Goslings for sale - goose eggs for sale

News....

Poultry World - April 2010

Soapbox article by Eddie Hegarty

Goose eggs on target for Easter - despite wintry weather

The hard winter that has delayed the arrival of spring blossoms hasn’t held back mother goose — and prospects are that there will be more goose eggs available for Easter this year.“

It is the increasing day length rather than the temperature that dictates the arrival of the first eggs and we had geese laying on Valentine’s Day this year, just as tradition decrees,” says Eddie Hegarty, partner of Norfolk Geese and vice chairman of British Goose Producers (BGP).

“As consumer interest in goose eggs is growing, more goose producers are keeping back birds reared last autumn and the eggs will be available from now until July when days start to shorten. So we’re expecting they’ll be more goose eggs available this year from farm shops, speciality food retailers and even some supermarkets.”

Chefs are seeking to use goose eggs more in soufflés, chocolate brownies and other dishes. The eggs make wonderful sponge cakes and, according to Mr Hegarty, they provide the ideal batter for scrumptious pancakes, Yorkshire pudding and toad-in-the-hole. As well as the fantastic omelettes with a rich golden colour.

Goose newcomers award goes to Peak District

Newcomer to farming in one of the countrys most scenic locations, Lizzie Murphy, is the 2009 winner of the John Adlard Memorial Award for new entrants to goose production.

The award, which includes a number of free goslings and specialist advice through the first year, is in memory of John Adlard, founder of Norfolk Geese and chairman of British Goose Producers (BGP) for 23 years until his death in 2005.

Lizzie, who is rearing 363 geese at Netherdale Farm in Monsal Dale in the Derbyshire Peak District, received the award from Eddie Hegarty, partner of Norfolk Geese and BGP vice chairman, at its annual goose walk at Radley, near Abingdon, Oxfordshire.

Lizzie and her husband Den took over the tenancy of Netherdale Farm in September but had already made arrangements with the owners, Chatsworth Estate, to bring in the goslings in June to start production for the Christmas market.

She had already looked into the market for geese locally and plans to sell them at farm shops, butchers and the farmers market in Bakewell as well as from the farmgate. The farm, which has provided settings for films, is located on the Monsal trail and attracts thousands of walkers through the year.

Try a goose egg - fantastic for omelettes
An increasing number of goose eggs will go on sale this spring as producers seek to cater for growing interest from consumers, retailers and restaurants.Like the goose, the eggs are a seasonal product only available from mid February to July when days start to shorten and the geese go off lay.

The countrys largest gosling hatchery, Norfolk Geese, reports that more of its customers are keeping back birds reared last autumn for egg production this spring.

"We have seen a gradual increase in farmers producing goose eggs, but I have never known interest like this year," says Eddie Hegarty, partner of Norfolk Geese and vice chairman of British Goose Producers, part of the British Poultry Council. "

From Cornwall to Essex, there are producers looking to increase availability of goose eggs. We normally expect the first egg on Valentines Day. Last spring was early and so were the first goose eggs, but with the wintry weather they could well be a little later this year."

Winners of the 2008
John Adlard Memorial Award
The 2008 winners of the John Adlard Memorial Award, David and Fiona Griffiths are pictured with Eddie Hegarty, partner of Norfolk Geese.

The annual award - for new entrants to goose production - is in memory of its founder John Adlard who was also the BGP chairman from its beginning in 1982 until his death in 2005.

The Griffiths live at Trefeglwys, Caersaw, Powys, where they also have beef and sheep on the 230-acre grassland farm.

Lithograph to celebrate traditional British Goose
A lithograph commissioned by British Goose Producers to mark their 25th anniversary is being used this year to promote the most traditional of Christmas meals.

They turned to the Norwich School of Art and Design, which chose final-year degree student Harry Hillier to produce the lithograph. He portrayed three classic white geese strutting through green and pleasant medieval countryside under the slogan A great British tradition.

A first edition of high quality prints on German etching paper has been made for goose producers this autumn individually signed by the artist. Further prints will be seen this year in butchers’ and farm shops around the country.

Helping to develop Michaelmas goose market
An easy start scheme to help goose producers take advantage of the Michaelmas market without needing to process small numbers of birds is being launched by Norfolk Geese in partnership with Gulliver Geese.

Producers will be able to order finished geese to be reared and processed by the partnership, Norfolk Goose Breeders, and then market them in their own locality to develop Michaelmas sales.

"Unfortunately the initial set-up costs for processing numbers as small as 20 geese are very high and this has stopped many producers from developing this market. Feedback from last years Michaelmas has proved there is a market, but it will have to be developed to reach economic levels across the country."

Under the plan producers will place an order for a number of processed geese at certain weights; Norfolk Goose Breeders will rear these birds using a published rearing plan, then kill and pluck birds ready for collection or delivery mid September.

Hatching goslings.....
After a successful first hatch in his bedroom of five goslings Joseph Hegarty will be hatching gosling to provide tame geese suitable as pets this year.

Winners of goose entrant sponsorship
Norfolk farmers, Martin and Rosemary Jensen, are the 2007 winners of the John Adlard Memorial Sponsorship aimed at helping get new entrants to goose production off to a flying start. Their success was announced at the annual farm walk of British Goose Producers, hosted by Norfolk Geese which instigated the award last year in memory of the group's founder chairman John Adlard.

Arable farmers at Guestwick, the Jensens are this year producing 75 geese and looking to sell them to local hotels and restaurants as well as farmgate customers. With their daughter studying agriculture at the Royal Agricultural College at Cirencester, the geese are one part of their diversifying enterprises that include borage, haylage and sheep production.