title: Factors Affecting the Incidence of Angel Wing in White Roman Geese: Stocking Density and Genetic Selection.
abstract: The present study investigated stocking density and genetic lines, factors that may alter the severity and incidence of angel wing (AW), in White Roman geese. Geese (n = 384) from two genetically selected lines (normal- winged line, NL, and angel-winged line, AL, respectively) and one commercial line (CL) were raised in four pens. Following common commercial practice, low-stocking-density (LD), medium-stocking-density, and high-stocking-density treatments were respectively administered to 24, 32, and 40 geese per pen at 0 to 3 weeks (1.92 m(2)/pen) and 4 to 6 weeks (13.2 m(2)/pen) of age and to 24, 30, and 36 geese at 7 to 14 weeks (20.0 m(2)/pen) of age. The results revealed that stocking density mainly affected body weight gain in geese younger than 4 weeks, and that geese subjected to LD had a high body weight at 2 weeks of age. However, the effect of stocking density on the severity score of AW (SSAW) and incidence of AW (IAW) did not differ significantly among the treatments. Differences were observed among the genetic stocks; that is, SSAW and IAW were significantly higher in AL than in NL and CL. Genetic selection generally aggravates AW, complicating its elimination. To effectively reduce IAW, stocking density, a suspected causal factor, should be lower than that presently applied commercially.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan.|Changhua Animal Propagation Station, Livestock Research Institute, Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan, Changhua 52149, Taiwan.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan.|Changhua Animal Propagation Station, Livestock Research Institute, Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan, Changhua 52149, Taiwan.
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Changhua Animal Propagation Station, Livestock Research Institute, Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan, Changhua 52149, Taiwan.
authors.forename: T Y
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Livestock Research Institute, Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan, Tainan 71246, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Y S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Y P
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Y K
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Fan
keywords: Angel Wing; Genetics; Stocking Density; White Roman Geese