Farmed geese are raised in significant numbers for meat and foie gras production globally, but receive far less welfare attention than chickens, pigs, or cattle despite significant welfare concerns.
Farmed geese receive remarkably little welfare attention relative to the scale of production. The extreme case is foie gras, where force-feeding causes severe metabolic disease that is the goal rather than a side effect of production. Even in conventional goose meat production, denial of water access for bathing and preening deprives waterfowl of behaviors essential to their wellbeing. Live plucking for down adds further suffering. Consumer awareness is low, and regulatory coverage is weak in major producing countries. Informed choices about goose products and down alternatives can reduce participation in these systems.