Geese are farmed for meat, down, and foie gras; their behavioral needs are frequently unmet in commercial production, raising significant welfare concerns.
Goose welfare in commercial settings encompasses several significant concerns. Foie gras production, involving tube-feeding of large quantities of feed to produce hepatic steatosis, is widely considered one of the most severe welfare compromises in food production — it is banned in the UK, Germany, and many other countries though remains legal elsewhere. Commercial goose farming for meat often denies water access adequate for bathing and social behavior. Down certification schemes (Responsible Down Standard, Global Traceable Down Standard) address live plucking but not other aspects of goose welfare during farming. Their strong social bonds and intelligence make isolation and barren environments particularly welfare-relevant.