Scania goose
All domestic geese (Anser anser domesticus) are descended from the wild gray goose. In Scandinavia, geese have been kept for around 3,000 years and were our earliest domesticated birds.
Two Swedish goose breeds left
In the past, there were several different breeds of geese that were adapted to different parts of Sweden. Of these old breeds, only the Scania goose and the Öland goose remain. They are similar but the Scania goose is larger. A valued trait in these geese is that if they have access to good grazing, they will grow quickly. When food was scarce, people preferred to keep smaller breeds that could survive on less food. This has made it so that larger breeds have developed in richer rural areas and smaller breeds in poorer areas.
Too heavy to fly
The Scania goose is white with gray-brown areas on the head, back and thighs. It has an impressive wingspan of one and a half meters, but is unable to fly due to its weight. The Scania goose is hardy and can cope with the damp, cold, southern Swedish winter landscape. They can be kept outdoors all year round as long as they have a dry and protected place for shelter. The geese graze on land but need access to a body of water where they swim, wash and mate.
The goose was used for many things
The goose provided meat, down and eggs, but also fat. In the past, the fat was also used for medicinal purposes and was highly sought after. The feathers of the goose were used as fletching for arrows, and the quills were used for writing, but also for poking holes in the black powder bag when guns were to be fired. The geese also quickly learned who the homeowners were, and acted as watchdogs when outsiders approached.
Intelligent and long-lived
Geese are intelligent animals that are capable of learning. They live in lifelong relationships where the male often has several females. The female incubates the eggs and takes good care of her chicks, but the Scania goose is not as inclined to incubate its eggs as the Öland goose. Scania geese can live up to 30 years if they are healthy.
Quick facts
Food: Grasses, crops, seeds, bugs
Weight: 7–10 kg
Young: 20–30 eggs per year
Lifespan: Usually 10–15 years
The Scania goose used to be common – today the breed is highly endangered
Saved at the last moment
In the 19th century, there were plenty of Scania geese in the county of Skåne. They were kept in stubble fields and slaughtered in the autumn. Towards the end of the 20th century, the stubble fields began to be treated for weeds which made the good pastures disappear. The number of geese also decreased because other more productive breeds of domestic animals became popular. Today there are a little more than 150 animals of the Scania goose breed left.
Traits are preserved
The fact that Scania goose still exist today is largely due to the dedicated conservation efforts of livestock keepers. The survival of the breed and its traits is thanks to a gene bank. Animals without a gene bank certificate may not be used for breeding. The animals in Slottsskogen are all part of this gene bank.
Why is it important to preserve different breeds?
The more diverse breeds with different traits we have, the better equipped we are to face changes and challenges in the future. This reduces the risk of harms such as the spread of diseases or eradications due to environmental changes.
Does a disappeared breed make any difference? No one knows for sure. However, we know for sure that having a varied and diverse range of species is necessary for a stable ecosystem. And stable ecosystems are in turn necessary for a sustainable future.