The Spread of Foreign Goose Breeds and Genotypes in Türkiye and Their Effects on Native Geese

İngilizce (OpenAlex)

Traditional goose production in Türkiye has been carried out in certain regions using native geese. On the other hand, increasing interest in goose farming, government support programs, rural development projects, and growing consumer demand have contributed to the growth of the goose industry. As a result, goose production has become widespread across different regions of the country. In parallel with the development of the sector, interest in geese of foreign origin with higher meat and egg production potential has also increased. Producers have incorporated these foreign-origin geese into their production systems to improve per-animal productivity. However, uncontrolled mating practices during this process threatens the conservation of genetic resources. In particular, mating among foreign-origin geese to achieve higher productivity, as well as crossbreeding between foreign-origin and native geese, may compromise the genetic integrity of foreign-origin populations and alter the unique genetic structure of native geese. This risk is further intensified by the fact that no native goose breed has yet been officially recognized and registered in Türkiye. Genetic changes affecting native geese may complicate future research on identification, conservation, and registration of these native genetic resources. The current review aimed to present the recent state of the goose industry in Türkiye and to highlight the necessity of genetic characterization studies, conservation strategies, controlled breeding programs, and the sustainable use of valuable genetic resources. Keywords: Genetic characterization, goose breeding, conservation strategies, crossbreeding, native goose genetic resources