Cogent Food & Agriculture (Dec 2023)

The effects of whole-plant silage maize as replacement commercial feed on the growth performance, carcase yield, relatively organ weight, blood biochemical, and economical traits in Holdobaki Goose

  • Xianze Wang,
  • Guangquan Li,
  • Yi Liu,
  • Yunzhou Yang,
  • Cui Wang,
  • Shaoming Gong,
  • Lihui Zhu,
  • Hulong Lei,
  • Huiying Wang,
  • Daqian He

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1080/23311932.2023.2236825
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9, no. 1

Abstract

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AbstractThis 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.

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