American Buff Goose
Encyclopedia
The American Buff Goose is a breed of domestic goose native to the United States. It was first recognized by the American Poultry Association
in 1947. The breed is named for its single color variety, which is an apricot
or fawn hue rather than literally buff
. They are medium-weight birds, with ganders averaging 18 pounds (8.2 kg) and geese 16.
Like most other domestic geese, it was developed from the Greylag Goose
of Europe and Asia. Whether it was bred independently from a mutation with grey geese or from buff imported stock from Europe is unclear. It is a dual purpose bird used both for meat and egg
production. They are mostly used by small farmers, and are known for their calm and docile disposition. The American Buff Goose is extremely rare poultry breed, and listed as critical on the conservation priority list of the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy
. They are also included in Slow Food USA's Ark of Taste
, a catalog of heritage foods in danger of extinction.
American Poultry Association
The American Poultry Association is the oldest poultry organization in the North America. Founded in 1873, and incorporated in Indiana in 1932 The first American poultry show was held in 1849, and the APA was later formed in response to the burgeoning need for an overseeing body to set standards...
in 1947. The breed is named for its single color variety, which is an apricot
Apricot (color)
Apricot is a light yellowish-orangeish color that attempts to represent the color of apricots. Actually, it is somewhat paler than actual apricots....
or fawn hue rather than literally buff
Buff (colour)
Buff is a pale yellow-brown colour that got its name from the colour of buff leather.Displayed on the right is the colour buff.EtymologyAccording to the Oxford English Dictionary, buff as a descriptor of a colour was first used in the London Gazette of 1686, describing a uniform to be "A Red Coat...
. They are medium-weight birds, with ganders averaging 18 pounds (8.2 kg) and geese 16.
Like most other domestic geese, it was developed from the Greylag Goose
Greylag Goose
The Greylag Goose , Anser anser, is a bird with a wide range in the Old World. It is the type species of the genus Anser....
of Europe and Asia. Whether it was bred independently from a mutation with grey geese or from buff imported stock from Europe is unclear. It is a dual purpose bird used both for meat and egg
Egg (food)
Eggs are laid by females of many different species, including birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish, and have probably been eaten by mankind for millennia. Bird and reptile eggs consist of a protective eggshell, albumen , and vitellus , contained within various thin membranes...
production. They are mostly used by small farmers, and are known for their calm and docile disposition. The American Buff Goose is extremely rare poultry breed, and listed as critical on the conservation priority list of the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy
American Livestock Breeds Conservancy
The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy is a nonprofit organization focused on preserving and promoting genetic diversity among rare breeds of livestock...
. They are also included in Slow Food USA's Ark of Taste
Ark of Taste
The Ark of Taste is an international catalogue of heritage foods in danger of extinction which is maintained by the global Slow Food movement. The Ark is designed to preserve at-risk foods that are sustainably produced, unique in taste, and part of a distinct ecoregion...
, a catalog of heritage foods in danger of extinction.
External links
- Feathersite on American Buff Geese
- Buffgeese Information on housing, feeding and keeping American Buff and Tufted Buff geese in English and Dutch.