TOULOUSE
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COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: France
CATEGORY: Goose
CLASSIFICATION |
CODE |
MASSES |
BREED CODE |
RING SIZES |
Heavy |
|
|
788 |
|
Adult Gander |
32 |
12,7 to 13,6 kg |
|
F |
Adult Goose |
34 |
9,00 to 10,0 kg |
|
F |
Young Gander |
36 |
12,7 to 13,6 kg |
|
F |
Young Goose |
38 |
9,00 to 10,0 kg |
|
F |
The Toulouse breed is very old, having originated directly from the Western Greylag in southern France as a farmyard bird and has been selected for foie gras (liver Pâté) production. The Toulouse was first imported to England during the late years of the eighteenth century. The original French production-type birds were moderately large geese with no dewlap (a fold of skin under the break at the chin). They went through major changes as they were developed to produce exhibition-type birds, which are extraordinarily large and have pendulous dewlaps. The exhibition type was imported to North America around the middle of the nineteenth century, and later imports brought production type birds as well.
Today, three Toulouse Types are recognized: Production, Standard Dewlap, and Exhibition. The Production Toulouse, a utility bird that is still able to breed naturally and has a fairly typical goose shape, is still fairly numerous. The Standard Dewlap Toulouse is more heavily boned and bred to gain weight rapidly for foie gras production. The Exhibition Toulouse has as exaggerated dewlap and keel. Both the Standard Dewlap and Exhibition types can have trouble breeding. The production type is still a very good forager, but the Standard Dewlap and Exhibition types are often kept in confinement, where they tend to chow down on provided feed until they become fat. Dave Holderead says his big Exhibition birds still breed well specifically because he keeps them on pasture, where they are vigorous grazers and get plenty of exercise. All three types have loose, fluffy feathers on their rump and lower body, making them more subject to fly strike (maggot infestations in cuts and wounds) than other breeds. The breed is known for a rather docile temperament. The Toulouse was first standardized in1874.
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