Isolation and functional characterization of goose-derived lactic acid bacteria with growth-promoting and gut health benefits in Sanhua geese.

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) offer multiple probiotic benefits, yet host-specific strains for geese remain understudied. This study evaluated three goose-derived LAB strains, AK-GRW1, AK-GRW2, and AK-GRW3, for their effects on growth and intestinal health in geese. In vitro, AK-GRW1 exhibited the strongest antibacterial activity and acid production capacity, while AK-GRW2 showed the highest gastrointestinal tolerance. Additionally, all three strains remained sensitive to common antibiotics. In vivo, all three strains significantly increased ADG and crude protein digestibility, with AK-GRW1 and AK-GRW3 also significantly reduced F/G. LAB supplementation enhanced intestinal digestive enzyme activities, upregulated amino acid transporter genes, and improved villus morphology and barrier integrity. Microbiota profiling further revealed increased abundance of beneficial anti-inflammatory taxa following LAB supplementation. Collectively, among the three strains tested, AK-GRW1 and AK-GRW2 were identified as the most promising candidate probiotics for geese. These results highlight the potential of host-adapted LAB as effective probiotics for sustainable goose production.