This experiment was conducted to study the effects of pantothenic acid on the growth performance, slaughter performance, lipid metabolism, and antioxidant function of one-to four-week-old Wulong geese and determine the appropriate supplemental level of pantothenic acid. A total of 360 one-day-old Wulong geese were randomly divided into 6 groups with 6 replicates per group and 10 geese (5 males and 5 females) per replicate. The geese in group Ⅰ (control group) were fed a basal diet, and the geese in groups Ⅱ to Ⅵ (experimental groups) were given the basal diet supplemented with 8, 15, 30, 60, and 120 mg/kg pantothenic acid, respectively. The experiment lasted for 4 weeks. Based on the results of unrelated comparative analysis, the body weight was the highest when the dietary pantothenic acid level was 27.57 mg/kg. When the dietary pantothenic acid level was 26.17 mg/kg, the average daily gain peaked. When the dietary pantothenic acid level was 15.50 mg/kg, the feed:gain ratio was the lowest. The percentage of abdominal fat in groups Ⅲ and Ⅳ was significantly lower than that in group Ⅰ (P < 0.05). The content of total cholesterol in serum in groups Ⅲ to Ⅴ was significantly lower than that in group Ⅰ (P < 0.05). The triglyceride content in groups Ⅲ and Ⅳ was significantly lower than that in group Ⅰ (P < 0.01). The high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol content in group Ⅳ was significantly higher than that in group Ⅰ (P < 0.05). The total antioxidant capacity of serum and liver in group Ⅳ was significantly higher than that in group Ⅰ (P < 0.05). The malondialdehyde content in the liver in groups Ⅲ and Ⅳ was significantly lower than that in group Ⅰ (P < 0.05). Glutathione peroxidase activity in the serum in group Ⅳ was significantly higher than that in group Ⅰ (P < 0.05). Glutathione peroxidase activity in the liver in groups Ⅳ and Ⅴ was significantly higher than that in group Ⅰ (P < 0.01). The addition of pantothenic acid in the diet of one-to four-week-old Wulong geese significantly affected the growth performance, slaughter performance, lipid metabolism, and antioxidant function of the geese. In terms of economic benefits, the optimal supplemental level of pantothenic acid in one-to four-week-old geese was 15.50 mg/kg.

Background: Fatty acid composition contributes greatly to the quality and nutritional value of meat. However, the molecular regulatory mechanisms underlying fatty acid accumulation in poultry have not yet been cleared. The aims of this study were to characterize the dynamics of fatty acid accumulation in duck breast muscle and investigate its correlations with gene expression. Results: Here, we analyzed the fatty acid profile and transcriptome of breast muscle derived from Pekin ducks and mallards at the ages of 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 6 weeks and 8 weeks. Twenty fatty acids were detected in duck breast muscle, with palmitic acid (C16:0, 16.6%~ 21.1%), stearic acid (C18:0, 9.8%~ 17.7%), oleic acid (C18:1n-9, 15.7%~ 33.8%), linoleic acid (C18:2n-6, 10.8%~ 18.9%) and arachidonic acid (C20:4n-6, 11.7%~ 28.9%) as the major fatty acids. Our results showed that fatty acid composition was similar between the two breeds before 6 weeks, but the compositions diverged greatly after this point, mainly due to the stronger capacity for C16:0 and C18:1n-9 deposition in Pekin ducks. By comparing the multistage transcriptomes of Pekin ducks and mallards, we identified 2025 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Cluster analysis of these DEGs revealed that the genes involved in oxidative phosphorylation, fatty acid degradation and the PPAR signaling pathway were upregulated in mallard at 8 weeks. Moreover, correlation analysis of the DEGs and fatty acid composition traits suggested that the DEGs involved in lipogenesis, lipolysis and fatty acid β-oxidation may interact to influence the deposition of fatty acids in duck breast muscle. Conclusions: We reported the temporal progression of fatty acid accumulation and the dynamics of the transcriptome in breast muscle of Pekin ducks and mallards. Our results provide insights into the transcriptome regulation of fatty acid accumulation in duck breast muscle, and will facilitate improvements of fatty acid composition in duck breeding.