Domestic goose

{{Short description|Common name for a bird}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}} {{Paraphyletic group | auto = true | image = Sunset Park - Las Vegas (11044584144).jpg | image_alt = | image_caption = The two species of domestic goose: one derived from the [[greylag goose]] (''Anser anser'') and the other from the [[swan goose]] (''Anser cygnoides'') | status = DOM | taxon = Anser | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = * ''[[Anser anser|A. anser]]'' * ''[[Anser cygnoides|A. cygnoides]]'' }}

A '''domestic goose''' is a [[goose]] that humans have [[domesticated]] and kept for their [[Goose as food|meat]], [[Egg as food|eggs]], or [[down feather]]s, or as [[pet|companion animal]]s. Domestic geese have been derived through [[selective breeding]] from the wild [[greylag goose]] (''Anser anser domesticus'') and [[swan goose]] (''Anser cygnoides domesticus'').

==Origins== In [[Europe]], northern [[Africa]], and western [[Asia]], the original domesticated geese are derived from the [[greylag goose]], while in eastern Asia, the original domesticated geese are derived from the [[swan goose]]; these are commonly known as [[Chinese geese]]. Both have been widely introduced in more recent times, and modern flocks in both areas (and elsewhere, such as [[Australia]] and [[North America]]) may consist of either species or [[Hybrid (biology)|hybrids]] between them. Domestic swan geese may be readily distinguished from domestic greylag geese by the large knob at the base of the bill, though hybrids may exhibit every degree of variation between the two species.<ref name="Buckland">{{cite book |editor1=Buckland, R. |editor2=Guy, G. |year=2002 |title=Goose Production |chapter-url=http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/005/Y4359E/y4359e03.htm |chapter=Origins and Breeds of Domestic Geese |publisher=Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations |location=Rome |series=FAO Animal Production and Health Paper |volume=154 |issn=0254-6019 |isbn=9-2510-4862-2}}</ref>

[[Charles Darwin]] remarked in ''[[The Variation of Animals and Plants Under Domestication]]'' that the [[domestication]] of geese is of a very ancient date.<ref name="Darwin 1875">{{cite book |last1=Darwin |first1=Charles |title=The Variation of Animals & Plants Under Domestication, Volume 1 |date=1905 |orig-date=1875 |publisher=John Murray |location=London |page=350 |edition=2nd |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fiMZAAAAYAAJ&q=%22geese+were+anciently+domesticated%22+%22great+antiquity%22 |oclc=990941975}}</ref> The earliest evidence of goose domestication dates back 7,000 years ago to the [[Hemudu culture]] of the [[Yangtze Delta|Lower Yangtze River]] in [[China]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Eda |first1=Masaki |last2=Itahashi |first2=Yu |last3=Kikuchi |first3=Hiroki |last4=Sun |first4=Guoping |last5=Hsu |first5=Kai-hsuan |last6=Gakuhari |first6=Takashi |last7=Yoneda |first7=Minoru |last8=Jiang |first8=Leping |last9=Yang |first9=Guomei |last10=Nakamura |first10=Shinichi |date=2022-03-22 |title=Multiple lines of evidence of early goose domestication in a 7,000-y-old rice cultivation village in the lower Yangtze River, China |journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences |volume=119 |issue=12 |article-number=e2117064119 |doi=10.1073/pnas.2117064119 |doi-access=free |pmc=8944903 |pmid=35254874 |bibcode=2022PNAS..11917064E }}</ref> There is archaeological evidence for domesticated geese in [[Egypt]] more than 4,000 years ago.<ref name="Hugo">{{cite book |author=Hugo, Susanne |year=1995 |chapter-url=http://www.fao.org/docrep/V6200T/v6200T0n.htm |chapter=Geese: the underestimated species |title=Rearing unconventional livestock species: a flourishing activity |series=World Animal Review |volume=85 |publisher=Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations |location=Rome |oclc=1012568698}}</ref> It has been proposed that geese were domesticated around 3000 BCE in [[southeastern Europe]], possibly in [[Greece]], but reliable evidence of domestic geese comes from a much later period (8th century BCE) in the ''[[Odyssey]]''.

Another potential domestication site is in [[Egypt]] during the [[Old Kingdom of Egypt|Old Kingdom]] (2686–1991 BCE) due to iconographic evidence of goose exploitation, but this scenario for the original domestication event has been considered less likely. Geese were also herded by ancient [[Mesopotamia]]ns for food and sacrifices and depicted in Mesopotamian art from the [[Early Dynastic Period (Mesopotamia)|early Dynastic Period]] (2900–2350 BCE) onwards. Certainly, fully domesticated geese were present during the [[New Kingdom of Egypt|New Kingdom times in Egypt]] (1552–1151 BCE) and contemporaneously in [[Europe]], and goose husbandry involving several varieties was well established by the [[Ancient Rome|Romans]] by the 1st century BCE. In the [[Medieval Period]], goose husbandry was at its peak with large flocks kept by peasants. Archaeological evidence of the domestic goose in northern Europe indicates that it was probably introduced into [[Scandinavia]] during the Early [[Iron Age]] (400 BCE–550 CE).<ref name="Honka">{{cite journal |last1=Honka |first1=Johanna |title=Over a Thousand Years of Evolutionary History of Domestic Geese from Russian Archaeological Sites, Analysed Using Ancient DNA |journal=Genes |date=2018 |volume=9 |issue=7 |page=367 |doi=10.3390/genes9070367 |pmid=30037043 |pmc=6070935 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

==Characteristics== Domestic geese have been selectively bred for size, with some breeds weighing up to {{convert|10|kg}},<ref name="Hugo"/> compared to the maximum of {{convert|3.5|kg}} for the wild swan goose and {{convert|4.1|kg}} for the wild greylag goose.<ref name="del Hoyo">{{cite book |editor1=del Hoyo, J. |editor2=Elliott, A. |editor3=Sargatal, J. |year=1992 |title=[[Handbook of Birds of the World]], Volume 1 |page=581 |publisher=Lynx Edicions |location=Barcelona |isbn=84-87334-10-5}}</ref> This affects their body structure; whereas wild geese have a horizontal posture and slim rear end, domesticated geese lay down large fat deposits toward the tail end, giving a fat rear and forcing the bird into a more upright posture. Although their heavy weight affects their ability to fly, most breeds of domestic geese are capable of flight.

Geese have also been strongly selected for [[fecundity]], with females laying up to 100 [[egg (biology)|eggs]] per year, compared to 5–12 eggs for a wild goose.<ref name="Hugo"/><ref name="del Hoyo"/>

As most domestic geese display little [[sexual dimorphism]], sexing is based primarily on physical characteristics and behaviour. Males are typically taller and larger than females, and have longer, thicker necks. Geese produce large edible eggs, weighing {{convert|120|-|170|g}}.<ref name="Hugo"/>

Changes to the plumage are variable; many have been selected to lose dark brown tones of the wild bird. The result is an animal marked, or completely covered in white feathers. Others retain plumage close to the natural; some, such as the modern [[Toulouse goose]] look almost identical to the greylag in [[plumage]], differing only in structure. White geese are often preferred as they look better plucked and dressed, with any small down feathers remaining being less conspicuous. From the time of the Romans, white geese have been held in great esteem.

Like their wild ancestors, domestic geese are very protective of their offspring and other members of the flock. The male goose, or gander will normally place himself between any perceived threat and his family. Owing to their highly aggressive nature, loud call and sensitivity to unusual movements, geese can contribute towards the security of a property.{{r|Hugo}} In late 1950s South Vietnam, the [[VNAF]] used flocks of geese to guard their parked aircraft at night due to the noise they would make at intruders.<ref name="Grandolini">{{cite magazine |author=Grandolini, A. |title=Indo-Chinese Fighting 'Cats: Grumman's Superb Bearcat in Vietnam |magazine=Air Enthusiast |date=July–August 1997 |issue=70 |page=17 |issn=0143-5450}}</ref> Due to their tendency to make noise when approached by strangers, about 500 geese were used to supplement [[dogs]], drones, and humans to patrol the 533-km boundary between [[Chongzuo]] and [[Vietnam]] during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]. An official commented that the birds, one of the most common livestock in the region, are sensitive to sounds and can sometimes be more aggressive than dogs.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Zuo |first1=Mandy |title=Chinese border city turns to out-of-the-box ally to help contain imported Covid-19 cases: geese |url=https://www.msn.com/en-sg/lifestyle/other/chinese-border-city-turns-to-out-of-the-box-ally-to-help-contain-imported-covid-19-cases-geese/ar-AAUeUKs |work=South China Morning Post |publisher=MSN.com |date=24 February 2022 |language=en-SG}}</ref>

Because domestic geese descended from the greylag goose are effectively the same species as their wild ancestor (being a [[subspecies]] formed through domestication), escaped individuals readily breed with wild populations, resulting in the offspring sometimes resembling either one of their parents, or bearing mixed plumage with patterns of grey and white feathers and orange beaks.

Image:Anser cygnoides (fl).jpg|Domestic [[Chinese goose]]: erect posture and fat rear end Image:Anser cygnoides-Beijing.jpg|Wild [[Swan goose]]: horizontal posture and slim rear end </gallery>

== Culinary uses == Geese are important to multiple culinary traditions. The meat, liver and other organs, fat, skin, blood and eggs [[Goose as food|are used culinarily]] in various cuisines.<ref name=":6">{{Cite news |last=Fort |first=Matthew |date=23 September 2010 |title=The golden goose |language=en-GB |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2010/sep/23/goose |access-date=17 September 2023 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Goose eggs can be used in cooking just like chicken's eggs, though they have proportionally more yolk, and this cooks to a slightly denser consistency. The taste is much the same as that of a [[chicken]] egg, but gamier.

==See also== *[[Angel wing]] – a disease common in geese *[[Domestic duck]] *[[List of goose breeds]] *[[Roast goose]] *[[Guard goose]] *The 2019 [[video game]] ''[[Untitled Goose Game]]'', featuring a domestic goose as its protagonist

==References== {{reflist}}

==Further reading== * {{cite book |last1=Bodson |first1=Liliane |last2=Marcolungo |first2=Daniel |year=1994 |title=L'oie de bon aloi |editor1=Lensen, Jean-Pierre |chapter=Aspects de l'histoire ancienne de l'oie domestique |trans-chapter=The goose in ancient life and folklore |publisher=Musée régional d'archéologie et d'histoire de Visé |language=fr |oclc=61318043}}

==External links== {{Commons category|Domesticated geese}} * {{Wikispecies-inline|Anser cygnoides chinensis}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20120502162001/http://www.tumbledownfarm.com/drupal/Cyclopedia_of_American_Agriculture/Animals/III_NA_Farm_Animals/Poultry/Geese Article "Geese" in Cyclopedia of American Agriculture, Volume III, Animals (1907)]

[[Category:Domesticated birds]] [[Category:Geese]] [[Category:Poultry]] [[Category:Bird hybrids]] [[Category:Birds described in 1758]] [[Category:Animal taxa named by Carl Linnaeus]]