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Review Article

Characteristic of the population of geese covered by the protection of biodiversity programme in Poland

Jolanta Calik ¹ , Lidia Lewko ¹, Artur Kowalczyk ², Ewa Łukaszewicz ², Krzysztof Andres ³

¹National Research Institute of Animal Production, Department of Poultry Breeding, 32-083 Balice near Kraków, Poland

²Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Department of Poultry Breeding, ul. Chełmońskiego 38c, 51-630 Wrocław, Poland

³University of Agriculture in Kraków, Department of Animal Reproduction, Anatomy and Genomics, Kraków, Al. Mickiewicza 24/28, 30-059 Kraków, Poland

1. Acta Sci. Pol. Zootechnica, 22(3), 2023, 9‒20
2. DOI: 10.21005/asp.2023.22.3.02

Abstract. Domestic goose is a species strongly associated with the agricultural landscape, tradition and culture of local communities. Currently, a unique collection of 14 breeds of geese kept on four farms across the country is included in the programme for the protection of the goose population in Poland. Endangered geese are protected using an in situ method - keeping live animals in their natural environment. All goose breeds included in the protection programme represent a valuable part of the genetic diversity of the species. Based on the analysis of the results for the 2021 or 2022 period, it was found that these geese maintain good health, achieve good production and hatchability parameters, and their mating method protects them from an inbred increase.

Keywords: geese, biodiversity, breed characteristics, productivity