To increase farmers' incomes and improve their living standards, the government of the Republic of China has been vigorously promoting all kinds of sideline jobs in rural areas and helped farmers to capitalize on available resources. Such animals as deer, geese and pigs are being raised to make use of low-grade feed. Of these, goose-raising has proved to be highly profitable, as it takes a small amount of capital, and the administration work is easy. Agricultural institutions have continuously improved breeds of geese, and provided advanced techniques on raising them, allowing many farmers to branch out into a promising new career.

Different breeds. Geese differ according to climate and environment. In China, there are two major breeds of geese, one known as lion head, coming from Kwangtung province, and the other a local Taiwan version. The former, which is large black variety, was introduced to Taiwan by Hakka people from the mainland. Nowadays, the pure breed of this type is rarely seen, as it is no longer so popular.

In the past, the small and bony local goose laid about 40 eggs a year, and its procreative power was small. Though it consumed a large quantity of food, its rate of growth was slow. Farmers lacked modern knowledge of raising geese, and profits were correspondingly low. As a result, geese were expensive, and rarely seen in the market.

As people's living standards were gradually improved, however, the popularity of goose meat grew. Government agricultural institutions therefore introduced birds from Italy and Germany, and conducted research into creating new breeds. Though the two exotic types of geese grew quickly, and their weight and eggs production rates were double those of the local geese, gourmets complained that their skin was too thick and they had too much fat. They were suitable for roasting or baking in the Western style, but not for boiling the Chinese way.

New breeds. After continuous research, observation and cross breeding experiments, the Changhua Propagation Farm of the Taiwan Livestock Research institute in central Taiwan finally produced two new breeds of geese which proved popular with local consumers.

The rate of growth, characteristics, and size of each type was noted before the two new strains were put on the market at a low price of US$5 for each fledgling bird.

There are many behind-the-scenes workers in this field who dedicated their efforts to helping rural development in isolated mountain and coastal areas. One of them, Lin Shang-sheng, said that in comparison with other livestock, the reproduction rate among geese is slow.

Special problems. Lin admitted that it is much easier to crossbreed ducks than geese. Geese for instance must spend some time together before they will mate. "It is not surprising the Chinese compare somebody who is hard to get to know with a goose," he pointed out.

Since geese are monogamous, numbers of males and females must be matched. Low incubation rate and the fact that artificial insemination cannot be achieved are other hindrances to mass reproduction. In general, it takes about 30 days to hatch a goose egg, 10 days longer than a chicken egg. Today, many large-scale goose farms use electric incubators to hatch eggs, and spray water over them regularly, as well as control temperatures to improve conditions. Baby geese need help when they are emerging from the eggs, otherwise they may suffocate. Consequently, the market price of a crossbred goose is about US$4 higher than for chickens or ducklings.

Farming. It is easy to raise and look after geese once they are hatched, however. Some farmers let their geese live on weeds and insects they find in orchards. Sometimes they feed them with high-protein food or wild lotus flowers from nearby brooks and ponds. Farmers have observed that geese mate more easily if they have easy access to open water. Lin said that although geese are more prone to disease in summer, as long as they have good ventilation and sanitary conditions, they should not suffer from the common afflictions to feet, eyes and lungs. Geese may be sold for food in four months, but it takes five to six years for breeding geese to reach maturity. Some stories say that a goose may live as long as 100 years. Goose meat may be sold at US$1 per pound and a breeding bird may fetch US$15.

Economic value. As well as earning money from the meat, farmers can also sell goose down for stuffing into such items as sleeping bags and jackets, which are major export items in Taiwan.

For Chang Ting-ping, a farmer in Changhua County, raising geese not only brings in an annual profit of about US$28,000, but has also proved to be an interesting experience in itself.

He said that geese are obedient to their master. They follow him to and from their coops to the pond in an orderly fashion. They may advance toward a stranger and honk to call their master's attention to any intrusion, making them excellent guards.

"Once they get used to a routine, it is extremely difficult to change their habits. For instance, if I usually feed them twice a day, they will not eat a third meal even if it is provided. They never wander off from the farm, and usually follow the leader who emerges in each gaggle. Above all, they love to go out in summer showers," Chang said.

His success has helped to create a new image for farmers in the Republic of China. Instead of being conservative and self-satisfied, they are now willing to accept modern technical know-how and concepts.

[Picture Caption]

1. The Changhua Propagation Farm of Taiwan Livestock Research Institute has produced a new type of goose by crossbreeding the Chinese goose with the lion-headed goose. 2. The pro-creative power of the small and bony local goose is small, but as its skin is thin, it is suitable for cooking in the Chinese way. 3. Though the exotic Embden geese grow quickly, and their weight and egg production rates are double those of the local geese, consumers complain that their skin is too thick and they have too much fat.

1. Electric incubators are used to hatch eggs to control humidity and temperature and raise the hatching rate. 2. A newly hatched goose. 3. Farmers have observed that geese mate more easily if they have easy access to open water. 4. Some farmers let their geese live on weeds and in-sects they find in orchards.

Goose-raising has proved to be a highly profitable sideline in rural areas. There are many breeding geese at the Changhua Propagation Farm.

The pro-creative power of the small and bony local goose is small, but as its skin is thin, it is suitable for cooking in the Chinese way.

Though the exotic Embden geese grow quickly, and their weight and egg production rates are double those of the local geese, consumers complain that their skin is too thick and they have too much fat.

Electric incubators are used to hatch eggs to control humidity and temperature and raise the hatching rate.

A newly hatched goose.

Farmers have observed that geese mate more easily if they have easy access to open water.

Some farmers let their geese live on weeds and in-sects they find in orchards.

Goose-raising has proved to be a highly profitable sideline in rural areas.

Goose-raising has proved to be a highly profitable sideline in rural areas.

There are many breeding geese at the Changhua Propagation Farm.