Effects of forage feeding versus grain feeding on the growth performance and meat quality of Yangzhou geese

ABSTRACT

1. Highly palatable and nutritious meat products can be produced through dietary interventions. Previous studies have shown that forage feeding has a significant impact on the growth performance and nutrition of cattle in various regions, but whether the same effects can be induced in geese remains unclear.

2. Three hundred and sixty Yangzhou goslings were divided according to body weight at 29 d old, assigned to one of 4 treatments and raised in separate pens. The treatments applied were (A) grazing, (B) grazing, grain supplemental diet (64 to 70 d), (C) grazing, grain supplemental diet and (D) confined.

3. Eviscerated carcass yield was lower in the grazing treatment. Protein content and muscle collagen in both the breast and thigh muscles were significantly higher in the grazing treatment than the confined, while fat content exhibited the opposite tendency. Those fed on grass and supplementary grain had a higher Mg and Cu content in breast muscle.

4. Geese will grow to their full potential when they are allowed to consume grass from pasture supplemented with grain, protein, collagen, Mg and Cu content was greater to a degree, which suggests this feeding regime is an ideal model for goose production.

KEYWORDS:

• Feeding regime
• Yangzhou goose
• meat quality
• grass-fed
• free range

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the Waterfowl Institute of Zhenjiang City for offering the experimental place and animals.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work received financial support from the National Key Technology R&D Program of China [2015BAD03B00], the earmarked fund for Modern Agro-industry Technology Research System [CARS-43-3] and the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions [2011-137].