Influence of whole corn feeding on the performance, digestive tract development, and nutrient retention of geese.

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. A total of 112 Yangzhou geese, 7 d old and with similar BW, were distributed into 8 pens of 14 birds/pen (7 male, 7 female). Each treatment was represented by 4 replicates. Geese were fed corn-soybean-based diets containing 640 g (8-28 d) and 615 g (29-70 d) of corn/kg of diet from 8 to 70 d of age, and 2 particle sizes of corn grains were used: ground corn (GC) and WC. During the period from 8 to 49 d, daily feed intake (P < 0.05) and daily weight gain (P = 0.054) of WC-fed birds tended to be lower than that of GC-fed birds. However, WC diet tended to improve (P = 0.07) G:F from 50 to 70 d of age. Higher relative weights of the gizzard (P < 0.05) at 28, 49, and 70 d, proventriculus at 49 d, and duodenum at 28 and 70 d of age were observed in birds fed the WC diet compared with those fed the GC diet. Intestinal wall thickness in the jejunum and crypt depth and intestinal wall thickness in the ileum were greater (P < 0.05) in WC-fed birds at 28 d of age. Villus height and intestinal wall thickness in the duodenum and villus height in the jejunum were greater in birds fed the WC diet compared with those fed the GC diet at 70 d of age, and birds fed the WC diet had a greater (P < 0.05) intestinal wall thickness, villus height, and crypt depth measurements in the ileum compared with those fed the GC diet. The retention ratio of CP and neutral detergent fiber were higher (P < 0.05) in birds fed the WC diet than in those fed the GC diet. Overall, no negative effect was observed in birds fed the WC diet compared with those maintained on the GC diet.