring (P < 0.05). (3) The GSH-PX, SOD, T-AOC, CAT, and tissue VA content of the offspring were significantly higher and MDA was significantly lower in the 9,000 IU/kg VA group than in the no VA group (P < 0.05). (4) Maternal VA levels had a significant effect on offspring GSH, GSH-PX, SOD, MDA, T-AOC, and CAT (P < 0.05). Maternal and offspring VA supplementation interact with the weight gain, tissue VA content, GSH, GSH-PX, SOD, MDA, and CAT of goslings (P < 0.05). Maternal supplementation with 12,000 IU/kg VA and offspring supplementation with 9,000 IU/kg VA was conducive to gosling growth.

Fermented feed regulates growth performance and the cecal microbiota community in geese.

This study was designed to investigate the effects of fermented feed diets on the growth performance and cecal microbial community in geese, and to examine associations between the gut microbiota and growth performance. A total of 720 healthy, 1-day-old male SanHua geese were used for the 55-D experiment. Geese were randomly divided into 4 groups, each with 6 replicates of 30 geese. Groups were fed a basal diet supplemented with 0.0, 2.5, 5.0, or 7.5% fermented feed. The results showed that 7.5% fermented feed had an increasing trend in the body weight and average daily gain of the geese; however, there was no significant response to increasing dietary fermented feed level with regards to ADFI and FCR. In addition, compared with the control group, there was a higher abundance of bacteria in the phylum Bacteroidetes in the cecal samples of geese in the 7.5% fermented feed group (53.18% vs. 41.77%, P < 0.05), whereas the abundance of Firmicutes was lower in the 7.5% fermented feed group (36.30% vs. 44.13%, P > 0.05). At the genus level, the abundance of Bacteroides was increased by adding fermented feed to geese diets, whereas the abundances of Desulfovibrio, Phascolarctobacterium, Lachnospiraceae_uncultured, Ruminiclostridium, and Oscillospira were decreased. These results indicate that fermented feeds have an important effect on the cecal microflora composition of geese, and may affect host growth, nutritional status, and intestinal health.

The role of active immunization against inhibin α-subunit on testicular development, testosterone concentration and relevant genes expressions in testis, hypothalamus and pituitary glands in Yangzhou goose ganders.

The present study was designed to investigate the potential role of immunization against inhibin on testicular development, plasma testosterone concentration and expression of relevant genes in hypothalamus, pituitary, Leydig and Sertoli cells in Yangzhou ganders. For this purpose, Yangzhou ganders, n = 30 were divided into groups A and B. Group B ganders were actively immunized against inhibin α-subunit, while group A ganders were immunized with bovine serum albumin (BSA), which served as control. Immunization against inhibin elevated testes weights. In addition, immunization against inhibin elevated GnRH, StAR, CYP11A1 and AMH mRNA transcription expressions as depicted by qRT-PCR. Furthermore, hypothalamic GnRH-I mRNA expressions were up regulated, while GnIH mRNA transcription expression showed reciprocal expression on day 227. LH-ß mRNA transcription expression remained unaffected. In conclusion, our findings suggest that active immunization against inhibin affect spermatogenesis and testicular development through regulations of hypothalamic, pituitary and testicular genes expressions.

Effect of cassava foliage on the performance, carcass characteristics and gastrointestinal tract development of geese.

Cassava foliage is a by-product of cassava and has been widely used in animal feed. However, little information is available on its utilization for geese. In this study, we investigated the effects of cassava foliage on the performance, carcass characteristics, and gastrointestinal tract development of geese. A total of 108 28-day-old Hainan indigenous male geese with similar body weight were randomly divided into 3 groups with 6 pens of 6 geese per group and fed for 42 D on either the control diet of ground maize, soybean meal, and wheat bran or the experimental diet of ground maize, soybean meal, and wheat bran supplemented with 5% or 10% cassava foliage, respectively. On day 70, their body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), feed conversion ratio (FCR), carcass characteristics, and gastrointestinal tract development were compared. The results showed that cassava foliage diet significantly improved goose's BW (P < 0.05), ADG (P < 0.05), and ADFI (P < 0.05), affected carcass characteristics such as relative meat content (P < 0.05) and abdominal fat content (P < 0.05), and facilitated goose's gastrointestinal tract development. These findings suggested that incorporating cassava foliage into the diet of geese (day 28-70) could have positive effects, and supplementing 5% cassava foliage was more beneficial than 10%.

Effects of cottonseed meal on growth performance, small intestinal morphology, digestive enzyme activities, and serum biochemical parameters of geese.

Cottonseed meal (CSM), an oil industry by-product, is an attractive alternative protein source in poultry diets. To investigate the effects of CSM on growth performance, small intestinal morphology, digestive enzyme activities, and serum biochemical parameters of geese, a total of 300 healthy, 28-day-old, male Jiangnan geese were randomly divided into 5 treatments, with 6 pens of 10 geese each. Five isonitrogenous and isocaloric experimental diets were formulated to produce diets in which 0% (control), 25% (CSM25), 50% (CSM50), 75% (CSM75), and 100% (CSM100) of protein from soybean meal was replaced by CSM (corresponding to 0, 6.73, 13.46, 20.18, and 26.91% CSM in the feed, respectively). At 28, 42, and 70 d, BW and feed intake for each pen were measured. Blood, small intestine, and chyme samples were collected at 70 d. The results showed that dietary 13.46% CSM or more decreased BW at 42 d and ADG from 28 to 42 d but increased the feed/gain ratio (F/G) from 28 to 42 d (P < 0.05). From 42 to 70 d, geese in the CSM groups had higher ADFI and ADG than those of the control group (P < 0.05). Geese in the CSM75 and CSM100 groups had a higher ADG from 28 to 70 d and BW at 70 d and a lower F/G from 42 to 70 d than those of the control group (P < 0.05). Dietary 6.73% CSM also improved ADFI from 28 to 70 d (P < 0.05). Compared to the control, geese in the CSM groups had decreased pepsin and lipase activities, and those in the CSM25, CSM50, and CSM75 groups had increased villus height in the jejunum at 70 d (P < 0.05). All groups had similar concentrations of total protein, blood urea nitrogen, uric acid, cholesterol, triglyceride, calcium, and phosphorus in serum (P > 0.05). In conclusion, excessive use of CSM (>6.73%) decreased growth performance at an early age (28 to 42 d) in geese, whereas 6.73 to 26.91% CSM in feed improved growth performance from 28 to 70 d.

Effect of feed form and dietary protein level on growth performance and carcass characteristics of growing geese.

The present study aimed to investigate the influence of feed form and the level of dietary crude protein (CP) on the growth performance and carcass traits of growing geese. A total of 180 Egyptian geese (1 wk old) were randomly divided into 9 groups (20 chicks per group). Each group was subdivided into five replicates, with 4 birds per replicate. A 3 × 3 factorial experiment was performed with 3 types of diets (pellets, crumble, and mash) and 3 levels of dietary CP (22%, 20%, and 18% during the starter period and 20%, 18%, and 16% during the finisher period). The type of feed had significant (P ≤ 0.05) effects on body weight, body weight gain (ADG), the feed conversion ratio (FCR), and the protein efficiency ratio (PER) during all experimental periods, except ADG and PER from the 8th to 12th week. Dietary CP levels had significant effects on feed consumption (FC), FCR, and PER (p < 0.05 or 0.01) except from the 1st to 7th week for FC, 8th to 12th week for FCR, and 1st to 7th week for PER. Carcass, liver, heart, dressing, and wings (%) were found to be significantly (P < 0.01) improved in geese fed pellets compared to geese fed other types of diets. Birds fed a high-CP diet featured the highest (P < 0.05) values for liver, gizzard, heart, and giblets compared to the other groups at 12 wk of age. In conclusion, the present findings show that pellet and crumble feed are better than mash feed for promoting the growth of growing geese from the 1st to 12th week of age. The optimal dietary CP requirements for growing geese from the 1st to 7th and 8th to 12th weeks of age are 18% and 16%, respectively.