Farmed Goose Welfare: Housing, Handling and Slaughter

Geese are farmed in significant numbers for meat and liver production, yet welfare standards remain poorly regulated in many countries.

Key Facts

China produces over 90% of the world's farmed geese, with the EU being a secondary producer.
Geese are highly social, intelligent birds that form strong pair bonds and family groups.
Intensive confinement prevents natural behaviours such as foraging, bathing, and flight.
Foie gras production involves force-feeding (gavage) that causes liver enlargement and distress.
France, Hungary, and Bulgaria are major EU foie gras producers; force-feeding is banned in the UK.
Free-range goose systems allow natural foraging and bathing behaviour, significantly improving welfare.

Welfare Considerations

Farmed geese have complex social and behavioural needs that are difficult to meet in intensive systems. Force-feeding for foie gras production causes severe welfare compromise — the practice is widely condemned by veterinary bodies. Even in non-foie-gras systems, lack of access to water for bathing is a significant welfare deficit. Consumer-facing labelling improvements and stronger EU regulations are key drivers of change.

What You Can Do

Choose goose products from certified free-range or organic systems that mandate bathing water access.
Avoid foie gras produced by traditional gavage force-feeding methods.
Support campaigns for an EU-wide ban on force-feeding for foie gras production.
Write to retailers asking them to source goose products from higher welfare farms.