Metabolomic evaluation of serum metabolites of geese reared at different stocking densities

ABSTRACT

1. Stocking density is an issue for poultry production. High stocking density can impact biochemical parameters, production, and reproductive performance; however, information regarding the effects of stocking density on serum metabolites in geese is limited.

2. Twenty-day-old, Sanhua male geese (n = 240) were allocated to one of two experimental groups for 50 days. One group was housed under a low stocking density (LSD; two birds per m²) and one under a high stocking density (HSD; five birds per m²). Body weight and feed intake were recorded every 10 d. Eight serum samples per group were used for metabonomic analysis by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

3. Stocking density did not affect the spleen, liver, thymus, or bursa of Fabricius weights after 50 d. Feed intake and body weight was significantly lower in geese from the HSD group versus the LSD group (P < 0.05). Thirty-six differential serum metabolites were identified (P < 0.05), indicating altered amino acid, carbohydrate, lipid and vitamin cofactor metabolism.

4. The results demonstrated that high-density stocking impacts geese, and provides insights into the mechanisms underlying the adverse health effects associated with HSD.

KEYWORDS:

• Geese
• stocking density
• metabolomics
• liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS)
• serum

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by funds from the Key National Research and Development Program project of China [2016YFD0500509, 2018YFD0501505], and the China Agriculture Research System [grant number CARS-43-20].