Analysis of Slovak and Czech national breeds of geese with respect to effective population size

Abstract

For this study certified flocks of Slovak Goose and Suchovska Goose controlled by the Czech Goose and the Czech Crested Goose Breeders Club, were used. Parameters analyzed were: total number of birds, number of breeding males and number of breeding females, effective population size following the categorization by Simon and Buchenauer (1993) and Wright (1931). Populations of analyzed breeds of geese were categorized by Scherf (2000). We found the lowest number of Slovak Goose in the year 2001 (34 birds), while the highest number of poultry was detected in the year 2005 (83 birds). The effective population size of Slovak Goose varied widely from 28.24 to 76.86 pcs, with average of 56.26 pcs. We categorized the Slovak Goose as a critical breed. In case of the Suchovska Goose we detected the lowest total number in the year 2003 (67 birds) and highest number in the year 2005 (143 birds). Minimal effective population size of Suchovska Goose ranged from 57.78 to 125.33 pcs, with average of 96.72 pcs. Suchovska Goose was also categorized as a critical breed. The total number of Czech Goose was the highest in the year 2000, where 226 birds were bred, the lowest number being in the year 2008 (111 birds). The effective population size was in the range from 101.20 to 168.50 pcs, with average effective population size of 116.03 pcs. The Czech Goose was categorized as endangered from the year 2000 to 2003 and was maintained with an active conservation programme. From the year 2004 to 2008 it was a critically-maintained breed with an active conservation programme in place. The highest total number of Czech Crested Goose was noted in the year 2004 (39 birds), the lowest number in the year 2005 (25 birds). The effective population size was in the range from 23.04 to 34.67 pcs, with an average size of 29.49 pcs. The Czech Crested Goose was also categorized as critically-maintained breed with an active conservation programme in place.