Influence of whole corn feeding on the performance, digestive tract development and nutrient retention of geese from 28 to 70 days of age

The objective of the current study was to investigate the influence of including whole corn (WC) in goose diets on the performance, digestive tract development and nutrient retention from 28 to 70 days of age. A total of 96 Yangzhou geese, 28 d old and with similar BW, were distributed to 8 pens of 12 birds/pen (6 male and 6 female). Each treatment was represented by 4 replicates. Geese were fed corn-soybean-based diets, and 2 particle sizes of corn grains were used: ground corn (GC) and WC. Daily feed intake, daily weight gain and Feed: Gain (F: G) of WC-fed birds (P<0.05) were lower than those of GC-fed birds from 29 to 49 d of age. But there was no significant difference in daily feed intake, daily weight gain, and F: G from 29 to 70 d of age. Also, there was no significant difference in the relative weights and length of gastrointestinal tract between the two treatments at 70 d of age. Villus height in jejunum and crypt depth in ileum (P<0.05) were greater, while villus height in duodenum and intestinal wall thickness in ileum at 70 d of age tended to be greater (P=0.055) in birds fed the WC diet compared with those fed the GC diet. The retention ratios of crude fibre (CF) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) were higher (P<0.05) in birds fed WC diet than in those fed GC diet. Overall, the results seemed sufficient to allow using WC in goose diets from 29 to 70 d of age.