Key Technical Points for the Feeding and Management of Geese at the Middle Goose Stage

Geese from 1 month of age to sexual maturity are called middle geese or growing geese. Middle geese have a large feed intake and strong digestive capacity; this is precisely the period of rapid growth of their bones, muscles, and large feathers. 

1) Grazing: Before grazing, middle geese should undergo wing clipping, cutting off the metacarpal and phalangeal bones on one side or severing the extensor digitorum muscle and the extensor carpi radialis longus muscle; those whose wounds heal after 1 week can then be released onto water and grazed. The grazing area must have a sufficient quantity of green fodder and grain feed; grazing time should be chosen in the morning and evening, and at noon the geese should be driven to rest in the shade of trees beside a pond, and they should be released onto water after each full feeding. Where water-release conditions are poor, grass can be cut for feeding and the geese released onto water separately. 

2) Supplementary feeding: Middle geese kept for breeding should be mainly grazed, with an appropriate increase in concentrated feed and a reduction in roughage, to prompt the geese to reach sexual maturity earlier. Supplementary feed should be mainly bran and chaff, mixed with sweet potato, blighted grain, and a small amount of peanut cake, and with 1%-1.5% bone meal, 2% shell powder, and 0.3%-0.4% salt added. 

3) Fattening: The middle geese remaining after breeding stock has been selected, together with commercial geese, are collectively called fattening goslings; their digestive capacity has become nearly fully developed, and they need short-term fattening to reach the desired degree of fatness and optimal body weight. Either on-rack fattening or pen fattening may be used, mainly achieving rapid growth and fat deposition through full feeding, controlled lighting, maintaining a quiet environment, and restricting the geese's activity. In the fattening feed: corn 70%, soybean cake 15%, leaf meal 10%, wheat bran 4%-5%, salt 0.3%-0.5%. Feed 3 times during the day and 1 time at night, with a density of 3-5 birds per sq m. 

In areas with good grazing conditions, fattening can combine grazing with supplementary feeding. After 15-20 days of fattening, once the goslings reach the market weight standard, they can be sent to market. From 45 days of age until before laying, they are growing geese. 

At 80 days of age, geese can make short-distance flights; to prevent escape, nets should be stretched around and above the exercise area for enclosure rearing; alternatively, wing-clipping surgery can be performed on young goslings, removing the metacarpal and phalangeal bones of one wing, or severing the extensor digitorum muscle, the extensor carpi radialis longus muscle, and the tendon. 

Geese are extremely alert, and when suddenly frightened they often exhibit flock panic behavior. To ensure the normal growth of the flock, the rearing environment must be relatively quiet, preventing intrusion by other animals or predators.