Feeding and nutrition of roasting geese and young meat geese

Question 1

BW at birth:

Answer 1

85-90g

Question 2

BW and age of slaughter

Answer 2

8 wks

4-5kg

*slaughter before 1st moult! otherwise difficult to remove feathers, “P in feathered”

Question 3

Timeline

Answer 3

• 0 days
• 6 wks: broiler chicks
• 7wks: roasting ducks
• 8 wks: slaughter

Question 4

Periods/stages of fattening and ages

Answer 4

Starter: 0-21 days

Grower: 22-35 days

Finisher: 36-56 days

Question 5

Protein and E density of the different stages

Answer 5

Comparing starter vs grower vs finisher

• ME: 12 vs 12.5 vs 12.5
• CP: 21 vs 18 vs 16

Question 6

Explanation of the changes in dietary protein and E density of the diets

Answer 6

The diets must be diluted because they eat a high volume

*same as seen in roasting ducks, but geese are not as fatty

Question 7

Feed efficiency

Answer 7

2.3-2.5kg per kg

wastes more than broilers

Diluted

Question 8

Physical forms of the diet

Answer 8

Feeds adapted to grazing

Pellets

Question 9

Why are geese better adapted to graze foraging

Answer 9

• Can do so up to 20% of BW
• Can only digest the green forages- have efficient gizzard, the other forages are too high in CF for the poorly developed caeca that has a toelrance for CF of only 10-12%
• No crop- therefore continuous feeding is necessary

Question 10

Supplements

Answer 10

Ca and P

Question 11

Tap water consumption

Answer 11

3-4L per kg DM

++ water for bathing

Question 12

Feeding technology

Answer 12

1. Seasonal rearing from spring to autumn
2. rearing in one phase (winter)

Question 13

Seasonal rearing

Answer 13

From spring to autumn

1-3 wks: intensive fore rearing

4-8wks: extensive post-rearing with intensive feeding

Question 14

Rearing in one phase

Answer 14

Winter

On deep litter (like broiler chicks)