https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4343-0943
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Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the effects of replacing commercial feed with varying proportions of whole-plant silage maize in the diet of Holdobaki geese. The study evaluated growth performance, carcass characteristics, relative organ weight, blood biochemical, and economical traits in 192 fifth-week-old geese. The geese were randomly divided into 4 treatments with 8 replicate pens per treatment and 6 geese per replicate pen. The control group (0SM), which received 0% whole-plant silage maize and 100% concentrate; the 15SM group, which received 15% whole-plant silage maize and 85% concentrate; the 30SM group, which received 30% whole-plant silage maize and 70% concentrate; and the 50SM group, which received 50% whole-plant silage maize and 50% concentrate. The results showed that the final body weight (FBW) and average daily gain (ADG) of the 50SM group were significantly reduced (P < 0.01), and Feed conversion ratio (FCR) was significantly increased (P < 0.01). Compared to the 0SM group, the average daily feed intake (ADFI) was significantly increased in the 15SM, 30SM, and 50SM groups. The abdominal fat yield of the 50SM group was significantly reduced (P < 0.05), and the relative weight of goose gizzards was significantly increased in the 15SM, 30SM, and 50SM groups (P < 0.05). Total triglycerides (TG) levels of 30SM and 50SM were significantly lowered, and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels of 15SM and 30SM groups were significantly lowered (P < 0.05). The 30SM group had the highest economic benefit, with an income per goose of $1.92. In conclusion, the findings of this study demonstrate that replacing commercial feed with whole-plant silage maize in the diet of Holdobaki geese has significant effects on their growth performance, carcase yield, relative organ weight, and blood biochemical parameters. The combination of 30% whole-plant silage maize and 70% concentrate improves economic benefits, whereas a substitution rate of 50% has a negative impact on goose growth.
Acknowledgments
This study was financially supported by the Climbing plan of Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences [PG21171], the Earmarked Fund for China Agriculture Research System [CARS-42-35] and the SAAS Program for Excellent Research Team [2022-021].
Contributions
X.Z.W. conceived and designed the experiments. H.Y.W. and D.Q.H. optimised the details of the experiments. Y.Z.Y., G.Q.L., C.W., H.L.L., L.H.Z and Y.L. participated in sample collection. X.Z.W. conducted data analysis and drafted this manuscript. All authors listed above reviewed and approved the final manuscript.
Corresponding authors
Correspondence to Huiying Wang or Daqian He.
Methods
Animal protocols in this study were approved by the Shanghai Science and Technology Committee (STCSM) with license number SYXK (HU): 2015–0007 and conducted in compliance with authorized guidelines and regulations. All possible measures were taken to reduce the suffering of the geese involved in the study.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Data availability statement
The data that support the findings of this study are available in “figshare” at https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.23689395
Additional information
Funding
Notes on contributors
Xianze Wang
Xianze Wang is a research intern at the Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences. His main research focus is on the nutrition of meat geese.
Guangquan Li
Guangquan Li is a research intern at the Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences. His main research focus is on the breeding and management of breeding geese.
Yi Liu
Yi Liu is an assistant researcher at the Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences. His main research focus is on the breeding of meat geese.
Yunzhou Yang
Yunzhou Yang is an associate researcher at the Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences. His main research focus is on the breeding of meat geese.
Cui Wang
Cui Wang is an associate researcher at the Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences. Her main research focus is on the breeding of meat geese.
Shaoming Gong
Shaomin Gong is a senior livestock technician at the Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences. His main research focus is on the feeding and management of duck eggs.
Lihui Zhu
Lihui Zhu is an associate researcher at the Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences. Her main research focus is on the nutrition of duck eggs.
Hulong Lei
Hulong Lei is an associate researcher at the Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences. His main research focus is on the nutrition of meat geese.
Huiying Wang
Huiying Wang is an associate researcher at the Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences. Her main research focus is on the management of meat geese.
Daqian He
Daqian He is a researcher at the Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences. His main research focus is on the breeding techniques of meat geese.