Geese are farmed for meat, down feathers, and foie gras. Each production system raises distinct welfare concerns, with foie gras production among the most severely criticized in commercial animal agriculture.
Goose farming welfare spans from acceptable to severely harmful depending on production system. Force-feeding for foie gras production involves restraining birds and inserting tubes into their esophagus multiple times daily to deliver force-fed quantities of corn that produce pathological liver enlargement. Scientific panels including the EU Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Animal Welfare have concluded that foie gras production causes unavoidable suffering. Live plucking of down — removing feathers while the bird is alive — causes pain, fear, and feather follicle damage. Meat production for geese can be conducted in reasonable welfare conditions when birds have access to appropriate outdoor areas, water features, and social groupings. Consumer avoidance of foie gras and live-plucked down products directly reduces welfare harm in these high-suffering production systems.