1. This study aimed to investigate effects of dietary fibre and grit on growth performance, gastrointestinal tract development, and gizzard grit retention of geese.

2. The trial had a 3 × 2 factorial design consisting of three levels of dietary crude fibre (CF, 4%, 7% and 10%, adjusted by grass powder), with or without grit addition (1–4 mm river sand).

3. In total, 648, 22-d-old male goslings were randomly allotted to six treatments (six pens/treatment). At 49 d and 70 d of age, one goose per pen was euthanised to collect samples.

4. The birds fed 10% CF had decreased feed conversion ratio (FCR) during 22–49 d, but this effect was less in older geese. Increasing dietary CF levels increased relative weights of gizzards for geese aged 49 d and 70 d. Grit addition decreased the relative weights of gizzard and duodenum of geese aged 49 d. The gizzard of geese could selectively retain grit from feed even with no grit added. With adequate supply, most grit in gizzard was 0.45–3 mm in size.

5. In conclusion, supplement of CF and grit mainly affected gastrointestinal tract, and the amount of CF affected FCR. Geese aged 22–49 d could utilise dietary CF levels of 4%-7% and older birds could feed on diets with up to 10% CF. The gizzard of goose selectively retained grit of a particle size of 0.45–3 mm.

1. 本研究旨在研究膳食纤维和粗砂对鹅的生长性能、胃肠道发育和砂砾保留的影响。

2. 试验采用 3 × 2 因子设计，包括三个水平的膳食粗纤维（CF、4%、7% 和 10%，由草粉调整），添加或不添加粗砂（1-4 毫米河沙） .

3. 总共有 648 头 22 岁的雄性小鹅被随机分配到六个处理（六个栏/处理）。在 49 日龄和 70 日龄时，每栏一只鹅被安乐死以收集样本。

4. 饲喂 10% CF 的鸡群在 22-49 天期间饲料转化率 (FCR) 降低，但这种影响在老年鹅中较小。增加日粮 CF 水平会增加 49 日龄和 70 日龄鹅的砂囊相对重量。沙粒添加降低了49 d鹅的砂囊和十二指肠的相对重量。即使没有添加沙砾，鹅的胃也可以选择性地保留饲料中的沙砾。在供应充足的情况下，砂囊中的大多数砂粒大小为 0.45-3 毫米。

5.综上所述，CF和粗砂的补充主要影响胃肠道，CF的量影响FCR。22-49 日龄的鹅可以利用 4%-7% 的日粮 CF 水平，年长的鸟类可以以高达 10% CF 的日粮为食。鹅的砂囊选择性地保留粒径为 0.45-3 毫米的砂砾。