What are the common diseases of geese? Goose farmers should know them in advance

1 Infectious diseases

1.1 Gosling plague

It is an acute septicemic infectious disease of goslings. Affected geese are depressed, have complete loss of appetite, severe diarrhea, and sometimes show neurological symptoms. This disease mainly affects goslings aged 4 to 20 days. In the early stage of illness, appetite decreases, the bird is listless, the neck is drawn in, the feathers are fluffy, it stays apart from the flock, and walking is difficult; then appetite is completely lost, severe diarrhea occurs, and thin droppings mixed with bubbles or watery yellow-white or yellow-green feces are passed; nasal secretions increase, the head is shaken, fluid is flung from the corners of the mouth, and the beak and webs become cyanotic.

Prevention is mainly disinfection. Breeding eggs are fumigated and disinfected with formalin. One month before laying, each female goose is injected with 1 mL of gosling plague vaccine diluted 1:10, or immunized with serum according to the instructions; the immunity period is 300 days, with immunization once a year. Two weeks after injection, goslings hatched from eggs laid by the immunized female geese have immunity.

1.2 Goose dysentery

It is an infectious disease caused by Salmonella, most commonly occurring in goslings. Sudden climate changes, poor feeding and management, and spoiled feed can all easily trigger this disease. Affected geese often have mucus stuck around the beak, are listless, have ruffled feathers, droop the head and close the eyes, have poor appetite or complete loss of appetite, and gradually become weak; in severe cases, undigested food is often passed, and sometimes the disease starts in the morning and the bird dies in the afternoon.

Prevention mainly consists of not feeding spoiled feed, strengthening feeding and management, paying attention to environmental sanitation, and frequently disinfecting goose houses and equipment. After illness, treatment with oxytetracycline, chloramphenicol, or furazolidone is relatively effective. Garlic can also be washed, mashed, and made into 20% garlic juice by adding 5 parts clean water to 1 part garlic, then given orally, with relatively good results.

1.3 Gosling influenza

This disease is an acute, septicemic infectious disease occurring in large-scale breeding farms. It often attacks goslings older than half a month, so it is called gosling influenza. In the early stage, affected geese continuously have clear nasal discharge, sometimes also tear discharge, rapid breathing, snoring sounds, and even open-mouth breathing; the feathers on the front part of the body are stuck with nasal mucus, and the body feathers are damp; as the disease worsens, affected geese draw in the neck and close the eyes, body temperature rises, appetite gradually decreases, and in the later stage the head and feet tremble, the legs cannot support standing, and diarrhea appears before death. The mortality rate of goslings is generally 50% to 60%, sometimes as high as 90% to 100%. Treatment focuses on prevention, strengthening feeding and management of the goose flock, and ensuring suitable stocking density. Keep the goose house dry and the bedding on the site clean. Goslings within 1 month of age should be protected from cold and kept warm. Affected geese can be treated with chloramphenicol, sulfathiazole sodium, or sulfadiazine.

2 Parasitic diseases

Goose coccidiosis: This disease is a common protozoan disease of poultry. Chickens, ducks, and geese can all be infected, and it is especially harmful to young poultry. During outbreaks, it can cause mass death, and acute cases die within 1 to 2 days after onset. Most affected geese begin shaking their heads, and food is flung from the mouth; they foam at the mouth, the head and neck droop, and standing is unsteady; there is diarrhea, feces contain blood and are reddish brown, the cloaca is loose, and surrounding feathers are contaminated by feces; in long-term cases, appetite decreases and then is completely lost; the bird is listless, the neck is drawn in, and the wings droop downward; feces are thin or contain red mucus, and finally the bird dies of exhaustion. Robenidine at 30 mg/kg mixed into feed and given for 4 to 6 consecutive days can effectively prevent an outbreak of this disease. For treatment, furazolidone at 200 to 400 mg/kg mixed into feed or drinking water and given for 3 to 5 consecutive days can cure it. In addition, amprolium, coccidiostats, and other drugs can also be used for treatment.

3 Common non-infectious diseases of geese

3.1 Goose soft leg disease

It is mainly caused by a lack of calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D in the feed or by long-term feeding of a single feed. This disease mostly occurs in autumn and winter and in humid environments, and goslings are susceptible. Affected geese have weak and soft legs, often lie prone on the ground, grow slowly, have enlarged bone ends of long bones, and osteoporosis of the hock joint. This disease is mainly prevented by reasonably formulating the content and ratio of calcium and phosphorus in the diet, and the amount of vitamin D fed must be sufficient. For treatment, cod liver oil and calcium tablets can be fed. Cod liver oil is fed twice a day, 2 to 4 drops each day; vitamin D, 15000 IU orally per bird, or intramuscular injection of 40000 IU, both have relatively good effects.

3.2 Organophosphate poisoning

Geese can become poisoned after accidentally eating vegetables or pasture treated with organophosphate pesticides or drinking pond water contaminated by pesticides. The symptoms are that affected geese suddenly stop eating, are restless, and have movement incoordination; the pupils are obviously constricted, with tear discharge; they frequently shake their heads and make swallowing movements; muscle tremors; diarrhea; difficulty breathing, body temperature drops; finally they die after convulsions and coma.

Treatment: intravenous injection of pralidoxime at 45 mg per bird, or intramuscular injection of atropine sulfate, with adult geese injected 22 mL per bird each time, then injected again after 20 minutes, and afterward 1 tablet of atropine orally every 0.5 hour for 2 to 3 consecutive doses.