Content
One of the best domestic and world breeds is a breed of geese called "large gray". Yes, that's so simple and no frills. Large grays were bred by crossing the Romny and Toulouse breeds.
Although the name "Romenskaya" sounds exotic, in fact, there is nothing unusual here. This is a local Ukrainian breed of geese, bred in the Sumy region in the city of Romny. There are three color options for the Romny breed. One of the options is no different from the color of a wild goose.
They transferred the same appearance of wild ancestors to large gray ones, especially since the Toulouse breed has a similar color. How to distinguish Romenskaya from large sulfur? Goslings in no way.
If it were not for the different shades of plumage on the neck and the different color of the tip of the beak, one might doubt that there are different birds in the photographs. Live the differences are often more noticeable, since it is possible to see the real dimensions. A photo without scaling does not provide such information.
Some differences exist in adult birds. At least the description of the breed is somewhat different.
Characteristics | Romny | Large gray |
|---|---|---|
Weight, kg | 5,5 – 6 | 5.8 - 7 (when fattening for meat 9.01 - 9.5) |
Egg production, pieces / year | 20 | 35 – 60 |
Egg weight, g | 150 | 175 |
Color | Gray, white, piebald | grey |
Early maturity | Reaches adult size at 5 months | At 2 months, the weight is 4.2 kg; 3 in size practically do not differ from adults |
Fertility,% | 80 | 80 |
Hatching goslings,% | 60 | 60 |
Romny geese are now kept as breeding material for breeding new breeds of birds of this species.
Breeding history
It is believed that the large gray breed of geese today exists in two versions: Borkovsky Ukrainian and Tambov steppe.
True, it is impossible to find a description of how, apart from the origin, these two types differ. Most likely, given the initial data, these two types have already mixed up so much that it is technically impossible to distinguish between the types of geese in the photo and by description. If the types are somehow different, then different requirements for the content.
They began to breed large gray geese in Ukraine, where the issue of lack of water was not raised. At the Ukrainian Institute of Poultry, Romny and Toulouse geese were first crossed for three years to obtain the necessary breed group - the starting material for breeding a new breed. Then the resulting hybrids were bred in themselves. The main task was to increase the live weight of the goose while maintaining the original data of the Romny breed:
- high vitality;
- well-developed instinct for brooding in geese;
- unpretentiousness to conditions of detention;
- fast weight gain;
- quality meat.
With the beginning of World War II and the arrival of the Germans, the breed group was evacuated to Tambov, where its breeding took a slightly different path. The crossing of the Romny and Toulouse geese was carried out only once (there is no data on where the evacuated breed group was), after which the hybrids also began to breed in themselves, focusing on the ability of the geese to get by with the minimum amount of water. The one in the drinking bowls.
The large gray one differs from its other parent breed - the Toulouse goose in that the egg production in geese rises up to the 5th year of life, while in Toulouse only up to three years.
Very often I use large grays as a parent breed for crosses with "Kuban", "Chinese", Pereyaslavskaya breed and Rhine geese. A very good result is obtained when crossing with the Gorky breed.
Gray geese are two months old, ready for slaughter:
Large gray standard, photo and description
General impression: agile, strong, large bird of "wild" color.
Head small with a short orange beak and a light tip.
Large grays have no purse or bump.
Neck powerful, medium length. The goose's neck is shorter than that of the gander.
Back long, wide.
Chest deep.
Stomach wide, with two folds of fat near the legs.
Metatarsus bright orange, strong, able to support the weight of a goose.
The color of the feathers should clearly show "scales" on the back.
disadvantages
White border at the base of the beak (a sign of the Romny breed), white primary feathers and an indistinct feather pattern on the wings and back. Permissible disadvantages include the presence of only one fat fold on the abdomen.
Vices
- a wallet under the beak;
- bump on a forehead;
- poorly developed fold on the abdomen;
- high body delivery;
- small sharp chest;
- pale color of beak and metatarsus.
Maintenance and feeding
Since the main difference between the large gray is the ability to live without water, these geese do not even need to put a container with water. True, the opinions of the owners of the breed differ on how much this capacity is needed for the geese. Some say that their pets prefer the company of their owners and are indifferent even to the river, others describe the joy of geese at the sight of a bath with water instead of a bucket.
In the absence of a reservoir, geese can be kept on a bed of sawdust or straw in a barn. The barn is used as a sleeping place or in winter. However, geese of a large gray breed are happy to walk in winter.
Regarding the litter, some owners believe that it is better to lay a deep litter and stir it up periodically, and clean it only when fertilizer is needed for the garden. Others prefer a thinner layer and frequent litter changes. Which one to choose depends on the preferences of the owner.
In the case of deep straw bedding, even land is not needed. The necessary bacteria are found on the straw. But it should be borne in mind that when using straw bedding, the bottom layer is not touched, sprinkling the dirt on top with fresh straw.
Since in winter, instead of grass, the geese are given hay, the remains of the goose meal also go to the bedding. All the same, the goose cannot eat all the hay, it will only "nibble" the most tender parts.
They will not fly to Africa with the wild ones, but for a wingless and poorly running man and the "norm of distance" of domestic geese of 3 m in height and 500 m in length, it will be more than enough to lose their property.
Therefore, if there is a suspicion that the geese may change their place of residence, it is better to trim the flight feathers on their wings.
Big grays eat whatever they give. Or they don't, the birds take it themselves. Most owners do not feed goslings during the summer, as they eat well on the grass. Large gray overripe vegetables from the garden, unsuitable for human consumption, are well eaten. To the extent that they don't even need to cut anything finely, the birds themselves can crumble the same zucchini into small pieces and eat the pulp. As a dessert, geese can be offered a watermelon.
But this is, rather, for the owners who keep large grays for the soul. Most goose breeders breed geese for meat and are unlikely to indulge the herd with pickles.
Breeding
Large gray geese sit well on eggs, so goslings can be hatched under brood hens. True, the owners complain that the geese are sitting too well. They have to be driven from the nests so that the brood hen can eat.
If a hatching egg was purchased or it was decided to leave young animals hatched by old geese for the tribe, during selection it will be necessary to carefully look at potential producers. For one gander you need 2 - 3 geese.
Initially, you need to leave a larger number of geese, since not all geese will be accepted. Outcast ganders wither, the color of their beak and paws fades and, ultimately, these males die.
Moreover, sometimes it happens that geese begin to slaughter a member of the herd. The reason may be a lack of trace elements in the feed, but more often after the slaughter of this individual, it turns out that some organs were underdeveloped. For example, a gander that looks like a goose beats the whole herd. And the fact is that his genitals are underdeveloped and as a manufacturer he is not needed by the mind.
How geese identify a defective representative remains their secret. But trying to "reconcile" the beaten individual with the rest of the herd is not necessary. The rejected goose must be removed from the herd and sent for meat.
