Incubation Properties of Native Geese in Turkey

Abstract

Goose breeding is an important branch of breeding in many countries especially in the USA, China, Poland, France, Bulgaria, and Russia. In Turkey, goose production is performed in the Eastern Anatolia Region, especially in Kars and Ardahan provinces, Central Anatolia, and the Lakes Region is also a significant source for meeting families' meat demand. This research was conducted to identify incubation properties of local geese raised in Afyonkarahisar. In this study, egg weight, shape index, fertilization range, incubation performance, and hatching power were determined. Data was collected from 100 geese eggs obtained from a goose flock that were in the first yield year in a private family business in Nuribey town, Afyonkarahisar. It was found that egg weight was 137.37±9.21g, shape index was 67.04±2.94%, fertilization rate was 72.00%, incubation performance was 58.00%, and hatching power was 80.55%. This study is important for the evaluation of goose potential in Afyonkarahisar region, it is possible to say that is a race that should be studied especially in terms of fertility rate, hatchability and hatching power.