Fogang Black-feathered Goose

Fogang Black-feathered Goose

　　Origin and Distribution: Originally from Qingyuan City, Guangdong Province, also known as Qingyuan Goose. The main production areas are located along both banks of the Beijiang River in Qingyuan City, as well as in Jiangri, Yuantan, and other places, extending to Huadu, Yingde, Fogang, and northern regions of Guangdong Province.

　　Breed Characteristics: The most distinctive feature is a band of dark brown, brush-like feathering on the back of the neck that gradually tapers in size. The body is broad and short with a flat back. Male geese are large in size, shaped like an olive pit, while females are wedge-shaped with short legs. Adult geese have white feathers on both sides of the neck, while their wing coverts, shoulder feathers, and back feathers are black-feathered, with brownish tips. Their chest feathers are grayish-white, abdominal and tail down feathers are white, and tail feathers are grayish-black. Young geese have slightly darker feather colors than adults. Adult male geese weigh 3.0–3.5 kilograms, while females weigh 2.5–3.0 kilograms.

　　Production Performance: They exhibit relatively fast early growth. Under free-range conditions, they can reach 2.5–3.0 kilograms by 56 days of age, and under confined feeding, they can reach 3.0–3.5 kilograms by the same age. The average annual egg production is 30 eggs, with an average egg weight of 145 grams and white eggshells. They mature sexually early, with females beginning to lay eggs at 120–140 days of age. They have strong brooding instincts, brooding 4–5 times a year. The male-to-female mating ratio is 1:8–10. The average fertility rate of breeding eggs is 88%, and the average hatching rate of fertilized eggs is 92%.

　　Black-feathered Geese are mainly produced in the southern counties of Longshan, Tangtang, Sijiu, and Min’an. They have slender heads, yellow wattles, moderately sized eyes, brown irises, black beaks, and necks 17–28 centimeters long. There is a band of approximately 2-centimeter-long black feathers along the upper edge of the neck from the crown to the last cervical vertebra. The sides of the neck are white, the body is broad, short, and low, with a slightly longer, flat waist.