Faroese Goose
Encyclopedia
The Faroese goose is probably the oldest form of tame goose
in Europe
and possibly the direct descendents of the tame geese that the Landnám
folk brought from Scandinavia
and the British Isles
.
Since the Faroe Islands
have no predator that can kill the geese, there has developed a special "Goose culture" in the Faroe Islands, which has no equivalent in neighboring countries.
From May to October there can be seen flocks of geese walk freely in the outfields, where they feed on the short summer grass, without any supplementary feeding.
In winter, the geese move freely in the cultivated infields of the villages. In some villages, the infield is of such good quality that earlier the geese didn't even need Complementary feed in the winter. However, in most places there is given complementary food when there is snow, and just before and during egg laying. The properties that the Faroese goose have today, is the result of natural selection over centuries, where only the most hardy and frugal birds have managed to get offspring.
Most of the Faroese geese are slaughtered in the month of December at a weight of 4–5 kg. After three to four weeks of fattening the chicks get slaughtered. Earlier, most got lightly salted or wind-dried for winter supplies, and the goose is a Christmas
table favorite.
Goose
The word goose is the English name for a group of waterfowl, belonging to the family Anatidae. This family also includes swans, most of which are larger than true geese, and ducks, which are smaller....
in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and possibly the direct descendents of the tame geese that the Landnám
Landnám
Landnám is old Norse which literally translates to taking land. It is used in the North Atlantic to describe the time when land and islands in this area were first populated.Landnám may refer to:* Landnámabók* Landnám of Iceland...
folk brought from Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
and the British Isles
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Since the Faroe Islands
Faroe Islands
The Faroe Islands are an island group situated between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, approximately halfway between Scotland and Iceland. The Faroe Islands are a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, along with Denmark proper and Greenland...
have no predator that can kill the geese, there has developed a special "Goose culture" in the Faroe Islands, which has no equivalent in neighboring countries.
From May to October there can be seen flocks of geese walk freely in the outfields, where they feed on the short summer grass, without any supplementary feeding.
In winter, the geese move freely in the cultivated infields of the villages. In some villages, the infield is of such good quality that earlier the geese didn't even need Complementary feed in the winter. However, in most places there is given complementary food when there is snow, and just before and during egg laying. The properties that the Faroese goose have today, is the result of natural selection over centuries, where only the most hardy and frugal birds have managed to get offspring.
Properties
In Nordisk Genbank Husdyr, the breed is described as a "not too large and not at all rough built, but otherwise it must not be refined and neat. Is very hardy and resistant to weather and disease and tolerates a harsh climate. It is hardy, very food-seeking and it has good juicy meat. Is somewhat temperamental, awake and guarding and will preferably be left alone during the breeding season." Further descriptions of the breed's phenotypic court detail: Gase 5-5, 5 kg, Goose: 4-4, 5 kg, Egg weight: 130 grams.Most of the Faroese geese are slaughtered in the month of December at a weight of 4–5 kg. After three to four weeks of fattening the chicks get slaughtered. Earlier, most got lightly salted or wind-dried for winter supplies, and the goose is a Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
table favorite.