Effects of Maize Silage Feeding on Growth Performance, Carcass Characteristics, Digestive System Weight, Chemical Composition and Meat Quality of Domestic Geese

Abstract

Unlike other poultry species, geese can benefit from roughage to some extent due to the histomorphology and physicochemical characteristics of their digestive systems. The narrowing of goose habitats due to agriculture and other reasons emphasizes the provision of a food chain in the protection of the goose population. During the winter months, the supply of roughage becomes very difficult and the cost of goose diets increases. The research was carried out to determine the possibilities for geese to spend the winter season more economically by adding roughage instead of some of the concentrated feed. Therefore, in this study, corn silage was substituted at the level of 10% (S10), 20% (S20), 30% (S30) and 40% (S40) corn soy-based mixed feed (control group: S00). The experiment was carried out in local Turkish goose variety male geese at the age of 19 weeks (for 12 weeks) in the winter season. The result showed that substitution of corn silage instead of concentrated feed at 30 weeks did not adversely affect the investigated parameters (growth performance, carcass characteristics and yield, edible internal organ weights, digestive system length and weight, chemical composition of meat, physical and organoleptic quality characteristics). On the other hand, it was determined that it affected meat quality (hardness etc.) positively. It concluded that corn silage can be used up to 40% of the mixed feed, especially in winter feeding where roughage is not sufficiently supplied. Thus, it can be said that by using roughage instead of a portion of concentrated feed in goose diets, feed cost savings can be achieved and geese can be produced more economically.