Meat Geese - Slaughtering Process

[gooseapplefarms]

I’d be curious to hear more about others’ experiences with harvest weights in different breeds. I’m leaning toward American buff, embden, off red pilgrim but I really just want whatever will be relatively non-aggressive & easy to deal with and will grow the fastest.

Thanks again to all.

At this point in the season, selection of breeds is quite limited.
So far, I'd rank grazing as
1) Africans
2) Buff and Toulouse
3) Embden

This is just based on my observations while they were in their maximum growth stage. When I would put up the Buffs and Toulouse, they wouldn't always finish their feed at night, commonly it would be half eaten or less. The Africans I raised with the muscovies, so I don't know how much feed they ate because the ducks love feed. The embdens go straight for the feed when I put them up like they've been starving all day, and their grass consumption looks minimal compared to the others.

Metzer has a niece comparison chart for the breeds they carry: https://www.metzerfarms.com/compare-geese-breeds.html
Based on what you want, almost entirely grass fed birds, I'd stick with the smaller birds and just raise more of them. The bigger birds need a lot of calories to grow so big and fast, nature doesn't produce birds quite so big. Of course, I'm just speculating, I would try whichever you want.

 

[Vadard]

At this point in the season, selection of breeds is quite limited.
So far, I'd rank grazing as
1) Africans
2) Buff and Toulouse
3) Embden

This is just based on my observations while they were in their maximum growth stage. When I would put up the Buffs and Toulouse, they wouldn't always finish their feed at night, commonly it would be half eaten or less. The Africans I raised with the muscovies, so I don't know how much feed they ate because the ducks love feed. The embdens go straight for the feed when I put them up like they've been starving all day, and their grass consumption looks minimal compared to the others.

Metzer has a niece comparison chart for the breeds they carry: https://www.metzerfarms.com/compare-geese-breeds.html
Based on what you want, almost entirely grass fed birds, I'd stick with the smaller birds and just raise more of them. The bigger birds need a lot of calories to grow so big and fast, nature doesn't produce birds quite so big. Of course, I'm just speculating, I would try whichever you want.

Thanks! I’ll check out the Metzer Farms link.

 

[Vadard]

I did a small experiment with a dozen brown Chinese where from day 1 they were solely raised on pasture, without feed of any kind, and then processed for meat at 21 weeks. I thought the meat was delicious as did several members of my family when they were informed it was not steak they were eating but goose breast. I will say that they were much lighter and less fatty than what I see online sold as frozen goose, mine were between 4-5 lbs. I liked free range Goose a whole lot more than free range chicken. We also were able to render about 1-2 cup of fat from an entire Chinese goose skin (they don’t have much fat anywhere else). This year I’m going to see if crosses between Tolouse and African are heavier and meatier. I am truly surprised more people don’t embrace geese. It’s nice to be in good company here

~48 pounds of meat from 100% pasture for 21 weeks is darn impressive.

Do you notice any significant differences in their temperaments from one breed to another? I've read that certain breeds (Chinese and African, I believe) are more aggressive than others. I'm not worried personally, as I'll just smack them if they get sassy with me, but I've got kids and it will not go well for Mr. Goose if he bows up on my little ones. Thanks again.

 

[gooseapplefarms]

The Africans are the most dominant breed in my flock. When they were almost full grown, they started chasing around the bigger Toulouse and Buff geese. The African males seemed to mature sexually faster than the other breeds as well, or at least were trying to breed sooner.

The Buff male and the Africans will try to intimidate me sometimes, but they're very cowardly animals. One step in their direction and they take off honking. Unlike ducks, when you have to pick them up, they put up zero fight. I haven't had them around small children, but the geese aren't going to go out of their way to attack them I don't think.

 

[Vadard]

The Africans are the most dominant breed in my flock. When they were almost full grown, they started chasing around the bigger Toulouse and Buff geese. The African males seemed to mature sexually faster than the other breeds as well, or at least were trying to breed sooner.

The Buff male and the Africans will try to intimidate me sometimes, but they're very cowardly animals. One step in their direction and they take off honking. Unlike ducks, when you have to pick them up, they put up zero fight. I haven't had them around small children, but the geese aren't going to go out of their way to attack them I don't think.

That is good to hear, especially the part about picking them up. Thanks.

 

[Berd Man]

~48 pounds of meat from 100% pasture for 21 weeks is darn impressive.

Do you notice any significant differences in their temperaments from one breed to another? I've read that certain breeds (Chinese and African, I believe) are more aggressive than others. I'm not worried personally, as I'll just smack them if they get sassy with me, but I've got kids and it will not go well for Mr. Goose if he bows up on my little ones. Thanks again.

The Chinese (brown and white varieties) are more territorial and vocal. I keep a bamboo pole or stick around and they will assert themselves to children readily. Many a tear was shed when we ranged the Chinese breeds. I think true African geese are friendlier than Chinese, at least my African is.

Check into American Buff geese if there’s little ones around. They usually have gentle temperaments from what I hear. I bought a trio of them but they are not breeding age so I don’t know their temperaments fully till I’ve seen that side of the bird haha but so far they have been very good with my kids.

 

[Scotchbroomfarmer]

Thank you. I appreciate you sharing your experience with several breeds.

The main reason I’m looking at geese is their grassy diet, that said, I’ve been looking at moscovies, too. I just don’t want another processed feed-dependent critter right now.

I also harvested wild geese infrequently as a kid, and we always liked it in gumbo or made into sausage.

I basically want a critter that will eat grass all year then harvest out at s as decent weight in the fall. Kinda like a free-range turkey that won’t roost and poop on my roof. Geese fit the bill so far.

I’d be curious to hear more about others’ experiences with harvest weights in different breeds. I’m leaning toward American buff, embden, off red pilgrim but I really just want whatever will be relatively non-aggressive & easy to deal with and will grow the fastest.

Thanks again to all.

Hi,
I liked the thought of geese eating grass all year and that seems to work for my 5 geese of Pilgrims except our grass dries out badly in much of the summer (pacific northwest) and also the new goslings hatch about then and need supplemental feed, also the mom who just finished brooding needs to recover..... So then everyone is getting feed, hmmm.
I think if I do a bit more work on mowing and watering to maintain a good forage during the summer, it will work out better.

 

[Vadard]

Hi,
I liked the thought of geese eating grass all year and that seems to work for my 5 geese of Pilgrims except our grass dries out badly in much of the summer (pacific northwest) and also the new goslings hatch about then and need supplemental feed, also the mom who just finished brooding needs to recover..... So then everyone is getting feed, hmmm.
I think if I do a bit more work on mowing and watering to maintain a good forage during the summer, it will work out better.

I appreciate your thoughts!