The Toulouse is a heavy [[Geese|goose]] breed developed in France, named after the city of Toulouse in the Haute-Garonne region. The breed is one of the largest domestic goose breeds and is raised primarily for meat, liver (foie gras), and feathers. Toulouse geese are distinguished by their massive body, dewlap (a loose fold of skin under the throat), and calm, docile temperament.
The Toulouse goose was developed in the vicinity of Toulouse, France, by farmers who selected the largest local geese for size and weight. The breed was refined through the 18th and 19th centuries, with emphasis on body mass and the development of the dewlap, a feature that became a breed hallmark. The Toulouse was one of the foundation breeds of the French goose industry and was exported widely.
The breed was imported to England in the 1850s and to the United States in the 1860s. Two distinct types developed: the Standard or Production Toulouse, with a moderate dewlap and better egg production, and the Dewlap or Exhibition Toulouse, a massive bird bred primarily for show. The breed was admitted to the American Poultry Association's Standard of Perfection in 1874.
Toulouse geese are massive, deep-bodied birds with grayish-brown plumage and a lighter abdomen. The head is large and carried on a thick neck with a prominent dewlap. The bill is orange, and the legs and feet are orange to pinkish. The body is carried nearly horizontal and extends well back. Ganders weigh 20 to 26 pounds (9 to 12 kilograms), and geese weigh 16 to 22 pounds (7 to 10 kilograms). The Exhibition Toulouse can reach even larger weights.
The breed is docile to the point of lethargy. Toulouse geese are less active foragers than lighter breeds and are better suited to confinement with high-quality feed. Geese lay 25 to 40 large white eggs per year and will go broody. The meat is well-marbled and flavorful. The down is exceptionally dense and is highly valued for bedding.
Toulouse geese are raised for meat, foie gras production, and down on specialized operations and homesteads. The breed's large size produces the highest meat yield per bird of any goose breed. The calm temperament makes them easy to handle, and their heavy weight means they are less flighty than lighter breeds.
The breed's low activity level and high nutritional needs mean they require a diet richer in protein and energy than the Embden or African goose. Toulouse geese are less cold-tolerant than other breeds due to their dewlap, which can be susceptible to frostbite in extreme cold.