Photo: BMLFUW/Rita Newman
Südburgenländische Weidegans *
Resumption of the centuries-old tradition of free-range goose keeping on pastures in a natural, stress-free way and in compliance with animal welfare.Register number: 27
Disclosure date
For centuries traditional goose keeping in the Austrian province of Burgenland
Photo: BM...
Pasture raised geese in South-Burgenland
(Südburgenländische Weidegans)
Anser anser f. domestica (L.)
Abstract or claim
Resumption of the centuries-old tradition of free-range goose keeping on pastures in a natural, stress-free way and in compliance with animal welfare.
Name of product / Product class
Goose meat, meat products
Name of region
South-Burgenland (political districts Oberwart, Güssing and Jennersdorf)
Field of search
Food and Agriculture
Name of information provider
IG Burgenländische Weidegans
Name of applicant for title
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Holder of knowledge or associated resources
IG Burgenländische Weidegans
Farmers in the region
Grantee(s), holder(s), assignee(s) or owner(s) of title, if any
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Descriptors
- History
The province of Burgenland is often associated with goose keeping because of its patron-saint, Saint Martin. According to legend, the monk Martin was reluctant to become bishop, which is why he hid in a stable filled with geese. The geese-gabbling betrayed his hiding-place to the people who were looking for him.
St. Martin’s Day is celebrated on November 11 with a traditional goose meal.
In the 18th century, geese were delivered to the capital Vienna mainly from North- and Middle-Burgenland, the former German-West Hungary.
Goose-keeping was not only for the production of meat, but also for obtaining feathers. Until the first half of the 20th century the custom of goose-feather stripping, i.e. the manual removal of the soft vanes from the central shaft, was a joint activity of goose keepers and their neighbours in small villages. It contributed to the social cohesion of the people living in a village and also to the safeguarding of traditional folk songs sung during feather stripping.
Despite the centuries-old tradition of goose-keeping in Burgenland, geese nearly disappeared from the villages of the Burgenland in the 1960’s. In 2002, a group of innovative farmers relaunched the free-range rearing of geese.
Goose keeping is not only seen as an instrument to supplement farm income but also as a tool for landscape preservation.
- Region
The South-Burgenland (political districts Oberwart, Güssing and Jennersdorf) is an extensive hilly region in the east of Austria, neighbouring Hungary.
- Pasture raised geese
Photo: BMLFUW/Rita Newman
Geese are natural grazers and enjoy the good grass in the extensive orchards of this region. The grass is supplemented with local cereals, if appropriate.
While intensively fed geese are ready to be served within 13 weeks, free-range geese must be reared for at least 26 weeks. This ensures the highest quality of goose meat.
Utilization
Goose meat coming from geese raised on pastures is a dark, fibrous meat, low in fat and excellent in taste. Goose meat is eaten in a variety of traditional dishes on St. Martin’s Day on 11th November.
Key words
Food and Agriculture, Traditional Knowledge, Austria, Burgenland, South-Burgenland, region, Oberwart, Güssing, Jennersdorf, goose keeping, goose, geese, Anser anser f. domestica (L.)
Bibliography/References
- Österreichische Weidegans
www.weidegans.at
http://www.weidegans.at/Seiten/MenueLinks/Partner.htm
- Photo stories of Burgenland
http://www.memoryprojects.at/burgland/15.htm
- St. Martin's Day
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Martin%27s_day
Language code
German
Product of www.genuss-region.at
yes
Regional contact
Ing. Christian Reicher
Landwirtschaftliches Bezirksreferat Güssing
7540 Güssing, Stremtalstraße 21a
Phone: 0043 3322/42610
Fax: 0043 3322/42610-22
E-mail: christian.reicher@guessing.lk-bgld.at
Authors: Mag. Eva Sommer, Dr. Erhard Höbaus
* revised version in preparation
02.11.2009, Lebensministerium III/4