The Effects Of Different Levels Of Copper On The Growth Performance,Slaughter Performance,Meat Quality And Biochemical Indicators Of Yangzhou Geese

The experiment was conducted to study the effects of different levels of copper on the growth performance, slaughter performance, meat quality and biochemical indicators of Yangzhou geese, in order to explore an optimal level of additive copper in feed for 29?70 day-of-age Yangzhou geese.The experiment applied single factor design.25024-day-old heathly male geese with similar body weight were randomly distributed into 5 groups (A?B?C?D and E) with 5 replicates per treatment and 10 geese per replicate. Group A was fed abasic diets.And experimental groups were fed experimental diets supplemented with 4,8,12 and 16 mg/kg copper (CuSO4·5H2O). The experiment was conducted for 42 days, including 4 days of adaptation period.The results showed:(1) Growth performance of 29-70 d of geese was significantly influenced by additive copper (P<0.05). Body weight of 70 d old geese of group B and C were significantly higher than that of group D (P<0.05). Average daily gain of group B and C were significantly higher than that of group D (P<0.05).(2) Keel length and shank girth of 70 d old geese were significantly influenced by additive copper (P<0.05), but no significant influence on body slanting length, length from beak to hip, chest depth, chest width and tibia length (P>0.05). Keel length of group C was significantly higher than that of group D and E (P<0.05), and shank girth of group C was higher than that of group E (P<0.05).(3) Dressing percentage, leg muscle rate and percentage of abdominal fat of 70-day old experimental geese were significantly influenced by additive copper (P<0.05). Dressing percentage of group C was significantly higher than that of group A, B, D and E (P< 0.05). Leg muscle rate of group E was significantly higher than that of group B (P< 0.05). Percentage of abdominal fat of group C was significantly higher than that of group A and B (P< 0.05).(4) Albumin/globulin ratio and the concentration of alkaline phosphatase in serum were significantly influenced by additive copper (P<0.05). Albumin/globulin ratio in serum of group C was significantly lower than that of group A (P<0.05), the concentration of alkaline phosphatase of group E was significantly higher than that of group D (P<0.05).(5) Intestinal development of experimental geese was significantly influenced by additive copper (P<0.05). The gizzard weight of group B was significantly higher than that of group A and D (P<0.05), the jejunal length of group B was significantly higher than that of group E (P<0.05). But the weight of heart, liver and spleen was not significantly influenced by additive cuprum (P>0.05).(6) Meat quality of experimental geese were significantly influenced by additive copper (P<0.05). The brightness and reddishness of breast muscle of group A was significantly higher than that of group E (P<0.05), and the yellowness f breast muscle of group A was significantly higher than that of group C and E (P<0.05). There was no significantly influence on the index of meat color (P>0.05). The shear stress of meat of group C and E was significantly higher than that of group A (P<0.05).(7) There was a extremely significant correlation with additive copper and liver copper content of 70 d old geese (P<0.01).In the condition of low copper basic diets (4.17 mg/kg), there was no significant effect on growth performance, slaughter performance and body measurement of 29?70 d geese. This indicated that 4.17 mg/kg copper can satisfied the normal growth of geese. The optional levels of additive copper for 29?70 d geese was additive 4?8 mg/kg.