BREED SELECTION - GEESE

Geese differ from ducks in that they have longer necks. In addition, geese shanks have hexagonal scales rather than the clam-shaped scales found in ducks. Geese were used as guards by the Romans because geese are able to tell the regular, everyday sounds and sights from those that are unfamilar.

Geese have been raised in Europe for centuries. When the first settlers came to the 'New world' geese were brought over with them. Geese were kept for both food and feathers. Very little research has been done to improve the genetics fo geese since most of the attention has been focused on chickens and turkeys.

Selecting the right goose breed (University of Kentucky)

Origins and breeds of domestic geese (FAO)

The Goose Breed Selector (from poultrykeeper.com)

*From the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy:*
African American buff Chinese Cotton patch Gray Pilgrim	Pomeranian Roman Sebastopol Shetland Toulouse

From the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy:

American buff

Pilgrim

Sebastopol

Toulouse

*From the Domestic Waterfowl club of Great Britain*
Light goose breeds: Chinese Pilgrim Roman Sebastapol Steinbacher	Large goose breeds: African American Buff Embden Toulouse
Medium goose breeds:
Brecon buff Buff back Grey Back	Pomeranian West of England

From the Domestic Waterfowl club of Great Britain

Light goose breeds:

Chinese

Pilgrim

Roman

Sebastapol

Steinbacher

Large goose breeds:

African

American Buff

Embden

Toulouse

Medium goose breeds:

Brecon buff

Buff back

Grey Back

Pomeranian

West of England

Point of interest for those in Kentucky: the Gray breed of geese should not be confused with Gray Goose the horse: The Gray Goose was a gelding horse ridden by American Kim Walnes. At one point, the pair was ranked third in the world. The Gray Goose died June 7th, 2000, at the age of thirty. He was cremated and his ashes were buried at the Kentucky Horse Park during a ceremony at the Rolex Kentucky Three Day in 2001. Source: "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gray_Goose"