Poultry Breeds Encyclopedia > Geese > Slovak White Goose
Slovak White Goose
Breed descriptionGeese have been bred in the territory of Slovakia since the early feudal period. They were a customary tithe paid to both secular and ecclesiastical authorities. At that time, the very widespread breeding was based on natural conditions, in which geese were the most useful domestic animals. Grassy areas around streams, marshes, and abundant bodies of water provided them with food sources for most of the year. Except for the initial rearing period, when it was necessary to protect the geese from predators and harsh weather, they required almost no care.In the interwar period, farmers began selling geese and goose feathers on the market. There were also partial improvements in productivity, including increased body weight, faster growth, and better muscling. Goose liver also became a highly marketable product. The first attempts to breed a regional type of Slovak geese were carried out in the 1940s in Nitra, on episcopal and later state farms, by Mr Július Godál. The foundation of his work consisted of local populations of white and grey-spotted geese from the areas around Nitra and Levice. His breeding goal was to obtain a goose with higher live weight, better egg production, and high-quality feathers. He initially selected the breeding population for uniform body weight and consistent white plumage. He introduced Emden geese into the breeding program, which increased egg production but also caused inconsistency in weight and exterior traits. To stabilize the population, he incorporated local breeds imported from Hungary. While this improved weight uniformity, it also resulted in coarser head features and significantly reduced feather quality. These undesirable traits were eventually corrected by introducing ganders from the Szikilaba population line from the area around Szarvas. The breeding program was disrupted by collectivization in 1948, which led to the destruction of natural conditions. This caused a rapid decline in both the number of geese and interest in breeding them. The improved populations survived the longest in the yards of state farms in Lukáčovce and Andač. Renewed interest in the Slovak White Goose came with the establishment of the Slovak Breeders’ Association (separated from the Czechoslovak Breeders’ Association), which set as its primary goal the preservation and expansion of all Slovak national breeds of small animals. The instinct to sit on eggs and lead goslings is preserved. |
 Slovak White Goose |
Slovak White Goose
Plumage colour white
Weight
gander 7 kg
goose 6 kg
Country of origine Slovakia
Congeries 9-15 eggs
Egg weight 160 g
Egg Colour white
Utilisation meat, feather
Ring size
gander 27 mm
goose 27 mm
Photos
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