After chickens, geese occupy second place in poultry farming in terms of importance. And this is not surprising, since these birds have long been valued for their delicious liver and dietary meat.
Goose down is used in the production of bedding and, of course, geese attract the eye with their proud appearance.
For home poultry farming, the main thing is to choose a profitable breed in order to recoup the maintenance costs.
But there are also connoisseurs of “goose” beauty who select birds not only based on productivity indicators, but also on decorative properties.
Let's look at the most common breeds of geese in poultry farming.
Article navigation
Classification
Currently, more than twenty-five breeds are considered the most common, all of them have their own characteristics and advantages.
Classified into three types:
- Heavy - meat type.
- Medium - decorative.
- Light - for breeding for industrial purposes.
Meat animals are bred to produce expensive goose liver and dietary meat. Meat products have a significant mass, and therefore are in demand in poultry farming.
Decorative ones are rare. Only collectors can afford such specimens, since their cost is extremely high.
Industrial ones are intended for breeding in large enterprises. Light breeds have high offspring survival rate and good egg production.
Do not forget that geese give tasty and heavy eggs. This product is valued in the restaurant business and is considered a delicacy.
Some poultry farmers, in order to increase profitability, select breeds of geese with maximum egg production.
Meat direction
Domestic meat geese must have two of the most important qualities: large size and early maturity.
More than 80 meat varieties are known, weighing up to 7 kg - 9 kg. But not all of them have the quality of early ripening.
Agree, if the bird gains 4 kg - 5 kg of weight by the age of five months, this will become a more profitable investment than keeping heavy breeds weighing 10 kg by the age of two years.
And if early maturing geese also have high egg production, then you don’t have to worry about the profitability of the farm.
However, the choice of breed remains with the poultry farmer. Below you will find descriptions of both fast-growing and slow-growing meat species.
Tula geese
There is an opinion that the Tula breed was bred specifically for goose fighting in the 13th century.
Fighting qualities were improved by selecting the most aggressive and strongest individuals.
Species characteristics of the breed: powerful chest, widely set paws, strong neck. A distinctive feature is a hump nose.
The color is gray with a characteristic clay tint or white without unnecessary impurities.
There are several varieties of beak shape:
- Rogan - with a concave beak and carob-shaped bone formations;
- Steep-nosed - the bend of the beak forms a single line with the head;
- Straight-nosed - beak without a hump.
The main disadvantages are slow growth and low weight. The bird grows up to two years and rarely exceeds 7–8 kg in weight, and the standard weight of geese is 5.5 kg. Egg production is also low - only 25 eggs weighing up to 150 g/1 egg per year.
The advantages include incredible cold resistance and strong immunity. The survival rate of offspring is high - 96%.
Tula laying hens are good hens; they do not leave the nest for long and carry the incubation process to the end.
Birds are valued as a fighting breed. They become as strong as possible by the age of five and must be able to fight with their wings. Bloodshed and biting are not allowed during fights.
They are not demanding, but for breeding they need space: large pastures and ponds in which they swim even in frosty weather.
Kholmogory
The oldest Russian breed, obtained by crossing Arzamas and Chinese geese.
It is considered the most profitable for small farms whose purpose is to provide themselves, sell surplus and small wholesale.
Kholmogory cats come in gray or white color. White geese have a bright red beak, while gray geese have a beak similar to the plumage - dark gray in color.
Birds of a strong constitution, species characteristics - a bump in the frontal part, a special curvature of the beak, folds in the abdomen, a subbeak growth called a purse.
Advantages:
- precocity;
- not demanding of content;
- resistance to;
- developed maternal instinct;
- pasture feeding;
- quality meat.
The disadvantages include low egg production - up to 30 per year, weighing 180 - 200 g / 1 egg. By the age of three months, Kholmogortsy already weigh 4 - 4.5 kg, adult geese gain weight of 10 - 12 kg, geese - about 8 kg.
Note! Keeping Kholmogory geese is impossible without access to a reservoir. Without a reservoir, they lag behind in development and grow more slowly.
Lindovskie
Homeland - Nizhny Novgorod region. Lindovsky geese were officially recognized in 1994, and today they are recognized as the best in world poultry farming.
The popularity is explained by the following advantages:
- early maturity - young animals gain weight almost twice as fast compared to similar meat breeds;
- high egg laying - 70 eggs over the entire period, about 50 per year, 140 - 170 g/1 egg;
- high viability – 70% – 80%;
- strong immunity of individuals;
- high fertilization – 90%;
- good adaptability - easily tolerates both heat and frost;
- peaceful character;
- high-quality meat with dietary properties.
Unfortunately, there are also disadvantages, the main of which is the tendency of chickens to develop hymenolepitosis and vitamin deficiency.
Lindovsky geese are white in color, have a massive build, and have a characteristic bump on the head. By the age of three months, and sometimes much earlier, the young animals have already gained 4 kg of weight. At the age of five months, their weight reaches 7 kg, and by one year it increases to 11 kg.
Toulouse
The Toulouse breed is recognized as the most productive. It is she who owns the largest individuals, and the liver is recognized as a delicacy.
Bred by French breeders by crossing the most productive breeds.
As a result, Toulouse has no competition in terms of performance.
The color of the head is gray, the plumage of the chest and neck is light gray, the feathers on the wings are edged with black, the belly area is covered with white feathers.
The beak is straight and orange in color. The bird is squat, with a strong body located on strong legs. The breed is slow and passive.
There are two types:
- Purse-like appearance - with characteristic folds at the base of the head, characterized by low activity.
- The purseless look – without the characteristic folds at the head, a more fertile and active look.
They are bred in industrial conditions, where an adult can weigh up to 11 kg. At home, the weight does not exceed 10 kg, for a goose it is 7.5 - 8 kg.
Toulouse quickly increases fat and produces up to 500 g of delicacy liver per individual.
They do not have high egg production. Over the entire period they give no more than 40 eggs, per year - up to 30 eggs weighing 150 - 200 g/1 egg. Hatching results rarely exceed 60%, so offspring are obtained by incubating eggs.
Danish Legart
Early maturing breed. At two months of age, young animals weigh 6 kg, despite the fact that feed consumption is 20% less compared to similar heavyweights. Advantages: good immunity, high survival rate, adaptability to weather factors.
In addition to meat, Danish Legarts provide up to 0.5 kg of high-quality fluff, which is used in light industry.
They are calm, do not have fighting qualities, get used to people well, and are willing to make contact.
Species characteristics include a fat fold in the abdominal area, yellow paws and a beak of a similar color, blue eyes, and snow-white plumage without impurities.
Legart geese are lightweight - only 5 kg - 7 kg, ganders are larger - 8 kg.
Note! The Danish Legart is extremely handsome and has a stately gait. They are often purchased for their decorative properties.
The disadvantage is considered to be low egg productivity - up to 40 eggs per year. Poultry farmers will not be pleased with the low hatchability of the offspring (55% - 65%), moreover, the Legart chicks are weak and require special care, vaccination, and vitamin supplements. However, young animals grow quickly, and adults have excellent immunity
We've talked about the most common meat breeds, but if you haven't found an option for your own backyard, check out the following types of meat geese:
Egg-laying breeds of geese
The Gorky, Lindovskaya, and Large Gray breeds have good egg production, but geese are the leaders in the number of eggs laid:
- Kuban.
- Italian.
- Chinese.
Individuals of these breeds do not have large dimensions, but high egg production and excellent meat quality compensate for this disadvantage.
Note! Italian and Kuban are light breeds; they are used in industrial poultry farming due to their low weight, high egg production, and good hatchability.
Kuban
Homeland - Kuban, most common in the Krasnodar Territory and surrounding regions. The individuals are not large, with a massive head.
The plumage is gray with a brown tint. A characteristic brown stripe runs from the beak to the body. In the frontal part above the beak there is a species cone.
The weight of adult geese rarely exceeds 5.5 kg, females are approximately 1 kg less.
Three-month-old birds reach 3.5 – 3.7 kg. The breed is early maturing. Egg production – 85 – 95 eggs in 2 cycles.
Italian
Homeland - Italy, brought to the territory of the post-Soviet space from the Czechoslovak Republic in 1975.
Compact build, thick neck, broad chest. The legs are orange, the beak is of a similar color, and the plumage is white.
Grown for liver harvesting. With an adult goose carcass weighing 7 kg, the liver weight is 400–500 g.
Geese weigh no more than 6 kg. By the age of two months, young animals gain up to 4.0 kg of weight. Egg production rates are high - 80 - 90 eggs in two years.
Chinese
Asian in origin, the breed underlies many modern hybrids. It became widespread in European countries in the 18th century.
Externally, they are attractive birds, the motley plumage of which comes in two colors: brown and gray.
The contrast between the light belly and the dark plumage of the upper part looks impressive. They have miniature builds.
The gander weighs about 5 kg, the female weighs 4.5. The “Chinese” produce about 75 large eggs per year.
Decorative breeds
Decorative geese are rare, and it is almost impossible to find colorful creatures in households. The most famous decorative ones are:
- Egyptian (Nile) geese;
- Curly breed geese.
Egyptian
Egyptian geese are called Nile geese, as well as “Indogose”. It is interesting that the closest relatives of Indogeese are ducks, but in appearance they are more reminiscent of compact geese.
The Nile breed is considered wild, but has tender meat that is not inferior in taste to domestic breeds. Inldoguses float and dive well, run and fly quickly. They are hunted in their homeland.
In Europe, only connoisseurs breed them. Birds need space and conditions that mimic their natural habitat. In small areas they can attack neighboring bird species. They lay eggs all year round; the female settles on the clutch after laying the last egg, so the chicks hatch at the same time.
The color is soft brown, the head is light, the eyes have a variegated border, which makes one think of Egyptian pharaohs. Adults reach a weight of 10 kg. Not recommended for breeding by inexperienced poultry farmers.
curly
Decorative bird with lush, curly plumage. Rarely found in Russia.
The breed is considered unique; it is almost impossible to buy young animals.
The birds are compact, weighing no more than 5 kg.
The second name is Ribbon Geese, obtained because of the long, wide tail feathers.
Raising geese is a profitable business: this bird does not require much feed, its meat is tasty, and it is also early-ripening. However, when choosing a breed of geese for breeding at home, inexperienced owners ask themselves the most important question: which breed of geese is the best?
In the understanding of most, the “best” are the largest breeds of geese, the heaviest and the meatiest. These are Lindovsky geese, Kholmogory geese, Large gray and other breeds. But it’s not for nothing that there are light and heavy breeds of geese. It turns out that someone takes by “quality”, and someone by quantity. Therefore, the concept of “the best breeds of geese” is rather arbitrary.
We bring to your attention description of goose breeds with photos, which will help you decide on the choice of poultry.
Lindovsky geese (Linda's geese)
Today the best breed of geese in the world is considered Lindovsky geese. They are grown in Germany, France, Hungary, and in Russia geese Linda make up 50% of the country's livestock. These are early maturing heavy geese, with a large long body, which were bred in the Nizhny Novgorod region under the name Gorky geese through complex and lengthy crossing of the Adler, Solnechnogorsk, Arzamas, Landsk, Chinese and other breeds of geese. Linda geese were officially approved in 1994.
Geese Linda: main indicators and features
The average weight of adult individuals is up to 8 kg (record holders - up to 12 kg). At 9-14 weeks of age Lindovsky goslings weigh about 4 kg, while the young continue to grow after three months of age, after molting, which is very valuable due to the availability of a large amount of food in August-November.
-Lindovskaya breed geese are good hens. They begin laying eggs at 5-6 months. During the laying period, about 50 eggs weighing 140-170 g are laid. The eggs have excellent characteristics: fertility - 90%, percentage of viable young during incubation - 75-80, livestock survival - up to 90%.
The Lindovsky breed of geese is unpretentious in feed - it eats green grass with pleasure, and young animals can be freely grazed on reservoirs from the age of 1.5 months. When kept without walking, goslings are given compound feed intended for broiler chickens, since it maximally covers the needs goslings Linda in minerals.
Distinctive feature Lindovsky goose breed th - bump on the forehead (appears at the age of 7 months) and white plumage. By the way, the down and feathers of these waterfowl are also valuable.
Kholmogory geese (Kholmogory geese)
Another meat breed of geese, widespread in our area, is Kholmogory breed of geese. This is a very old and very large breed, the parents of which are Arzamas and Chinese geese.
Geese Kholmogory: main indicators and features
Males geese of the Kholmogory breed weigh up to 8-10 kg (there are specimens weighing 12 kg), females before oviposition - 7-9 kg.
-geese Kholmogory very expressive thanks to the massive bump on the beak, noticeable already at 5-6 months and reaching its maximum size by the fifth year of life. Moreover, the beak itself can be either long (First line of the Kholmogory breed), or medium and short (Second line). Both ganders and geese have a “chin” growing under the lower jaw, which makes it seem that Kholmogory geese have a short neck. Between the legs the bird has one, two or three folds of skin, and the body is massive, wide, with long wings, a thick neck and a deep, well-developed chest.
- geese Kholmogory can have either white or gray or gray-piebald color.
Females do not shine with egg production: up to 30 eggs per laying (usually around 10-15). Sexual maturity in these birds occurs only in the 3rd year of life. The mothers from Kholmogorki are good, but the hens are not very good, the geese are too large.
They are not whimsical in nutrition, do not differ from other breeds - they grow on grass, and on wheat, mixed feed and other feeds
A distinctive feature of Kholmogory geese is their kind, calm disposition. These are family geese, not prone to aggression and noise, tied to their yard
Geese of the Kholmogory breed are real long-livers. If the life expectancy of other breeds does not exceed 5-6 years, Kholmogory live 15-17 years, and even at this age they successfully lay eggs and hatch offspring.
Large gray geese (Large gray goose breed)
This is a medium-heavy breed of geese, which was bred in the 50s of the last century. Under Large gray geese imply two types: Ukrainian - Borkovsky, and Russian - Stepnoy Tambovsky. The latter type was bred for climatic zones with a small number of bodies of water and unlimited pastures. The “parents” of large gray geese are the Romensky and Toulouse geese.
Geese of the Large Gray breed: main indicators and features
The weight of males is 6-7 kg, females - 6-6.5 kg (maximum - 9-9.5 kg when fed with concentrates). Weight Large gray goslings at the age of 9 weeks it reaches 4-4.5 kg.
These geese have a small head, sometimes with a tuft, a thick neck of medium length, a wide body with a deep chest, two fat folds on the belly and powerful wings. The plumage is always gray, of different shades in different areas: the belly is white, the chest is light gray, the upper back, neck and head are dark gray, and there is always a scaly pattern on the back - a sure sign breeds of geese Large gray.
During the laying period, a female Large Gray Geese manages to lay about 40 eggs with an average weight of 175 grams. Hatching of goslings is around 60%. Geese are quite good at incubating and raising offspring.
Distinctive features Large gray geese– they are mobile, love to walk for a long time, are hardy, and can do without bodies of water.
Toulouse geese (geese of the Toulouse breed)
One of the oldest breeds of geese, it was bred in France, near Toulouse, through domestication and targeted selection of wild Gray geese. Toulouse geese still remain one of the most popular breeds in America, despite some difficulties in their maintenance.
Toulouse geese: main indicators and features
The live weight of adult males reaches 8-10 kg, females - 6-8 kg, and at the age of 8 weeks, young animals weigh up to 4 kg.
During the laying period, females lay 25-35 eggs weighing 170-190 g. But the hatchability of goslings is low - 50-60%. Moreover, females Toulouse breed They are bad brood hens, so the eggs have to be placed under other poultry.
-Toulouse breed of geese– large, with a wide massive body, a thick neck of medium length and dark gray (sometimes fawn) plumage. The presence of fat folds on the abdomen or a purse under the jaw is not a necessary condition, since several varieties of this meat breed of geese have been bred.
- Toulouse geese are poorly suited for pasture keeping - they are loose, inactive, although Toulouse geese without a purse can also be adapted for pasture. As a rule, they are kept well fed, taking advantage of the ability of these birds to quickly accumulate fat (the liver reaches a mass of 500 grams).
The Toulouse breed of geese does not like high humidity and cold weather - in such conditions their productive qualities are significantly reduced. In the conditions of the middle zone, to keep Toulouse geese you will have to equip a warm poultry house and provide them with nutritious feed.
Italian geese (Italian white geese)
Another old breed of geese, which is famous for its incredibly tasty meat and fatty liver (the standard foie gras is made from the liver of Italian white geese). Despite the fact that Italian geese were bred in a warm country, they managed to perfectly adapt to our harsh climate. It is impossible not to note how beautiful this meat breed of geese is - almost a swan in the homestead.
Italian geese: main indicators and features
Adult males weigh 6-7 kg, females - no more than 6 kg, young animals gain weight 4 kg by 2 months.
-Italian white geese stand out for their snow-white color, short strong beak, small thick neck, relatively small, neat body
- Italian breed geese have good reproductive qualities - females during the laying period produce 40-50 eggs weighing 160-170 g and with a hatchability of young animals of 70%. A bird that has reached 240 days is considered sexually mature.
Italian geese can be kept without a pond (this does not prevent them from mating). They have an independent character and never mix in herds with geese of other breeds.
Tula fighting geese (geese of the Tula fighting geese breed)
A well-recognized, ancient Russian breed of geese, bred specifically for goose fighting. Tula fighting geese pugnacious, agile, hardy, and are still bred for fighting to this day. The production characteristics of the Tula Fighting geese are not very high.
Tula geese: main indicators and features:
The weight of adult males is 5-6 kg, females - 5-5.5 kg, young animals at 2 months of age gain weight 3.9 kg
Geese of the Tula Fighting geese breed are quite good hens; they produce about 25 eggs per egg laying.
U Tula breed of geese a wide back, a deep chest, large muscular wings, a short thick neck, the head is recognizable by its wide forehead and the specific shape of the beak: either straight (Straight-nosed Tula Goose), or concave (False-nosed Tula Goose), or convex (Steep-nosed Tula Goose). There are birds with a small purse under their beak. The color of Tula geese is clay, gray, brown-gray.
- Tula fighting geese able to withstand severe frosts, very viable and hardy. The best conditions for growing them are pastures and water meadows.
Geese Legart (breed of Danish Legart geese)
This breed was bred in Denmark and is very similar in appearance to Italian or Emden geese. However, the difference geese of the Danish Legart breed consists of a very meek, calm, friendly disposition and incredible precocity.
Geese of the Danish Legart breed: main indicators and features:
The weight of adult males is 7-8 kg, geese - 5-7 kg, and young geese of the Danish Legart breed at the age of 2 months weigh 5.5-6 kg, at the age of 3 months - a full 7 kg. Sexual maturity occurs at 270 days.
Geese Legart breed unimportant hens, for laying they give 30-40 eggs weighing 190-200 g. The eggs do not have a very high hatchability - up to 65%, but the goslings have a high survival rate and very rapid weight gain, which fully compensates for their relatively low body weight.
Geese of the Danish Legart breed are squat, heavy, with a shallow mincing gait, a deep elongated body, a medium neck and a small fat fold on the stomach. A distinctive feature of Legart geese is blue eyes and bright white plumage (only small goslings have black spots)
-breed of geese Danish Legart unpretentious to living conditions, gains weight well on pasture.
Chinese geese (Chinese gray geese, Chinese white geese)
This is a very old light breed of geese, which today is almost never bred in its pure form, but is valued when crossed with heavy breeds of geese for its fertility, precocity, high quantitative and qualitative indicators of egg production. Even externally Chinese geese noticeably different from their European relatives with a more delicate, swan-like neck.
Chinese breed geese took part in the creation of such popular breeds as the Kuban Gray, Kholmogory, Lindovskaya, Pereyaslavskaya, etc. The excellent reproductive qualities of Chinese geese are manifested when crossed with geese of meat breeds - Rhenish, Vishnites, Italian, Kholmogory, etc.
There are gray Chinese geese (geese of the Chinese gray breed) and White Chinese geese (geese of the Chinese white breed). Their main difference is the color of the feathers, beak, paws and eyes.
Chinese breed geese: main indicators and features
The weight of a male is 5-5.5 kg, a female is up to 4 kg, and a young animal at 2 months of age is 3-3.5 kg. The meat is very tasty and lean
Reproductive qualities Chinese geese very high - 50-70, and sometimes up to 100 eggs during the laying period. Egg weight is about 120 g, hatchability of goslings from eggs is 75-80%, safety of young animals is 99%.
Chinese breed geese are distinguished by a long neck, a large bump on the forehead, sometimes there is a small purse under the beak, an egg-shaped body, slightly raised, and a wide chest. White Chinese geese have pure white plumage, orange feet, beak and cone; Gray Chinese geese have a gray-brown color, the upper chest and front of the neck are dirty white, the chest is pale brown, the lower part and belly are white, and a dark brown “strap” runs from the top of the head to the shoulders, the cone and beak are black .
Chinese geese are quite hardy, unpretentious to living conditions and feeding, but they have an angry, uncooperative character, are noisy, active, and love to show off their “trumpet” voice.
Geese of the Kuban breed (Kuban geese)
This breed of geese was bred in the Kuban, and became widespread in Ukraine, the south of the Volga region, and Moldova. The “parents” of Kuban geese are Linda and Chinese geese. Although Kuban geese are not very heavy, they are loved for their good reproductive abilities, high egg yield and, therefore, the ability to quickly have a large flock from one family.
Kuban geese: main indicators and features
The weight of adult males reaches 5-5.5 kg, females - 4.5-5 kg, at two months the young weigh 3.5 kg
-Kuban breed geese- poor hens, but prolific: during the laying period they produce 80-90 eggs weighing about 150 grams, hatchability is 75-80%, the safety of the young is also high - 85%. Sexual maturity of Kuban geese occurs at 240 days.
- Kuban geese They are distinguished by a medium-length body, a large head with a frontal bump, a rounded chest and a rather long neck. The color is gray-brown, with a characteristic dark brown stripe on the neck and head and dark legs. There are also white Kuban geese with light legs and beaks.
Unpretentious to growing conditions, but only for their climatic zone (Krasnodar Territory and neighboring regions)
-Kuban geese breed has a significant drawback - due to the color of the skin and plumage, the carcasses do not look very attractive, and the young animals slowly gain weight. They are distinguished by a quarrelsome, unfriendly character (wheezing, making noise).
Landes breed of geese (Landa geese)
Landes geese were bred in France on the basis of Toulouse geese, they are characterized as medium-heavy, and are raised mainly for their fatty liver, which in adults reaches a weight of 720 g. Most often, it is not the pure Landes breed that is used, but the Landes ganders for crossing with the Hungarian breeds, Rhine, Italian, to get even larger livers for foie gras (up to 800 g).
Lande geese: main indicators and features:
The weight of adult pure adults is up to 8 kg, the weight of crossed geese in the first generation is up to 10 kg, at the age of 2 months young animals weigh 4.5-5 kg
-female Landish geese good hens, they produce up to 30 eggs per egg laying, the hatchability of goslings is low - 45-50%, the safety of young animals is 85%.
- Lanskaya breed of geese characterized by a short wide neck, fatty bags on the abdomen, a beautiful scaly pattern of plumage on the wings, a massive body, a wide head, and a deep, broad chest.
Ganders are brave and carefully guard their flock.
Governor's geese (Governor's breed of geese)
This breed of geese was bred in 2011 by the Makhalov flame plant together with scientists from the State Scientific Institution All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Poultry Science and the KGSKhD named after. Maltsev with a complex crossing of the Italian and Shadrinsk breeds of geese. Governor's geese They are distinguished by the high growth rate of goslings, the possibility of sexual separation already at one day of age, and good preservation of the young.
Governor's geese: main indicators and features
Weight of an adult male – 4-4.5 kg, females – 4 kg
During the egg-laying period, the female Governor breed geese produces 40-50 eggs, the safety of young animals is 95%, of adult livestock is up to 97%. For 1 kg of gain only 2.75 kg of feed is consumed
Governor's geese have a compact body, a small elongated head, a medium neck, a deep chest, and an orange beak and legs. The color of this breed of geese is pure white, and the down, due to its branched structure, provides good thermal insulation qualities. This is a “frost-resistant” breed
Shadrinsky geese (geese of the Shadrinsky breed)
These geese were bred more than three hundred years ago in the Perm province, near the city of Shadrinsk, and like many old breeds of geese, they have a number of disadvantages: rather low productivity, “problems” with the exterior. However, a plus Shadrinsky geese is that they serve as an excellent basis for breeding work - their productive qualities improve quite quickly with targeted work.
Shadrinsky geese: main indicators and features
The weight of adult males is 5.5-6.5 kg, females - 4.5-5 kg, young animals at the age of 5 months - 5 kg.
Females geese of the Shadrinskaya breed during the laying period they produce 25-30 eggs weighing 130-170 g. Geese incubate eggs well
-geese of the Shadrinsk breed They can be piebald, gray or white. These birds have a short body, a short neck, short legs, a small head, a beak and legs that are orange, and a small fat fold on the belly.
Shadrinsky geese are well adapted to the harsh conditions of Siberia and the Urals; pasture keeping suits them best.
Hungarian geese (geese of the Hungarian breed)
These geese were bred in Hungary, and they can be described as “generalists”: they are kept for their meat, their down, and their liver. By crossing with Lande geese, hybrids with excellent fatty liver are obtained.
Hungarian geese: main indicators and features
The weight of adult males is 7 kg, females are 5.5-6 kg, young animals at 2 months are 4.5 kg
- Hungarian geese produce 35-40 eggs per laying, hatchability of goslings is 65-70%, safety of the adult flock is 97%
-Hungarian breed geese have white plumage, a short neck, a compact wide body, a wide and deep chest, massive short legs, an orange beak and paws
The Hungarian goose breed is valued for its downy raw material - from one head you can get up to 110 g of raw material with a high down content.
Hungarian geese gain weight very well on pasture feed.
Geese are fairly unpretentious birds, have endurance and are not demanding in terms of living conditions. Therefore, they are of interest to farmers and households. The main goal is dietary tasty meat. Goose eggs and breeding of young animals for sale are also in demand.
The best breeds of geese for home breeding and personal farming
In order to obtain meat and eggs, preference is given to large breeds of these birds. At the age of 3-4 months, meat breeds can reach 5-7 kg. Geese from heavy species reach a weight of 12-15 kg, for example, Toulouse geese.
Goose liver is also prized as it is a delicacy. Landish, Toulouse and Italian geese are suitable for obtaining it. The average size of their liver reaches 500 grams.
Not all breeds have good hen qualities. In broiler varieties, maternal instinct is suppressed. If the goal is to breed offspring, then it is necessary to choose Adler and Romny geese.
Description of the breed and productivity characteristics, advantages and disadvantages
The bird is divided into groups depending on weight:
- meat-fat (heavy);
- egg-laying (light);
- decorative (medium).
Kholmogory goose
It has a distinctive feature - a cone-shaped growth on the forehead of gray or orange color and a fold under the beak. Against the background of a long, strong back, a wide chest stands out.
In the central zone of Russia, by crossing the Chinese goose with the domestic white goose, an unpretentious bird was obtained that had strong immunity and was suitable for grazing. Regardless of weather conditions, it does not reduce its productivity.
Withstands severe frosts well.
In males, the maximum weight can be 12 kg, and in females - about 8 kg. Young goslings at 9 weeks weigh 4-5 kg. She lays 30 eggs per year with an average weight of 190 g and is a good brood hen. However, due to the large weight, the eggs under it sometimes get crushed.
Large Ukrainian gray
By crossing Romny geese with Toulouse geese, breeders obtained a Ukrainian gray bird that has:
- stocky build with a broad chest;
- double fold on the stomach;
- large head with orange beak;
- neck of medium length.
It is dark-colored from head to tail, and the belly is white. Belongs to the meat and fat group, the rate of weight gain is fast.
Female gray Ukrainian goose weigh about 6.5 kg, and males weigh up to 9.5 kg.
The average egg production can reach 60 eggs per year with an average weight of 170 grams. The hen gene is not lost in Ukrainian geese. They can hatch up to 15 goslings at a time.
These palmates are unpretentious in food and maintenance, unlike their Italian or Toulouse relatives, and are also not demanding on the presence of a reservoir. Suitable for obtaining fatty liver.
Legart Danish
The snow-white birds with blue eyes of the meat-eating group, which came from Denmark, are very friendly and attached to their owner. Legarts are sensitive to temperature and nutrition. Their body is elongated, there is a fat fold on the abdomen. The legs and beak are yellow.
The bird from Denmark is attractive to poultry farmers due to its fluff. At the age of 11-12 months, you can get about 500 g of fluff from one individual. Plucking can be repeated every 6 weeks.
Another advantage of legarts over other breeds is their consumption of 20% less feed than other meat-producing breeds. At 7-8 weeks the chick reaches a weight of 5-6 kg. With this diet, adult males weigh 7.5-8 kg, females - around 6-7 kg.
During the year, the goose lays about 40 eggs and does not have the instinct of a hen.
An incubator is used to produce Danish leghart offspring. Of all the eggs, only 60-65% of the chicks hatch. However, the survival rate of young animals reaches 90%.
The disadvantages of legarts include their nutrition during the growth period of young animals. Their diet must include daily vitamin supplements. Vaccination is also required.
Governor's geese
This young breed was bred in 2011. Shadrinsky and Italian geese were crossed. The result was a bird whose marbled meat is highly valued by chefs.
A goose lays an average of 50 eggs per year.
The body is compact with a wide, slightly protruding chest, the wing fits tightly to the body. There is no frontal bump on the head, and the beak and paws are bright orange. The plumage is snow-white; at a young age there may be gray patches that completely disappear by adulthood.
Governor's geese are not picky about their living conditions; a change of location has almost no effect on their productivity. During pasture walking, rapid weight gain occurs. Young goslings weigh about 4 kg at 2 months. An adult gander can weigh 9 kg, a female – 7-7.5 kg. They belong to the meat and fat group with valuable fluff.
If the housing conditions are met (4 geese per 1 gander), the fertilization rate reaches 90%. Governor females are good brood hens. One nest will be enough for 2-3 geese. The survival rate of chicks is very high - almost 99% with timely vaccination.
Disadvantages include:
- high feed absorption;
- low resistance to diseases.
Chinese geese
Crossing wild swan geese with Indian and local gray geese produced a species with valuable and tasty meat, bearing a hundred eggs per year weighing 150 grams each . Farming for meat production is unprofitable because adult individuals weigh no more than 5 kg.
The white individual has an orange beak, the gray one has a brown beak. There is a knob-like growth on the head, the neck is long and curved, reminiscent of a swan. The body is elongated, with a raised rounded chest and a short tail. Gray individuals have a characteristic white stripe below from the beginning of the neck to the shoulder region.
Chinese birds are unpretentious in maintenance and care. The fertilization of eggs reaches 70-80%, and the survival rate of young animals is 95%.
At the age of 9 weeks, the gosling weighs about 3 kg.
Geese are not endowed with maternal instinct, so the production of offspring is practiced through an incubator. During the oviposition period, females show excessive aggressiveness.
Mamut
They belong to the meat and fat group and were bred in Denmark. They came to Russia and Ukraine recently. Since there is rapid weight gain, Mamut is popular among poultry farmers.
Adult ganders weigh 11-13 kg, and a goose weighs 9-10 kg. The value is also fixed at 15 kg.
Their meat is valued for its high-quality, tasty meat with low fat content.
Despite the heavy weight, The goose lays 50 large eggs per year. Their weight is from 170 to 210 g. Since it is a broiler bird, there is no maternal gene. Obtaining offspring is possible in an incubator. Young animals have strong immunity, so the survival rate is 85%.
Mamuts have a large build and dense white feathers. The neck is long and has a beautiful curve. The head is small with a bright yellow beak without a supra-frontal growth. The bird is unpretentious in keeping: a nest and a pond are the main conditions for successful rearing.
Mamuts are very attractive for breeding, have a lot of advantages except for the hen instinct and requirements for the presence of a reservoir.
Ural whites
Ural cinquefoils with white feathers belong to the middle group, that is, they do not have a pronounced increase in body weight. They are famous for their good survival in unheated rooms. They have a strong body and muscular chest. The neck is short, the head is small with a smooth beak of orange or red color without a knob-like growth.
The male grows up to 7 kg, the female up to 5 kg.
The goose lays about 50 eggs a year and has good hen instinct. Chicks survive in 90%. Their breeding is advisable for fattening to obtain fatty liver. Ural whites adapt well to any climate zone and do not need a pond.
They have one drawback - light weight. But it is compensated by adaptability in conditions close to those in the Urals.
Tula bird
Designed for goose fighting, it is unpretentious in maintenance and has good immunity. Hardy and does not require variety in food.
According to external signs, it corresponds to its fighting qualities. The physique is strong, squat, the chest is wide, the stomach has a double fold. The neck is short, the beak has a hump. The plumage can be either gray or white.
Males weigh on average 5-6 kg, but there are individuals up to 9 kg.
Egg production is weak - about 25 eggs per year. To breed Tula geese, you can do without an incubator, since the hen gene is preserved. Until three weeks of age, goslings are vulnerable to disease and colds.
The Tula bird matures completely by the age of two. Their meat is tasty with an even layer of fat. But they are grown for entertainment. It is very difficult for this breed to get along with other poultry. Chinese and Gorky breeds received poultry for industrial production weighing about 5.5 kg and laying eggs of 85 pieces per year.
The body type of Kuban Grays is egg-shaped with a rounded chest. The head is large on a long neck with a beautiful curve. The beak is dark with a growth at the base. The breed is recognized by a dark gray stripe running from the top of the head to the beginning of the back.
On average, 80% of the chicks hatch from the eggs in the clutch, the survival rate of which is 85%. At 8 weeks the gosling reaches 3 kg. The bird is not susceptible to diseases and tolerates frost well.
Linda
This Nizhny Novgorod breed is famous for its early maturity.
At 9 weeks, a young gander reaches 4 kg, and the weight of an adult male is 8 kg.
They have a friendly character. This snow-white bird has an elongated body. The legs and beak are orange in color with a growth at the base. The meat has a distinct taste and soft texture.
The egg of the Lindov goose weighs 150-170 g. It is laid mainly in the spring in the amount of 55-65 pieces per year. Almost all of them are fertilized.
The incubation skills of this breed of geese are not the best.
It is often found in descriptions on the Internet that females have good brooding abilities, but according to reviews from real farmers who have experience in breeding these geese, it turns out that this is not the case.
The goose does not sit well, often jumps off, is nervous, and sometimes does not live out the full term. Therefore, in order not to waste time, you must either place the egg with other hens or buy an incubator. Although, if the conditions are met, 90% of the goslings survive. Young animals rarely get sick, but need protection from dampness and drafts. Adults can withstand temperatures down to -30 degrees. These birds do not need a pond.
Linda's shortcomings include gluttony. In case of malnutrition, lack of microelements and short daylight hours, offspring with rickets are born. When raised for meat, it is best to slaughter when the weight reaches 5 kg.
Conclusion
It is a profitable business because everything is valued: fluff, meat, eggs, fat, liver. The main thing is to choose a suitable breed and provide it with the necessary conditions of detention.
People have been engaged in goose farming since ancient times, and currently it is the leading branch of modern agriculture. All over the world, geese are raised on private farms and small household plots; they occupy second place in importance after chickens. They are valued for their tasty meat, dietary liver (the leading producer is France), for their fluff, feathers and, of course, for their beauty. Collectors shell out huge sums for rare breeds such as banded geese, their goslings and hatching eggs.
Description of the best breeds of geese: appearance, advantages and disadvantages, productivity, description of eggs
Are you facing a decision about which breed of geese is best to buy? There are currently more than 25 different goose breeds. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages, as well as breeding and care features. In order to correctly prioritize, you need to understand why you are making the purchase?
Currently there are three main breed types:
heavy (meat);
medium (decorative);
lightweight (for industrial goose farming).
We will consider the main advantages and disadvantages of the most common breeds in detail below.
Modern breeds are divided into types:
heavy (meat);
They are bred to produce valuable dietary meat and liver (leading producer France). Toulouse, Kholmogory, Lindovskaya, and Large Gray breeds are considered the heaviest.
medium (decorative);
These are unique, not numerous breeds that are famous for their high aesthetic characteristics. Adults, goslings and hatching eggs are bought by collectors at a “fantastic” price.
light (they are bred for industrial purposes).
We will talk about the advantages and disadvantages of different breeds in this publication.
Lindovsky breed
This heavy breed, popular among goose breeders, is deservedly recognized as a breed in the world, because it has a number of undeniable advantages. The breed was officially approved in 1994; the homeland of these geese is the Nizhny Novgorod region. The breed was developed by domestic breeders by crossing ordinary Russian geese with Chinese ones. As a result, they received a precocious, fleshy appearance, which they called Gorky. In order to make the breed heavier, increase meatiness, and also improve the quality of down and feathers, the geese were crossed with Arzamas and Lande ganders. Representatives of the new species were crossed with each other in order to improve the breed's qualities through individual selection, and this is how the modern outstanding breed appeared. In Russia, 50% of all available geese belong to this breed.
They have a large build, with an average adult live weight of about 8 kg. These geese cannot be heavier than 12 kg. Their plumage is white (after plucking the carcass looks neat and appetizing).
Such geese have an elongated head with an original frontal bump; it appears for the first time in seven-month-old goslings. The body of an adult bird is long and powerful.
The main advantages of the breed are:
precocity;
Goslings quickly gain weight, 2 times faster than other breeds. By the age of 5 months they can weigh about 7 kg, and per year - 11 kg, this is a direct sign that breeding such birds is profitable.
high egg production;
With proper care, a goose in the spring can produce one egg per day.
viability of young animals;
Goslings rarely get sick, they are hardy and not fussy about food, from the second week they can be fed like adults.
dietary meat;
Goose meat is very tasty, with a delicate texture and appetizing aroma.
excellent adaptive capabilities;
The bird is hardy, it quickly adapts and can withstand both cold and heat. Can live in forty-degree frost without losing its breed characteristics. The bird does not like drafts - this is the only requirement it makes for its habitat.
peacefulness;
Geese are absolutely conflict-free, they live peacefully among themselves, and do not conflict with their neighbors in the poultry yard. 100% return on production;
The profitability of bird breeding is very high if you follow all the rules for keeping, feeding and breeding. Geese are not picky about their diet, which means that feed costs are significantly reduced and profits are significantly increased.
The breed has many weaknesses, the main ones:
susceptibility to the disease hymenolepitosis;
The disease affects young animals, whose intestines are not yet adapted to digest river mollusks and algae well. Sick individuals become lethargic, they experience an upset stomach and convulsions. For preventive purposes, the goslings are gradually mixed with algae in small portions, and later with fish.
avitaminosis;
This condition is observed in the spring in many birds of this breed, after they did not have regular walking in winter and the food was not varied. breeding is effective only near a reservoir.
The breed's valuable qualities are lost if the birds are not taken to a reservoir.
The survival rate of goslings is 90%. Goslings have a high growth potential already at two or three months; they weigh 4 kg, and their period of active growth continues at 3 months of age. At this time (August–September) there is very cheap food and a lot of vegetables.
Forty-day-old goslings can safely stay in the pond; their diet consists almost entirely of simple grass, which allows farmers to save on expensive grain feed. Geese are ready to mate at eight months; mother geese are excellent mother hens and geese are caring parents.
They lay about 50 eggs; with good care, healthy, strong birds lay up to 70 eggs during the entire laying period. Eggs are never lighter than 140 g or heavier than 170 g; they have a 90% fertilization rate and a high (70%-80%) hatchability of viable goslings from hatching eggs.
Kholmogory breed
This is the best breed for those who want to breed geese on a private farm for their own needs and for rare small-scale wholesale sales.
Birds of this breed are distinguished by a strong physique, a large body, which is placed horizontally. They have a long powerful neck, a strong straight back and a rounded chest. They are distinguished by the original curvature of their beak and the characteristic bump on their forehead. Geese with white plumage have an orange beak, while birds with gray or piebald plumage have a dark, gray beak.
They have two more distinctive features: a submandibular growth (called a “purse”), as well as an original pair of folds on the abdomen.
The undeniable advantages of the breed include:
rapid weight gain in young animals;
strong immunity (they rarely get sick);
unpretentious to living conditions (they tolerate frost well if the poultry house is organized correctly);
pasture type of feeding (farmers can save on purchasing expensive grain feed);
produce high-quality meat, fat, down and feathers;
high parental coefficient (geese patiently hatch eggs and take care of the babies).
The main weaknesses of the breed are considered to be: low egg production;
brood geese that are too heavy crush the eggs in the nest;
They do not develop well without a reservoir.
The goslings mature quickly; already at nine weeks of age they gain a slaughter weight of 4-4.5 kg. Some males reach 12 kg, and females - 8 kg.
Qualitative breeding parameters largely depend on the cleanliness of the premises, which is determined by the freshness of the litter. In winter it should consist of peat or hay, in summer it should consist of sand and sawdust, which is covered with cut straw. It is important to ensure that the bird is not hungry, otherwise it will peck at sawdust, and this is harmful to its digestion. It is important to regularly replace wet litter with dry litter.
In order for the biomass to grow steadily and the egg production to not be below normal, geese must be fed properly. It is important to give each person about 0.13-0.16 kg of grain and flour; food can consist of whole grains, crushed hay, legumes, and root vegetables. Sauerkraut is given as a supplement, as well as original products that optimize digestion and metabolism.
The egg production of birds is 30 pcs per year, eggs weigh on average no less than 180 g and no more than 200 g. Egg laying can begin in February if the birds are fed properly and are properly cared for.
Toulouse breed
It is deservedly recognized as the most productive breed in the world. These are the largest domestic geese in the world; they are actively bred in all countries. The breed appeared in France in Toulouse, where selection work began, for which the most productive individuals were selected, and as a result they received a breed that has no equal in terms of profitability of production.
Thanks to this breed, Europe's need for goose meat was satisfied for several centuries. These birds have infested the farmsteads of private farms. They are raised for their delicious meat, first-class down and liver, which is recognized as a delicacy.
Such geese have a wide head, a strong, thick and short neck, a massive wide body set horizontally, powerful short legs and a straight orange beak. The bird's feathers are grayish-whitish in color, the head is dark gray, the belly and diaper are white, the neck and chest are light gray, and the tips of the wings are black.
They are squat, stocky and slow birds. Currently they are divided into two main types:
purse string;
These are sedentary, massive geese that may or may not have the original fold of fat on the belly, and they also have the so-called “wallet” - these are saggy folds at the base of the head. They are significantly superior to other breeds in weight, but inferior in reproductive capacity.
walletless;
Such birds do not have a “wallet”; they are lighter and more mobile, and more fertile.
Indicative breed advantages are:
unsurpassed high growth rate;
record high weight;
simple and inexpensive feeding;
first-class down;
the ability to accumulate impressive fat reserves.
The weak points of the breed are considered to be:
effeminacy;
low mobility;
excessive looseness of the constitution;
weakly expressed egg-laying instinct;
poor tolerance to low temperatures and high humidity.
In industrial production, large ganders reach 11.6 kg, a young goose most often weighs about 7 kg. On private household farms, the weight of birds does not exceed 10 kg for ganders and 8 kg for geese.
It is these birds that are raised to obtain dietary liver, which can reach 500 g. Such geese quickly accumulate fat, therefore they are the main suppliers of raw materials for the famous French delicacy pate.
The productivity of birds largely depends on the quality of their care and the adequacy of their nutrition. They are heat-loving, so in the room where they are kept it is important to maintain a temperature of 20 C and avoid drafts. Their bedding should always be clean and fresh; it can be made from sawdust and hay, but it is better to use sphagnum moss. It quickly absorbs moisture, and these geese do not like high humidity.
In order for the return on investment to be high, such geese are fed twice a day; at night they consume significantly more food than during the day. They are regularly taken out to pasture and given mainly succulent feed, as well as corn, wheat, animal feed, worms, grain and special “mash”.
The egg production of such birds is low, it does not exceed 40 eggs per season. They lay no less than 30 eggs per year, while the weight of the eggs varies between 150-200 g. In the morning they give one egg every couple of days. Successful hatching does not exceed 60%; in order to increase this value, eggs are placed in an incubator.
Tula geese
This is an old fighting breed that has existed for several centuries. Precise information about its origin has been lost. It is believed that they were bred in the 17th century by special order of wealthy merchants who eagerly watched waterfowl fights. The breed was created by selecting the most aggressive and successful fighters. These are strong birds with good immunity.
A distinctive feature of the breed is a short beak with a hump; according to its shape, breed birds are divided into three types:
rogan(the upper line of the beak is concave, and conical bone formations similar to horns grow at the base);
straight-nosed(has a smooth beak without a hump, which is not typical for the breed);
steep-nosed(the beak is curved in such a way that it forms one continuous line with the head).
They have all the external signs of a fighting breed: a short, strong and thick neck, a powerful wide chest, a body that can be called knocked down, widely spread paws that are short and strong. The color is predominantly clay-gray or white.
Breed defects in appearance are considered:
orange eyelids and red eyes;
reddish-orange beak;
hunched back;
beak wallet;
a pair of fat folds on the abdomen;
inversion of wings.
an original sporting breed, appreciated by those who like to watch bird fights;
endurance and resistance to diseases;
well-developed muscles;
They are easy to care for; they are unpretentious in terms of food and living conditions;
high taste of meat, which is evenly soaked in fat.
The main breed “disadvantages” include:
low growth rate (the bird matures only by 2 years);
relatively light weight (they are rarely heavier than 8 kilograms, their standard weight is 5-6 kg);
low egg production (within 25 eggs per year);
complex character (they have difficulty getting along with their neighbors in the poultry yard).
Experts evaluate the breed in terms of its fighting qualities. Five-year-old and six-year-old birds are considered the strongest. Birds must be able to fight only with their wings; biting on the head and paws is not allowed. Fights last 20 or 40 minutes, bloodshed is not allowed. The gander fighter is supported by his owner and his beloved geese.
Such geese tolerate frost well, walk in the snow and swim in cold waters. For their breeding, pastures and reservoirs are needed; they are additionally fed with grains: oats, corn, sometimes and wheat. In winter, they are given grated carrots, beets (semi-sugar and fodder), as well as cabbage leaves.
Geese are caring mothers, so you can do without an incubator. They begin laying at the end of February, young females a little later. They lay white eggs weighing about 150 grams; the clutch usually consists of 18 eggs, but no more than 12 are left under the mother, because she can crush the hatched ducklings or eggs.
Three-week-old babies are very vulnerable; they should not be allowed out into the cold and dew.
Danish Legart
This is the most popular heavy breed among prudent and pragmatic business owners. Thoroughbred goslings gain weight very quickly, and already two-month-old young animals weigh about six kilograms.
At the same time, they eat 20% less than their counterparts of other breeds. The diet of the spectacular beauties is mostly grass-based, so farmers have a small cost item on feed. Geese are distinguished by their high growth energy and vitality; they rarely get sick and feel great in any weather conditions.
This is a Danish breed, which is also valued for its high-quality down. Experts say that you can pinch 11-month-old individuals and repeat the procedure every two months. About 500 g of excellent fluff is collected per year.
In addition, such geese have a calm, friendly disposition, they practically do not conflict with anyone, and even children can care for them.
The distinctive characteristics of the breed are:
elongated body of deep structure;
dazzling white color of plumage, without shades or inclusions;
fat fold on the belly;
they are blue-eyed;
the beak and paws are only yellow;
characteristic slow and stately gait;
kindness and complaisance.
These are heavy birds, females reach a weight of 7 kg, and, as a rule, are not lighter than 5 kg. And males often weigh about 8 kg.
It is important to note that these are incredibly beautiful birds that are dazzling with their white plumage (especially after molting).
The undeniable advantages of the breed are:
hassle-free and low-cost maintenance;
excellent hatching of young animals;
first-class down;
high aesthetic characteristics (they will decorate any yard);
ideal for small household plots;
minimal feeding costs (in winter their diet includes only 20% of expensive grain).
Among the weaknesses of the breed are: very low egg production, mother goose can lay no more than 40 eggs per year;
low hatchability of chicks, it is only 60-65%;
weak offspring, goslings require careful and constant care; they must be vaccinated and fed daily with vitamin mixtures.
In order for the offspring to be numerous, healthy and strong, the bird should eat about 2 kg of fresh grass per day, as well as a little cereal or grain as complementary food in the evening. In winter, they are given hay and Jerusalem artichoke; they love this root vegetable very much, and it strengthens the birds’ immunity. In cold weather, they switch to three separate meals and add sugar beets and carrots to the diet. A drinking bowl with clean, fresh water should be available at all times of the year.
117
once already
helped
Poultry farming is not just about raising chickens. A worthy competitor to the restless laying hens are geese, which occupy an honorable second place in popularity. At home, they are most often bred for meat. However, even the heaviest breeds of geese also lay eggs and can easily replace chickens on the farm. True, only for a while - they usually start rushing when it gets warmer and stop when it gets cold.
General information
The domestic goose is a direct relative of its wild counterparts. Actually, it comes from the Grays and Sukhonos, tamed several thousand years ago.
Modern domestic geese have large body sizes, a faster maturation rate, and are predominantly white in color, while wild varieties are much smaller and typically grayish-brown in color.
Goslings of some breeds already gain up to 4 kg of live weight at the age of two months. At the same time, feed conversion allows us to talk about the high economic benefits of keeping geese: in the warm season, the basis of the diet is roughage and succulent feed. When grown at home, many farms even transfer them to pasture keeping.
Breeds of domestic geese
All breeds of geese rightfully belong to the meat category. This is due to the fact that the average egg production is no more than 90 eggs per year, and that is at best. Typically this figure is in the range of 40–60 pcs.
Already within the meat direction there are light and heavy. In this case, the lungs include the following:
- Romenskikh;
- Chinese;
- local birds of “folk” selection.
The largest and therefore heaviest:
- Kholmogory;
- Toulouse.
Sometimes the classification also includes medium-heavy breeds of domestic geese. These include:
- Adler;
- Arzamas;
- Rhine.
Let's take a closer look at some of the breeds.
Adlersky
These geese are bred from a local unproductive variety, with significant fat content in meat and a small amount of egg production. They were crossed with other breeds. In particular, with the Large Grays and Solnechnogorsk. As a result, the Adler breed of white domestic geese of a medium-heavy type was obtained, well adapted to the hot climate.
Males weigh up to 7 kg, geese – up to 5.6 kg. At 9 weeks, the goslings are already quite large and gain up to 3.7 kg. They lay no more than 30 eggs and, as a rule, refuse to incubate. The average fertilization is 80%, and hatching is 50%. Safety is high. At least 86% of the offspring survive.
Arzamas
The Arzamas breed of geese has deep roots. Despite the large weight of the carcass and presentation, they inherit another quality - fighting character. They are often compared to the Gorkyskys. The birds are usually white in color, but clay and gray ones are sometimes found.
The gander gains about 7 kg, the goose - up to 6 kg. It is distinguished by a developed brooding instinct. At the same time, eggs on average are up to 35 pcs. in year. The fertilization is high, reaching 90%. Goslings gain approximately 3.5–3.8 kg at 9 weeks.
Vladimir clayey
The calm and fairly large Vladimir clayey rocks are not widespread. This is due to several reasons:
- The color of geese, as the name implies, is brown-gray. The carcass is not as attractive as that of their white relatives.
- Low fertility and hatchability, not exceeding 58%.
Although, in general, the breed is worthy of attention. The largest males grow up to 8.5 kg, while females grow up to 7.5 kg. Egg productivity reaches 40 pcs. per season. They cope well with the role of hens. At two months, babies show up to 4.2 kg of live weight.
Gorky
The Gorky breed of geese is the result of targeted selection. They were bred from an indigenous variety by crossing with Chinese and Solnechnogorsk.
The bulk of the Gorky geese population has white plumage (gray and piebald ones are also found). Growing at home requires the presence of an incubator. Otherwise, it will not be possible to breed birds - the brooding instinct does not manifest itself in everyone in the population.
Males are large – 7–8 kg. Females are one kilogram smaller and lay up to 50 eggs per season. The fertilization rate is 90%. Conclusion – up to 80%. Safety – up to 95%. Upon reaching 2 months, young animals weigh at least 3.5 kg.
Danish Legart
When listing the meat breeds of geese, it is impossible to ignore the Danish Legarts. These are large birds with snow-white plumage. Males grow on average up to 8 kg, geese - up to 7. Young animals at 60 days - 4 kg.
Geese of the Legard breed, as they are sometimes called, are unpretentious. True, they require greenhouse conditions. Therefore, they are not always recommended among the most popular breeds of geese for home breeding.
Danish Legarts have low egg production - up to 30 pcs. in year. Hatchability and survival rate is within 65%. The breed is used not only as a meat breed; when plucked, you can get approximately 0.5 kg of fluff.
Demidovskys
Demidov geese are actually a collective name. They unite the Lindovsky, Ural and Italian breeds, which are raised and bred on the farm of the same name.
Italian
The Italian breed of geese has good meat and egg productivity characteristics. The gander grows up to 7 kg. The liver is 0.5 kg. Moreover, 4 kg can be obtained from goslings already at 2 months. The geese weigh no more than 6 kg, but lay eggs well - at least 45 per year. Hatchability is 65%. Geese of the Italian breed are early maturing and very profitable for breeding at home. They have a white color.
Lindovskie
Excellent domestic white geese, bred on the basis of the Gorky breed by backcrossing with Chinese. They show the same productivity: male - up to 8 kg, goose - up to 7 kg. Retained egg production. In a season you can get up to 50 pieces. At the same time, they have high rates of fertilization, hatching and safety.
Shadrinsky (Ural)
The history of this narrowly zoned breed goes back several centuries, but they have not become widespread. As a rule, males do not exceed 6 kg, and geese – 5 kg. There are also few egg products - up to 20 pcs. per season. Ural geese show excellent maternal qualities, first incubating and then nursing their offspring.
The breed, accustomed to the Ural weather conditions and climate, shows high growth rates and is unpretentious in maintenance. However, the total yield of meat and egg products indicates mediocre productivity indicators. In addition, Ural Whites do not have the most attractive exterior.
Chinese
The Chinese were among the first to domesticate waterfowl. It is natural that the Chinese breed was used to develop new or improve numerous local varieties.
Meat characteristics are low: a male weighs up to 5.5 kg, a female - 4.5 kg, two-month-old young animals - up to 3.5 kg. However, the breed is very egg-laying. You can get up to 80 pieces per year. Chinese geese are unpretentious and grow well. To breed at home, you need an incubator - the offspring are not incubated.
Large gray
The name of the breed reflects two characteristic features at once - this is a large breed of birds with gray plumage. On average they are larger than Ural gray geese. The weight of males is 9.5 kg, the geese are almost not far behind and gain up to 9 kg. At 2 months, young animals are characterized by weight gain of 4.5 kg.
Large grays have good egg production - up to 45 pcs. per season. The conclusion is small - about 68%. Used to create broiler breeds. Bred on the basis of the famous Toulouse geese by crossing with Romensky geese, adapted to the climatic conditions of temperate Russia, as well as Ukraine.
Kuban
Despite the fact that all geese are firmly classified as meat geese, among them there are real record holders for egg production, for example, the Kuban ones.
The breed was bred using genetic material from Gorky and Chinese geese. The plumage is gray-brown. The average weight of a gander does not exceed 6 kg. Females - 5.5 kg. The young are moderately mature: at 2 months – 3.7 kg. An ordinary hen lays up to 85 eggs per year, while the record holder lays up to 140 eggs. Productivity decreases with age, by 9-10% every year.
Landskie
The basis for breeding the Landskikh was the Toulouse breed. In addition to high meat productivity (geese weigh on average 8 kg, geese - 7 kg, goslings at 2.5 months - 5 kg), the birds are notable for their large specific gravity of the liver. It occupies about 9% of the total mass, which is on average about 0.72–0.8 kg, and even more with targeted fattening. During rearing, the geese are plucked and receive up to 400 g of valuable fluff, slightly less than that of the Danish Legarts. Egg production 30–40 pcs. When the brooding instinct manifests itself, they show themselves to be caring mothers, but this rarely happens.
Widely used for breeding hybrids. Broiler geese based on Landskie demonstrate early maturity and large weight. Not only the body, but also the liver.
Rhineland
Not all of the numerous breeds of geese for home breeding show good results in industrial conditions. Therefore, on the basis of the Endemic ones, the Rhine ones were bred. White geese, which grow quickly, show good characteristics of meat products, and respond well to targeted fattening.
The average live weight of a gander is 6.5 kg, and that of a female is 5.5. Moreover, already at two months of age, the young weigh no less than 3.8 kg. With targeted fattening, livers weighing up to 400 g are increased. Seasonal egg production is up to 50 pcs. The brooding instinct is exhibited by no more than a tenth of the livestock.
Tula fighting
Initially, the Tula breed was formed as a fighting breed: through systematic selection, they tried to breed only the most aggressive individuals. As a rule, they were also the largest, hardiest and most unpretentious. The result was a breed that, according to all canons, fits the description of a meat breed. True, the gray color of the plumage slightly reduces the attractiveness of the carcass.
Ganders grow up to 9 kg, geese are more modest - up to 7 kg. However, already at 2 months the entire livestock weighs about 4 kg. Egg production is low - up to 25 pcs., the variety is exclusively meat. At home, you can breed without an incubator, and leave the raising of offspring to the mother herd.
Toulouse
Large, massive Toulouse geese can confidently be called the pinnacle of creativity of French breeders: excellent meat and an impressively sized liver (approximately 0.5 kg with targeted fattening).
The Toulouse breed of geese is distinguished by its gray or brown-gray color. There is a kind of “pocket” under the beak. The body is massive, with excessive skin that gathers into folds. Ganders grow on average up to 10 kg. The largest of them, with special fattening, often weigh more - up to 15–16 kg. Gooses weigh up to 8 kg. Two-month-old goslings reach 4 kg. Good egg production - about 40 pcs. in season. They are considered one of the largest breeds of geese.
Kholmogory
When large breeds of geese are mentioned, the Kholmogory ones are most often remembered. These birds are deservedly considered one of the most popular, due to their excellent acclimatization, rapid growth at home and unpretentiousness. They have white, gray or grayish piebald plumage.
Despite the low egg production (up to 30 eggs per season), the brooding instinct is not the strongest trait of the Kholmogorskys. It is poorly developed. The breed is classified as heavy. Geese weigh on average about 8 kg. The largest ones reach 12 kg. At two months of age they can gain up to 5 kg. Geese are traditionally smaller, on average up to 7 kg. Egg products are large, up to 200 g.
Emden
One of the oldest German breeds, along with Toulouse from France. Emden geese are distinguished by their snow-white plumage and high productive characteristics.
The largest Emden ganders weigh up to 11 kg, the geese lag behind quite a bit and also show a decent weight - about 9 kg. They rarely sit on eggs, but lay an average of up to 45 eggs. per season. At two months of age, due to the accelerated rate of maturation, the weight of the young is about 4 kg. The meat is considered very tasty.
Dietary meat, large and tasty eggs, valuable down, goose fat known in folk medicine - all this can be obtained by raising geese. Not to mention the exquisite foie gras, fatty liver pate, and specially fed poultry.
