Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment

Effects of dietary fiber on growth performance, enzyme activities, microflora and digesta physicochemical characteristics of Lionhead geese

Author(s):

H. Q. Zhang ^{1, 2}, H. Ye ¹, W. C. Wang ¹, Z. M. Dong ¹, L. Jin ¹, L. Yang ¹*

Recieved Date: 2013-07-11, Accepted Date: 2013-09-19

Abstract:

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary fibre (DF) on growth performance, enzyme activities, microflora and digesta physicochemical characteristics of geese. Nine hundred 21-day-old Lionhead geese were divided into six groups randomly. Six dietary fiber treatments were formulated with six graded levels of crude dietary fiber (DF 3.00%, 4.50%, 6.00%, 7.50%, 9.00% and 10.50%), respectively. On the 70^th day, geese were killed and samples were collected. Our results showed that there was no significant difference in average daily gain (ADG) among lower DF level groups (3.00%, 4.50%, 6.00% and 7.50%) (p>0.05). However, in higher DF level groups (9.00% and 10.50%), the ADG was reduced significantly (p<0.05). The ADFI increased gradually along with the increasing of DF level (p<0.05). The feed conversation ratio (FCR) of birds fed with high DF diets (9.00%, 10.50%) was significantly lower than low DF level diet- fed birds (3.00%, 4.50%, 6.00%). Amylase and trypsin activities in jejunum digesta of 10.50% DF group significantly decreased (p<0.05), compared with other lower DF groups. Only slight increase was found in activities of amylase, trypsin and lipase in the pancreas of higher fibre diets-fed geese (9.00%, 10.50%) (p>0.05). Compared with lower DF groups (3.00%, 4.50% and 6.00%), the pH values of the glandular stomach digesta in 7.50% group were significantly decreased (p<0.05), but only slight decrease was found in duodenum and caecum digesta (p>0.05). With the increasing  DF level in feed, the viscosity of digesta in jejunum increased significantly (p<0.05). The colony forming units (CFU) of Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium and cellulolytic bacteria in caecum of geese fed with high DF level (10.50%) diets was significantly (p<0.05) higher than in other groups. However, the counts of E. coli tended to be lower in caecal contents of birds receiving high fibre diets than in low fibre diets-fed birds. These results indicated that the optimal level of dietary fibre for growing Lionhead geese should be less than 7.5%.

Keywords:

Lionhead geese, dietary fibre, performance, microflora

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Journal: Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment
Year: 2013
Volume: 11
Issue: 3&4
Category: Environment
Pages: 1653-1658

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