American Buff

Did You Know?

• The American Buff differs from other buff-colored geese such as the Brecon Buff and the Celler Gans in its vivid orange beak, shanks and feet.
• Its abdomen is white or nearly so.

History

The American Buff goose, like nearly all domestic goose breeds, traces its lineage back to the Greylag goose, a wild species native to Europe and northern Asia. No one is certain exactly where the American Buff came from. Some think it might have been developed from common grey farm geese, while others believe it was created from buff-colored geese brought over from Europe. What is known is that the modern version of the breed was shaped by a Missouri breeder named Oscar Grow during the 1930s and 1940s. The American Poultry Association officially recognized the breed in 1947, placing it in the 'medium' weight category. Across the Atlantic, the British Poultry Standards added the American Buff in 1982, but there it grew into a much heavier bird, so the Poultry Club of Great Britain now classifies it as a heavy breed. This goose is rare today. The Livestock Conservancy lists it as a 'watch' breed, meaning it needs monitoring to prevent further decline. Neither the American Buff nor any other goose breed is reported by the USDA to the FAO’s DAD-IS database. It does appear on the Ark of Taste, a catalog of endangered foods maintained by the Slow Food Foundation.