Requirement of Non-Phytate Phosphorus in 1- to 28-Day-Old Geese Based on Growth Performance, Serum Variables, and Bone Characteristics

Abstract

The standard of dietary non-phytate phosphorus (NPP) requirement is important for geese production. However, limited reports remain an obstacle to the NPP requirement of geese. We aimed to evaluate the NPP requirement in geese based on the effects of NPP levels on growth performance, serum variables, and bone characteristics in 1–28-day-old geese. One-day-old male Jiangnan White Geese (n = 360) were randomly divided into five groups. Five corn-soybean diets were used in these groups, with NPP levels at 0.18%, 0.28%, 0.39%, 0.47%, 0.59% in the feed, respectively. The average body weight, serum phosphorus (P) content, tibia strength, tibia P content, and femoral skim weight were significantly reduced, by 0.18%, compared with 0.28–0.59%. These variables had significant linear fit (p < 0.001) between the levels of 0.18% and 0.58%. The estimated requirement of NPP for goslings is between 0.28% and 0.35%, based on the broken-line model, using the above indicators. In conclusion, the dietary NPP requirement for 1–28-day-old geese should be no less than 0.35% to ensure normal growth performance and bone development, based on body weight gain, serum P content, and skeletal variables.