Effects of Different Swimming Pool Conditions and Floor Types on Growth Performance and Footpad Dermatitis in Indoor-Reared White Roman Geese

Abstract

Footpad dermatitis (FPD) is a major foot disease in modern poultry production, and it affects both poultry health and animal welfare. It refers to inflammation and necrotizing lesions on the plantar surface of the footpads and toes. We investigated the effects of providing a swimming pool and different floor types on growth performance and FPD score in indoor-reared White Roman geese. Forty-eight male and 48 female White Roman geese were randomly allocated to pens with or without a swimming pool and with either mud or perforated plastic floor and reared from 15 to 84 days of age. Growth performance measurements included feed intake (FI), weight gain (WG), and feed conversion ratio (FCR). FI, WG, and FCR were significantly decreased at various growth periods in geese provided with a pool. Lower WG and bodyweight for the perforated plastic floor group were found at 15–28 and 28 days of age, respectively. The geese reared on the perforated plastic floors without a pool had higher FPD scores at 70 and 84 days of age than those with other rearing conditions. A higher incidence of FPD score 1 was observed in geese raised without a pool. In conclusion, providing a pool can improve footpad health in indoor-reared White Roman geese but may not benefit growth performance.

Effects of cage versus floor rearing system on goose intestinal histomorphology and cecal microbial composition

“…Driven by market demand and environmental protection pressure, the goose rearing system is changing from traditional farmers' waterside rearing to modern intensive rearing. The floor rearing ( FR ) system has become the primary system of large-scale goose rearing in China because of its low construction costs and easy management ( Liu et al, 2011 ; Liao et al, 2021 ). However, compared to other commercial poultry breeds (broilers, layers and ducks) in China, geese have lower reproductive efficiency ( Tóth-Baranyi, 1957 ).…”

Effects of Swimming Pool Conditions and Floor Types on White Roman Geese’s Physical Condition Scores and Behaviors in an Indoor Rearing System

“…Raising poultry outdoors is risky because of the threat of a new type of avian influenza and the potential for irreparable economic losses. In many countries, such as Thailand and Taiwan, intervention policies have been introduced to limit free-range or outdoor rearing in poultry farms and strengthen control and restrictions on backyard farming [ 24 , 44 , 45 ]. Because of these policies, the poultry industry is forced to raise ducks and geese indoors to prevent their contact with wild birds; this has led to the increased focus on intensive goose farming.…”

“…Animal experimental procedures were performed in accordance with Taiwan’s animal protection laws and were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Changhua Animal Propagation Station (approval number: 10806). A detailed description of the management of geese at different stages has been provided by Liao et al [ 24 ]. An indoor house was surrounded by plastic antibird nets to rear geese ( Figure 1 ).…”

“…Open water sources can enhance the well-being and behavior of waterfowl, such as ducks and geese. Furthermore, they can improve scoring indicators, such as feather quality; feather, eye, and nostril cleanliness; gait; and footpad dermatitis [ 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 ]. However, a water pool is a crucial medium through which ducks can transmit avian influenza virus [ 25 , 26 , 27 ]; when they drink, dabble, or preen in virus-contaminated pools, they may become infected, posing a high biosecurity threat to poultry farms.…”

The immune-neuroendocrine system, a key aspect of poultry welfare and resilience

“…Behavioural and physiological interlinks are better characterized for quails than for turkeys, proving for example, that absence of gut microbiota reduces emotional reactivity in challenges involving fear and social perturbation ( Kraimi et al, 2018 ). Studies on Ducks’ welfare ( Anas platyrhynchos, Cairina moschata and hybrids) have increased during the last decades as evidenced in recent reviews ( Liao et al, 2021 ; Makagon and Riber, 2022 ), but detailed interlinks between INE system and welfare are just starting to be unraveled ( Ismoyowati et al, 2018 ; Mohammed et al, 2019 ; Voit et al, 2020 ). Lastly, Geese ( Anser anser and Anser cygnoides ) are the less scientifically studied group, in which welfare is being explored since a decade ( Scheiber et al, 2015 ; Tremolada et al, 2020 ; Voit et al, 2020 ) but INE components have not been characterized in relation to welfare yet.…”