The Effects of Different Roughage Sources on Growth Performance and Carcass Properties in Native Geese

Authors: CAVİT ARSLAN, FATMA İNAL

Abstract: This study was carried out to determine the effects of different roughage sources (alfalfa meal, grass meal and sugar beet pulp) on growth performance and carcass properties in geese. During the research, 51 one-day-old native geese chicks were used. Chicks were fed jointly for the first two weeks. At the beginning of the third week, the geese were divided into three groups. During weeks 3-10 different roughage (alfalfa meal, grass meal and sugar beet pulp) and concentrates were offered in separate feeders. During the third week concentrate was offered a 100 g/day/bird and increased 50 g a week until the sixth week along with roughage ad libitum. In the eleventh week, each group was divided into two groups and roughage was offered in two forms until the sixth week. The first group was fed on a dry matter basis at a ratio of 25% roughage + 75% concentrate with homogeneous mixing. The second group was fed concentrate at 185 g/day and ad libitum roughage in separate feeders. On a dry matter base at a ratio of 25% roughage mixed with concentrate, finishing live weights in the alfalfa meal, grass meal and sugar beet pulp groups were found to be 4059.83, 4172.81 and 2976.93 g, respectively (P<0.05). In the ad libitum roughage groups these values were 4001.20, 4332.30 and 4056.05 g, respectively. At the end of the trial, the lowest- and the highest-weight geese were separated from each group, and these 6 geese were slaughtered and carcass quality was investigated. Dressing percentages were found to be 69.40, 67.73 and 64.15% (P<0.05) on a dry matter basis at a ratio 25% roughage in the concentrate alfalfa meal, grass meal and sugar beet pulp groups, and 70.98, 66.02 and 69.20% (P<0.05) in the ad libitum groups.

Keywords: Turkish native geese, forages, growth performance, carcass

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