Uses: Utility – meat, especially when crossed with Embden Geese. As a broody although due to their size, can break their eggs.
Eggs: 20 to 40 white eggs per year.
Origin: France.
Weight: Gander: 11.8-13.6Kg. Goose: 9.1-10.9Kg.
Colours: Grey, Buff and White
Useful to Know: A popular fast-growing commercial hybrid is an Embden Gander crossed with Toulouse Geese. Dropped Tongue is common in Toulouse Geese.
Toulouse Geese originate from the countryside around the city of Toulouse in Southern France. The French created this incredibly heavy goose to use for ‘Pâté de foie gras’. This has been, and still is, a delicacy in France. Forced feeding in the production of foie gras is controversial, due to the procedure of forcing a tube down the throat and the health consequences of an enlarged liver. European countries now have laws against the sale of foie gras and the force-feeding of animals although France continues to ignore these laws.
The Toulouse is a popular goose and good specimens can sell for high prices. It was the British and American breeders that increased the size and dewlap of the Toulouse Goose even further. German Toulouse have smaller keels than British Toulouse.
The Grey Toulouse Goose (together with the Embden Goose) was one of the first Geese to be standardised in 1865 in the UK. The White version was standardised in 1982 and the Buff in 1997. In North America, the Toulouse entered the American Standard of Perfection in 1874 and is only standardised in Gray. In France they are called L’oie du Toulouse and in Germany Toulouser Gänse.
Photos
Books
The following books are available. Links take you to the Amazon or other sellers’ pages for the books.
- Domestic Geese – C. Ashton – P.45
- British Waterfowl Standards – P.36
- British Poultry Standards – P.378
- American Standard of Perfection – P.361
Discussion
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