African geese 

History;
....The African Goose hould be of about the same size and height as the Embden Goose . According to Oscar Grow the African Goose appears physically a cross between the Toulouse Goose , and the Brown Chinese Goose , with some of the size and dewlap of the Toulouse Goose , and some of the carriage and 'knob' of the Chinese Goose . Also Known as L'oie de Guine'e in France

    The African Goose is said by some breeders to be a distinct breed imported from Africa, but the evidence a large genetic part of the Chinese is undisputable; see Tegetmeir 1873. They were known as a pure breed in the USA from the 1850's and although often crossed with the Toulouse as a commercial meat cross are a definte species descended from the Swan goose (Anser cygnoides) rasther than the greylag (Anser anser).


Tips for improving your flock......based on Dave Holderread's and Oscar Grow's books (taken from the Australian rare Breed Site)

Select the fastest growing goslings for future breeding.

Always look for massive features (even in their first year they should have large, coarse heads and thick necks) and carriage 30 to 40 degrees.

Head should be large and broad between the eyes

Knob should be as wide as the head

Older females especially when laying will often have low-hung paunches and show some indication of a keel. But all males and young females should be keel-less and only a moderately full abdomen. Selecting for this should maintain the breed's fame as a lean meat bird.

Africans with tails held in line with the back or lower often indicate physical weakness and infertility.

Avoid young geese of too refined type, otherwise the flock will eventually revert to the Chinese breed type (small and slender rather than massive and meaty).

Avoid young geese that have already developed a pronounced dewlap. Africans do not grow the dewlap as fast as Toulouse and it will not fully develop until aged about three years.
       

 Names Also Known as L'oie de Guinee or L'oie Africaine in France ie Guinea Goose
      
Country Of Origin;. . . China

Carriage;Reasonably upright 35 to 40 degrees above the horizontal rather than the Chinese geese which stand much more upright. Height 90 cm av
      
Purpose;... ...Eggs.....Meat...Broody..

 Egg Colour......................white ....
       
 Egg Numbers  .............10 / 20. In America, they appear to be more productive with 20 - 40 eggs in a season

Breed Defects. . . . . .Lack of dewlap;lack of knob; white patches amongst coloured plumage
       
Info  A very gentle breed that is much quieter than its skinny cousin. Available in white; brown (grey) and buff.

 Breed Hints.... Kept as trio or pair .. will go broody and hatch
       
 Weights; 11 to 28 pounds

Breed Tip Some individuals don't get the dewlap until over 18 months old, whilst others might develop one at 6 months. The dewlap runs down from the bill into the neck. The knob should be oriented slightly forward. Paunch should not touch the ground.'
       
Flying . . .normally too heavy but has been known . . very rarely

http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/Geese/BRKAfricans.html

       

A GENETIC COLOUR PROBLEM SOLVED by Anthony Axon

    From my importation of day old goslings in 1999 a problem arose because only female Buff Africans hatched at the opportune moment and Dave Holderread forwarded these with the rest of the order so as to avoid disappointment ..Upon a visit to his wonderful establishment in 2000 he gave me the following explanation for the way forward. I believe this would also work for Buff Toulouse so I felt this may be of interest to any of you experimenting out there. I suppose I ought to mention that I have already completed step one successfully with my Buff Africans.

first mating;

Brown African gander X Buff African goose = ALL Brown offspring

Brown ganders carry buff genetically [call this B/B1]

Brown geese DO NOT carry buff genetically speaking.

Second mating

B/B1 gander X Buff African goose = 1/2 males AND 1/2 females Brown

and 1/2 males AND 1/2 females Buff

OR

B/B1 gander X pure Brown female = All males Brown

1/2 females Brown AND 1/2 females Buff

AND

Buff gander X pure Brown female = All ganders Brown [this is B/B1]

=All geese Buff

Breeders

Hicks Waterfowl World  OSWESTRY Tel 01691 655 635 weekends
Tel 07818 036 118 weekdays\

Tony & Sue Axon, Devon            01404 822 459
Buff, Grey

Rosemary Sharpe, Monmouth            01600 713 868
Grey

Ginny  McKee, Antrim                02825 651 284
grey, buff                                  amckwaterfowl@hotmail.com