Kholmogory Geese

a breed of geese developed in the 19th century in the central chernozem zone of Russia by crossing local geese with Chinese geese. Kholmogory geese are large, with a massive body. There are cutaneous folds on the abdomen and under the bill and a knob at the base of the bill. The plumage is white and gray; the bill and legs are yellow-orange. Adult males weigh 8–9 kg, and adult females 6–7 kg. The breed is distinguished for high-quality meat. The young grow rapidly and fatten easily: With intensive fattening, they weigh 4–5 kg in 60 to 75 days. The egg-laying capacity is 25 to 40, with an egg weighing 140–200 g. Kholmogory geese are used as breeding stock. Breeding centers are Voronezh and Kursk Oblasts, as well as neighboring oblasts.