RAISING GEESE Presented by: Esteftah mohamed El-Komey National Research Center, Egypt

1. Introduction but it would only be a fraction of 1%. It is difficult to estimate the percentage of geese in poultry numbers, but it would only be a fraction of 1%. Geese are not prolific egg producers, laying only 30–50 eggs each year according to breed, mostly in spring Geese are, however, the most rapid growing, have the longest commercial life and are the hardiest of all domesticated poultry. Geese are reaching a marketable weight with little supplementary feeding In addition to their value as food, geese produce down and feathers, which are in constant demand for quilts and cushions.

2. Breeds of geese There are 11 “standard” breeds geese which are divided In to three classes : heavy, medium and light. Table 1 shows classes and characteristics of the different breeds.

Average No, eggs per year Standard adultive live weight (pounds) Breed Class 20 – 50 20 - 26 1. Toulouse Heavy 40 – 60 2.Embden 30 – 50 18 - 20 3.Africian 20 – 40 12 - 14 4. Sebastopol Medium 13 - 14 5. Pilgrim 16 - 18 6. American buff 14 - 16 7. Saddleback porneranian 60 – 100 10 - 12 8. Chinese Light 8 - 10 9. Tufted Roman 10 - 20 10. Canada 4 - 6 11. Egyptian

1. Heavy breeds Stander adultive weight(pounds, LB) : 20-26 Toulouse GEESE 1. Toulouse GEESE Stander adultive weight(pounds, LB) : 20-26 Average eggs per year: 20 - 50 Recognizing purpose : ornamental Color : Grey, Buff Fly : No

Stander adultive weight(pounds, LB) : 20-26 2. Embden Stander adultive weight(pounds, LB) : 20-26 2.Embden Average eggs per year: 40 - 60 Recognizing purpose : meat Color : white Fly : No

Stander adultive weight(pounds, LB) : 18 - 20 3. African Stander adultive weight(pounds, LB) : 18 - 20 AFRICAN Average eggs per year: 30 - 50 Recognizing purpose : meat , ornamental Color : Brown Fly : May

Stander adultive weight(pounds, LB) : 13 - 14 2. Medium breeds 4. Sebastopol Stander adultive weight(pounds, LB) : 13 - 14 Medium Average eggs per year: 20 - 40 Recognizing purpose : ornamental Color : white Fly : No

Stander adultive weight(pounds, LB) : 13- 14 5. Pilgrim Stander adultive weight(pounds, LB) : 13- 14 Average eggs per year: 20 - 40 Color : Sex-linked Fly : may

Stander adultive weight(pounds, LB) : 16- 18 6. American buff Stander adultive weight(pounds, LB) : 16- 18 Average eggs per year: 20 - 40 Recognizing purpose : meat , ornamental Color : Grey, Buff Fly : No

Stander adultive weight(pounds, LB) : 14- 16 7. Saddleback pormeranian Stander adultive weight(pounds, LB) : 14- 16 Average eggs per year: 20 - 40 Recognizing purpose : meat , ornamental Color : Buff Fly : No

Stander adultive weight(pounds, LB) : 10- 12 3. Light breeds 8. Chinese Stander adultive weight(pounds, LB) : 10- 12 Average eggs per year: 60 - 100 Recognizing purpose : meat / eggs/ornamental Color : White / Brown Fly : May

Stander adultive weight(pounds, LB) : 8-10 9. Tufted Roman Stander adultive weight(pounds, LB) : 8-10 Average eggs per year:20 - 40 Recognizing purpose : ornamental Color : White Fly : May

Stander adultive weight(pounds, LB) :10 - 12 10. Canada Stander adultive weight(pounds, LB) :10 - 12 Average eggs per year: 10 - 20 Recognizing purpose : meat /ornamental Special distinguishing: loose featherd Color : Common Fly : Yes

Stander adultive weight(pounds, LB) : 4 - 6 11. Egyptian Stander adultive weight(pounds, LB) : 4 - 6 Average eggs per year: 10 - 20 Recognizing purpose : ornamental Color : color Fly : Yes

Mating 1. Natural mating With the heavier breeds, use one gander to three geese With the Chinese breed, use one gander to about five Breeders must be at least 1 year old before mating. Geese can be kept for breeding until they are 10 years of age . but ganders should be culled when they reach 6 years.

2. Artificial insemination (AI) Because the heavy goose breeds will successfully mate with no more than three females the cost of maintaining a flock can when breeders consume a large amount feed. The semen collected from one gander is sufficient for use on 12  females.

Housing Table D1. Stocking guide for intensive housing Number of goslings per square meter of floor space Age 10.0 1–2 weeks 5.0 3–4 weeks 2.5 5–6 weeks 1.0 Adult birds

Yards should be provided with each shed 1 M2/ GOOSE allow each goose 2 m2 of ground space for managment and feeding.

50 cm × 50 cm nest box for every three geese in the flock. water grower : 2 cm Adult birds 3 cm Feeder grower : 6 cm Adult bireds : 12 cm

Incubation Natural incubation produces the best percentage of goslings hatched Eggs should be collected at least twice (preferably four times) daily Eggs for incubation should be stored in a cool room at 15°C The longer the eggs are kept over 7 days, the poorer the hatching results Select only eggs weighing at least 140 g and no more than 200 g The actual period of incubation of goose eggs varies slightly with the breed. Some eggs from the lighter breeds may start pipping after 28 days, , while eggs from the larger breeds may take 35 days. It may take up to 3 days for hatching to be completed

Hatchability of fertile egg about 90% In the incubator maintain a constant temperature of 37.5°C throughout the incubation period and relative humidity at about 60 to 70% In the Hatcher Temperature in the hatching compartment should be kept at 37°C and relative humidity at about 80%. fertility is about 90%. Hatchability of fertile egg about 90%

Table C1. Results of setting eggs at different angles*   Hatchability Eggs set horizontally Eggs set on pointed end Turnover angle 180° 120° 90° 69.2% 69.8% 66.6% 49.0% All eggs set 89.4% 88.9% 86.2% 85.3% 64.0% Fertile eggs Best results are obtained if eggs are turned over completely at least four times daily , that is, through an angle of 180°

BROODING In the first week, set the temperature of the brooder at about 30°C , then reduce it gradually by 3–4°C per week over the next 2–3 weeks Best results are obtained if goslings are brooded in lots of no more than 100.

Breeding sheds need only be simple. A skillion roof. The brooder house Table D1. Stocking guide for intensive housing Number of goslings per square metre of floor space Age 10.0 1–2 weeks 5.0 3–4 weeks 2.5 5–6 weeks 1.0 Adult birds A well-grassed area of 40 m2 is sufficient for 100 goslings during the brooding period Breeding sheds need only be simple. A skillion roof.

Minimum nutritional requirements of geese Table E1. Minimum basic nutritional requirements of geese Breeder Grower Nutrient 16% 20% Protein, starter 15 Protein, finisher 10 500 kJ/kg 11 100 Kj/kg Energy 5% 4% Fibre Fat 3% 1% Calcium 0.25% 0.30% Methionine 0.50% 0.60% Phosphorus 41 300 mg/kg 3100 mg/kg Vitamin A, as retinyl (acetate) 65 mg/kg 300 mg/kg Vitamin D3 10 mg/kg Riboflavin 20 mg/kg 15 mg/kg Calcium pantothenate 55 mg/kg Niacin 40 mg/kg 60 mg/kg Manganese

Table E2. Suggested rations for goslings (a vitamin and mineral premix should be added to these rations) Finisher (%) Starter (%) Ingredients 40.75 34.75 Wheatmeal 30.00 20.00 Sorghum meal 6.00 10.00 Bran 8.00 Pollard – Coconut meal 12.00 18.00 Meatmeal 3.00 5.00 Lucerne meal 2.00 4.00 Milk powder Ground limestone 0.25 Salt 100.00 Total

Feed conversion Feed conversion is calculated by dividing feed consumption by the bird’s live bodyweight marketing at 10 weeks will have a feed conversion of approximately 3:1. Feeding breeders Breeding geese in full lay should be given about 200 g of prepared feed a day