Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether goose growth and feather characteristics are influenced by their line and feeding surroundings, inclusive of floor materials and types, since there are no reports regarding these factors.Methods: The 240 White Roman geese which were hatched and sex identified came from 3 commercial goose farms. They were randomly distributed to 24 pens depending on a completely random design. The study continued for 13 weeks and included 3 lines of commercial geese and 2 floor types (cement strip floor [CSF] or cement floor [CF]).Results: The day one gosling weight from A farm was lower than other two farms (96 g vs 107 and 115 g; p<0.001). Afterwards, the body weight, back length, keel length, chest girth and main wing feather length among 3 farms showed no significance difference prior to 12 weeks. The CF group showed heavier body weight, shorter back length, longer keel length, shorter chest girth and shorter main wing feather length than the CSF group prior to 12 weeks. The down weight in the CF was heavier than the CSF group (57.1 g vs 41.8 g; p<0.01) prior to 13 weeks.Conclusion: The body weight showed the positive relations for dry feather weight (r = 0.59), down weight (r = 0.69), percent of the down weight of live body weight prior to 13 weeks (r = 0.61).

Objective: This research aimed to explore the changes in the observed abdominal sagging index (ASI) and reproductive performance of Roman male and female geese during the breeding period.Methods: The 339 six-month-old breeding geese (109 male; 230 female) were used in this study, in which five male and five female geese were slaughtered on a monthly basis to record the ASI.Results: The short diameter of the testes of the male goose when the female goose lays eggs and in the second, third, and fourth months was significantly wider than in the fifth months (19.0, 20.8, 21.4, and 19.6 vs 12.7 and 14.0 mm/bird; p = 0.0105). On the other hand, the testicular weight of the male goose in the second and third months after the female goose lays eggs was significantly higher than that in the second and fifth months after laying (0.33% and 0.37% vs 0.11% and 0.19%; p = 0.0212). During the exploring period, the length and weight of the fallopian tube, the weight of the ovary, the number of follicles in 2 to 3 cm, the number of follicles in 3 to 4 cm, the fallopian tube weight in the carcass weight percentage, and the ovary weight in the carcass weight percentage all demonstrated a significant curve response. Further, female ASI was positively correlated with reproductive tract length (r = 0.815; p<0.05) and egg production per female (r = 0.790; p<0.05).Conclusion: The ASI classification method is more objective and easy to distinguish. This scoring method has a high correlation with the number of eggs laid by each goose and the length of the reproductive tract, inferring that the goose observation could take advantage of ASI during egg-laying and can predict the reproductive system development during the laying period and determine when the breeding goose begins to lay eggs.

The cryopreservation of boar sperm effectively extends its storage period but often leads to increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, compromising sperm quality. Plant extracts, rich in bioactive compounds such as polyphenols and flavonoids, have been shown to reduce ROS. Djulis (Chenopodium formosanum), also known as the “ruby of cereals”, is nutritionally rich and holds potential as a cryoprotective additive. This study aimed to determine the optimal concentration of extracts from different parts of djulis, including unhulled seeds and stems, for effective boar semen cryopreservation. Fresh semen from Taiwan indigenous boars was diluted with a modified GLT-cryoprotectant extender containing glycerol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and trehalose. The experimental groups included DSS25, DSS50, DS25, and DS50—representing djulis unshelled seed at 25 mg/mL and 50 mg/mL, and djulis stem at 25 mg/mL and 50 mg/mL in distilled water, respectively—alongside a control group without additives. Post-thaw assessments included sperm motility, kinetic parameters, viability, acrosome integrity, and the antioxidant properties of djulis extracts, such as DPPH radical scavenging activity and total phenolic acid content. Results showed that total motility (TM) was significantly higher in the DSS25 (48.8 ± 3.9), DSS50 (49.0 ± 6.7), and DS50 (49.0 ± 2.4) groups compared to the control group (31.3 ± 4.8). Similarly, progressive motility (PM) was significantly improved in DSS25 (27.5 ± 2.7) and DSS50 (26.8 ± 4.1) versus the control (12.8 ± 3.2). However, for straightness (STR), the control group (87.8 ± 1.3) exhibited significantly higher values than the DS50 group (83.5 ± 1.3) (p < 0.05). Viability and acrosome integrity showed no significant differences across groups. In conclusion, djulis extracts positively influence sperm motility and forward movement, with 1% djulis extract confirmed to enhance the quality of cryopreserved semen. Future research will focus on determining the optimal dosage of djulis extract for improved cryopreservation outcomes.

Objective: The purpose of the study was to investigate the liability heritability of incidence of angel wing (LHIAW) on growth and egg production performance.Methods: A total of 1,696 geese including 990 offspring from the heavy body weight line (selecting for 6 generations) and 775 offspring from the high egg production line (selecting for 3 generations), and 69 birds of their parent group of the two lines were observed of incidence of angel wing (IAW).Results: In the heavy body weight line of the White Roman geese, the IAW was 54.6%. Among 294 progenies from families, the IAW was 65.6%. The estimated LHIAW for this line was 0.39. In the high egg production line of the White Roman geese, the IAW was 42.3%. Among 124 progenies from families, the IAW was 43.5%. The estimated LHIAW for this line was 0.03. The both-side angel wing type of geese was significantly heavier on body weight than those of normal wing type and right angel wing type at 8 weeks old (4.19 vs 4.07 and 4.07 kg/bird; p = 0.0116) in the heavy body weight line. The normal wing type of geese was significantly heavier on body weight than those of left angel wing type at 14 weeks old (4.86 vs 4.69 kg/bird; p = 0.0213) in the high egg production line.Conclusion: The LHIAW in the heavy body weight line and the high egg production line were separately estimated as 0.39 and 0.03, respectively. The results imply that selection for heavy body weight may concomitantly select the gene of angel wings.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the effects of time and light variation on the growth and reproductive performances of breeder geese.Methods: A total of 32 ganders and 96 dames in their first laying season, with an average age of 10 months, were assigned to eight rooms, each containing four ganders and twelve dams. A split-plot design was used, incorporating two prelay photoperiod treatments: a 7-hour light period (P7H), and a gradually decreasing light (GDL) group. Two variable photoperiod schedules were applied as sub-treatments and randomized across the rooms. In one treatment, the egg production rate in breeder geese decreased to an average below 30%, after which the photoperiod increased by 15 minutes each week (change time). A fixed photoperiod of nine hours was maintained (fixed time) until the end of the egg-laying period.Results: Geese in the GDL light group had a longer laying duration than P7H light group (243.75 vs 191.75 days; p<0.01). Number of eggs per goose in the GDL light group showed a trend toward higher values than P7H light group (81.82 vs 55.45 egg/bird; p = 0.0779). However, the fertility and hatchability in GDL light group were significantly lower than the P7H light group at all periods, respectively (48.35 vs. 62.57% and 42.80 vs. 53.17%; p<0.05). Income over feed cost for the GDL and P7H light groups was 3,069.6 and 2,535.5 NT$/bird, respectively.Conclusion: Geese exposed to a 12-hour light (12L:12D) regimen during the pre-laying period exhibited a longer laying duration and higher egg production per bird. However, maintaining a fixed lighting schedule of 9 hours of light and 15 hours of darkness (9L:15D) after the peak laying period is recommended to optimize production profitability by supporting better fertility and hatchability.