Abstract: The morphologic structure and distribution of the feather follicles were closely correlated to downy performance in Yan geese. In the current study, preparation of tissue sectioning and microscopy were used to observe and investigate the morphologic structure and distribution of the feather follicles of adult Yan geese. It was shown that both the primary and the secondary feather follicles were developed from the pulp epithelium, and they morphogenesis and distributed at the feather tracts independently. The morphologic structure of the secondary feather follicles was similar to that of the primaries, and the barb ridges of the secondary follicles developed radially and symmetrically around the follicular pulp, but no any rachidial ridge was found. The follicle densities of the primaries and secondaries at the three different tracts of the thoracal, ventral and dorsal sections in the females increased significantly more than those in the males (P＜0.05). The densities of the secondary follicles and the S/P values at the thoracal and ventral tracts increased significantly more than those at the dorsal sections (P＜0.05). The secondary follicle diameters at the thoracal and the ventral tracts in the males were significantly thicker than those in the females (P＜0.05), and the diameters at the ventral tracts were significantly thinner than those at the dorsal tracts in the males and females (P＜0.05). It provided the data for the breeding of downy-type geese and for the evaluation of downy traits in geese.

Key words: feather follicle; Yan goose; morphologic structure; follicle density; follicle diameter