List of goose breeds

This list contains breeds and landraces of domestic geese as well as species with semi-domestic populations. Geese are bred mainly for their meat, which is particularly popular in Germanic languages countries around Christmas. Of lesser commercial importance is goose breeding for eggs, schmaltz, or for the fattened liver (foie gras). A few specialized breeds have been created for the main purpose of weed control (e.g. the Cotton Patch Goose), or as guard animals and (in former times) for goose fights (e.g., the Steinbach Fighting Goose and Tula Fighting Goose).

A greylag-like domestic goose

Goose breeds are usually grouped into three weight classes: Heavy, Medium and Light. Most domestic geese are descended from the greylag goose (Anser anser). The Chinese and African Geese are the domestic breeds of the swan goose (A. cygnoides); they can be recognized by their prominent bill knob.[1]

Some breeds, like the Obroshin Goose and Steinbach Fighting Goose, originated in hybrids between these species (the hybrid males are usually fertile – see Haldane's Rule). In addition, two goose species are kept as domestic animals in some locations, but are not completely domesticated yet and no distinct breeds have been developed.

Breeds[2]
Head of a white Chinese Goose
A flock of Emden Geese
A flock of Twente Landrace geese
Öland Goose in pond. One of about 100 in existence.

Auto-sexing goose
A small flock of Pilgrim Geese - an example of color-sexing goose; males are white, females are gray

The plumage of male and female goose is usually the same. However, there are few auto-sexing goose, which are sexually dimorphic and the gender can be recognized on the first look by plumage. In general, ganders are white and females are either entirely gray, or pied gray and white.[9][10]

Semi-domesticated goose species

Footnotes
  1. APA (2001)
  2. "Goose breeds". Poultry Breeds Encyclopedia. 2011. Retrieved 2013-12-15.
  3. FAO (2002)
  4. ["Animal genetic resources of the USSR". FAO and UNEP. 1989. Retrieved 2012-02-04.
  5. Michel Bovet (October 2011). "Listing of European Poultry Breeds and Colurs". www.entente-ee.com. Entente Européenne d’Aviculture et de Cuniculture (EE). Retrieved 2012-02-02.
  6. Norwegian White Goose
  7. Features are sex-linked: APA (2001)
  8. Smålen Goose
  9. Craig Russell: Auto Sexing Geese
  10. Chris Ashton: Auto Sexing Geese
  11. Derived from small eastern subspecies' stock: APA (2001)

References
  • American Poultry Association, INC. (APA) (2001): The American Standard of Perfection. Mendon, Massachusetts.
  • Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO): FAO ANIMAL PRODUCTION AND HEALTH PAPER - 154: Goose Production, Rome 2002, p. 140-145
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