Find in Library

The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility and supplementation level of rice hull as a dietary fiber source for geese. The effect of rice hull addition level on growth performance, serum biochemical indices, and digestive performance of geese was explored. Three hundred 28-day-old Zhedong white geese (half male and half female) with similar body weights were selected and divided into three groups. The crude fiber (CF) level of the groups was 4.8%, 6.1% and 6.9%, respectively. The pre-feeding period was 7 days, and the formal test period was 21 days. The growth performance and serum biochemical indexes, amylase, lipase, and protease activities, and apparent digestibility were determined. CF level of 6.1% and 6.9% were higher than 4.8%, but the feed/gain at 6.9% CF level was higher than that at 4.8% (P<0.05). Serum total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations decreased at CF levels of 6.1% and 6.9%, and insulin or insulin-like growth factor-1 levels were increased. The intestinal amylase activity at 6.9% CF level was lower than that at 6.1%. In contrast, pancreatic amylase activity at 6.9% CF level was higher than that at 4.8%. The digestibility of crude ash and crude fat in CF level of 6.9% and 6.1% were lower than that at 4.8%, whereas the digestibility of crude protein increased. Rice hull as the main fiber source, with fiber level between 6.1% and 6.9%, maintains growth performance and improves some beneficial serum biochemical indicator levels and crude protein digestibility.