Emden goose
Heaviest German goose breed, oldest in the region.
The Emden goose, also called the Embden, comes from Germany and takes its name from the town of Emden in the far northwest of the country. This breed is the oldest known goose breed from what is now Germany, with roots that may stretch back to the 1200s. It comes from the large white geese native to the East Frisia region of northwestern Germany, which had long curved necks and were sometimes called "swan geese." The breed as we know it today was developed in the late 1800s.
By 2016, Germany had 238 female and 132 male Emden geese in its breeding population. In 2013, the breed was listed as "seriously endangered" (Category II) on the Rote Liste kept by the Gesellschaft zur Erhaltung alter und gefährdeter Haustierrassen. As of 2025, based on 2023 data, its status has improved to Category III, meaning it is still endangered but less critically so.
The Emden is the heaviest goose breed in Germany. Ganders can weigh up to 12 kilograms and stand a meter tall. Their feathers are pure white, their feet and shanks are orange, and their short bill is a slightly lighter shade of orange.
People keep Emden geese for both meat and eggs. The meat is of good quality. A goose may lay about 50 to 60 eggs per year, each weighing roughly 170 grams on average.
- origin
- Germany, named for Emden in north-westernmost Germany
- breed type
- domestic goose
- weight
- ganders up to 12 kg, height up to a metre
- plumage
- pure white
- egg production
- 50–60 eggs per year, average weight about 170 g
- conservation status (2013)
- Category II, stark gefährdet (seriously endangered)
- conservation status (2025)
- Category III endangered (based on 2023 data)
Lore & Background
The Emden derives from the traditional large white geese of the East Frisia region of north-western Germany. These earlier geese had a long curved neck and were sometimes known as Schwanengans or 'swan geese'. The breed's origins are believed to go back to the thirteenth century, making it the oldest goose breed of the area that is now Germany. The modern breed was established in the late nineteenth century. In 2016, the breeding population in Germany consisted of 238 female and 132 male birds. In 2013 the conservation status of the Emdener was listed in the Rote Liste of the Gesellschaft zur Erhaltung alter und gefährdeter Haustierrassen in its Category II, stark gefährdet ('seriously endangered'). As of 2025 that has lowered to Category III endangered based on 2023 data.
Reader's Guide
The Emden goose holds significance as the oldest goose breed of the area that is now Germany, with a history reaching back to the thirteenth century. It is the heaviest German goose breed, with ganders weighing up to 12 kg and reaching a height of a metre. The breed is kept for both meat and eggs; the meat is of good quality, and geese may lay some 50–60 eggs per year with an average weight of about 170 g. Its conservation status has improved from 'seriously endangered' in 2013 to 'endangered' as of 2025, based on 2023 data, reflecting ongoing efforts to preserve the breed. The Emden's pure white plumage, orange feet and shanks, and short lighter orange bill make it distinctive. Its legacy is tied to the traditional agriculture of the East Frisia region and the town of Emden in north-westernmost Germany.
Did You Know?
- The Emden is the oldest goose breed of the area that is now Germany, with origins believed to go back to the thirteenth century.
- It derives from traditional large white geese of the East Frisia region, sometimes called Schwanengans or 'swan geese' due to their long curved neck.
- In 2016, the breeding population in Germany consisted of 238 female and 132 male birds.
- The Emden is the heaviest goose breed of Germany: ganders may weigh up to 12 kg and reach a height of a metre.
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