Recently, breeders have bred many new species of geese. For the most part, such a bird is characterized by unpretentious care and excellent productivity. However, there are several old breeds of geese, which are also very popular among farmers. Such farm animals are often able to show outstanding results in terms of weight gain. For example, in the Nizhny Novgorod region, Chuvashia and Mordovia, the ancient highly productive breed of the Arzamas geese is quite widespread.
A bit of history
These geese were bred in the city of Arzamas in the 17th century by the method of folk selection. Initially, the breed was used exclusively as a fighting one. For goose competitions, peasants specially selected the largest and most active individuals. Later, Arzamas geese kept on farms mainly for meat. Since the XIX century. in battles they stopped using such a bird. By this time, the breed had become exclusively meat.
General description of the Arzamas geese
What kind of breeds became once parental for this bird, for certain, unfortunately, is unknown. No records of this have been preserved. However, judging by the exterior, these geese were bred, most likely, based on the Tula breed. Such a bird in the old days among the peasants was very popular. Tula geese were bred on the territory of the present Nizhny Novgorod region everywhere. Like this parent breed, the Arzamas bird has three main types of exterior:
Also the main features of this bird are:
The head of these geese is short, the forehead is wide, and the beak is less powerful than that of representatives of the Tula breed, but still quite thick. The legs of the Arzamas bird are short, yellow, with straight fingers.
The plumage of geese of this breed is dense and dense. The color of the Arzamas bird is most often white. However, breed standards also allow gray and cream shades of feathers.
Household signs
These geese grow both white, and gray, and cream are actually very large. However, they do not consume too much feed. That is, this breed, among other things, is also very economical. Also, the advantages of this bird include, of course, early maturity.
The weight of male geese of this breed can reach 5, and sometimes 7 kg. The body weight of the geese is slightly lower. Arzamas females weigh between 5-5.8 kg. The meat of the representatives of this breed is very tasty, tender and juicy. At the same time, it is not too greasy and is great for preparing first courses as well as for second courses.
Arzamas geese do not carry a lot of eggs - on average about 20 pcs. for the season. But at the same time, females of this breed are very good mothers. They hatch and nursing goslings on their own.
Among the pluses of Arzamas poultry, farmers, among other things, include unpretentiousness to feed. In the summer, these geese are simply driven out to pasture for the whole day. Arzamas poultry shows good productivity results even with a small amount of concentrates in the diet. However, if in the menu of such geese finish off more grain, they will begin to grow at an accelerated pace.
Breeding
For beginners, breeding geese can, of course, become quite difficult. Experienced farmers recommend beginners to start the Arzamas bird at first. At the moment, this breed is one of the most unpretentious in the world. Caring for this bird is a very simple procedure. Yes, and any special efforts to replenish the herd, the novice involved in its breeding, most likely, will not have to make.
Too many eggs of a goose of this breed do not carry, but they have always good fertility. In most cases, this indicator reaches 85%. Given the fact that the Arzamas females carefully look after the offspring, the herd of such geese on the farm is replenished usually very quickly. If desired, the egg of this bird, of course, can be incubated.
As males in the herd of Arzamas geese, individuals are selected whose mass is 10% higher than the average parameters in the livestock. At the same time, 2-3 females are left per goose. Arzamas bird was once bred as a fighting bird. But over time, her character became still not so aggressive. Arzamas goose families in the compound are allowed to be kept together. However, in the event that the males show aggression towards each other, they should still be seated in different compartments with the females.
Gander of this breed is used as producers usually no longer than 4 years. Then the male is changed to a new one. Too long to keep the same producer on the farm is impossible. This will necessarily lead to a decrease in the quality of the offspring and, accordingly, the productivity indicators of the entire livestock.
Oviposition
Arzamas gray, cream and white geese rush from the end of winter to the beginning of May. At this time, in the shed for such a bird, you need to put nests with a size of at least 70x70 cm. The number of the latter should be chosen at the rate of 1 pc. 2-3 females. To establish nests for geese of this breed, like any other, you need to in a dark warm place.
Feeding Features
In the summer, as already mentioned, geese of the Arzamas breed are usually driven out to pasture. Also during this period they are given some concentrates, vegetables, fruits. A very good help on the farm in terms of feeding such a bird will be a nearby pond. If desired, on the site, you can make a small artificial pond with your own hands. In any case, aquatic vegetation - feed for geese is very useful.
In winter, such a bird is fed alfalfa and clover hay, mowed during the flowering period. In the cold season, boiled corn and potatoes are also introduced into the diet of geese. In addition, in winter, Arzamas bird can be fed with wheat and bran. Very often in the diet of such geese include various kinds of berry crops - mountain ash, wild rose, viburnum.
What should be the room
The barn for the Arzamas geese, as well as for any others, should be built in such a way that it turns out to be light, dry and warm. Before starting young growth, the house should be prepared by treatment with lime mortar. Thus, the barn is disinfected from various pathogens and parasites.
Litter for Arzamas geese in the house can be used from sawdust, straw or sunflower husk. The shed itself should be built in such a way that one adult in it has at least 1 m2 of area.
Of course, the house for the Arzamas geese should be insulated. This bird is practically not afraid of cold. However, it is still impossible to allow the air temperature in the shed for such geese to fall below 0 ° C in the winter season. Next to the house, among other things, it is worth equipping a spacious walk. In winter, geese in the afternoon without fail should be released from time to time.
The shed itself for this bird should be built in such a way that drafts do not form inside it. Otherwise, geese of the Arzamas breed, in spite of the fact that they are distinguished by endurance, will certainly begin to catch a cold. As a result, the herd percentage may even increase in the herd.
Slaughter time
Growing geese as a business is usually quite profitable. Farmers contain such a bird, of course, mainly for meat. And representatives of the precocious Arzamas breed can bring their owner in this regard, of course, a very good income. Even on the most inexpensive feeds, such a bird grows very quickly.
The geese of the Arzamas breed gain weight very quickly. By two months, their body weight is already about 3.4 kg. This bird is usually slaughtered at the age of 2.5-4 months. It is not recommended to keep such geese, as well as representatives of many other breeds, longer. After 3-4 months, this bird dramatically reduces weight gain. At the same time, geese begin to consume more feed. In addition, the carcasses of a young Arzamas bird look more accurate than that of an old one. Of course, meat in 3-month-old goslings will be more tender and juicy than, for example, in 6-9-month-old goslings.