Ryegrass improves carcass trait of meat geese effects of dietary ryegrass supplementation on growth performance, carcass traits, and gut microbiota in meat geese

This study investigated the effects of dietary ryegrass supplementation on growth performance, carcass traits, and intestinal microbiota of meat geese. Ninety healthy 21-day-old male Jiangnan white geese were randomly divided into two groups: the test group (commercial diet: ryegrass = 1:1.7) and the control group (commercial diet). Each group consisted of 3 replicates with 15 geese per replicate. Natural light was provided, and free access to food was allowed. The experimental period was 42 days. Results showed that ryegrass supplementation reduced the feed/gain (F/G) (P < 0.05) and increased the partial eviscerated yield, full eviscerated yield, and breast muscle ratio (P < 0.05). Microbial diversity showed significant β-diversity differences, with Sediminibacterium, Ramlibacter, and Negativibacillus as dominant biomarkers in the test group. Notably, in the duodenum, hgcI clade was negatively correlated with final body weight (FBW), average daily gain (ADG), and leg muscle ratio (LR) (P < 0.05). In the ileum, Paucibacillus showed a significant positive correlation with FBW and ADG (P < 0.01), while Lactobacillus was positively correlated with average daily feed intake (P < 0.01). In the cecum, the Prevotellaceae Ga6A1 group was negatively correlated with FBW, ADG (P < 0.01) and LR (P < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary supplementation with ryegrass improves gut microbiota composition and carcass traits while reducing the F/G in meat geese, supporting its use as a beneficial dietary supplement in meat goose production.