CONTENTS

PART I – GOOSE PRODUCTION SYSTEMS

INTRODUCTION 1

Chapter 1
ORIGINS AND BREEDS OF DOMESTIC GEESE 3

Chapter 2
BEHAVIOUR 11

Chapter 3
DIGESTIVE PHYSIOLOGY 13

Chapter 4
GEESE IDENTIFICATION 15

Chapter 5
MALE AND FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEMS 17

Chapter 6
BREEDER FLOCK MANAGEMENT 23

Chapter 7
ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION 37

Chapter 8
INCUBATION 39

Chapter 9
GEESE FOR MEAT PRODUCTION 45

Chapter 10
FEATHER AND DOWN PRODUCTION 55

Chapter 11
FATTY LIVER OR FOIE GRAS PRODUCTION 59

Chapter 12
GEESE AS WEEDERS 63

Chapter 13
KILLING AND PROCESSING 65

Chapter 14
GOOSE DISEASES 69

BIBLIOGRAPHY 83
 PART II – INVITED PAPERS

Goose production in Chile and South America by M.C. Labatut 93

Goose production in Indonesia and Asia by T. Yuwanta 111

Goose production in Poland and Eastern Europe by R. Rosinski 123

APPENDICES 139

Appendix 1
Breeds of Geese 140

Appendix 2
Abbreviations 146
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors thank all those who so freely provided information and material for this publication.
Without their support and enthusiasm this publication would not have been possible.

NOTE TO READERS
The authors wish to point out that readers will find some repetition in the first part of this publication
and the chapters that deal specifically with goose production in Asia, Eastern Europe and South America.
They will also notice that production methods differ from region to region, sometimes considerably. Conditions
of goose production can change for a variety of reasons but the most common are climatic conditions and local
customs.

Readers are advised to analyse all the possibilities presented here before choosing the solution most
appropriate for their personal situation. Successful goose production depends, above all, on the producer’s
ability to observe and to adapt. As in any enterprise, success does not come automatically - it is necessary to
dedicate time and patience to the task. Only in this way can the recommendations contained in this publication
lead to successful goose production.