What Are the Excellent Duck Breeds? Introduction to Seven Major Duck Breeds and Their Characteristics
China is the world's largest producer of waterfowl, with the rearing of meat ducks, laying ducks and geese accounting for about 70% of the world total. Friends in rural areas keep a few ducks in every household, and China has no shortage of dishes that use duck as an ingredient; many regions are even famous for their duck. But if farmers want to raise ducks, the first thing they must do is choose excellent duck breeds. Below, the editor introduces seven excellent duck breeds for everyone. Let's take a look.
1. Shaoxing Duck
The Shaoxing Duck, also known as the Shaoxing Ma Duck, is a famous excellent egg-type Ma duck breed in China. It has the advantages of a small body size, early maturity, high egg production, low feed consumption, strong disease resistance and wide adaptability. It is mainly distributed in Shaoxing, Shangyu, Xiaoshan, Zhuji and other places in Zhejiang Province, and has been introduced and raised in more than 20 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions across the country.
Through long-term purification and rejuvenation and pure-line selection, the Shaoxing Duck has formed two strains: the White Wingtip with Collar type and the Red Feather Green Wingtip type. Adult weight: the "with collar" type drake is 1.45 kg and the duck 1.5 kg; the "red feather" type drake is 1.5 kg and the duck 1.6 kg. The sexual maturity age of the duck is 132-135 days, and the age at which the flock reaches a 50% laying rate is 140-150 days; the breeding ratio of males to females is 1:20-30. Under normal feeding and management conditions, the average annual egg production is 260-300 eggs, with a maximum of 320 eggs; egg weight is 63-65 g; shell color is mainly white for the "with collar" type and mainly greenish for the "red feather" type.
2. Jinding Duck
The Jinding Duck is an excellent egg-type duck breed in China. It has the characteristics of high egg production, large egg size, greenish eggshells, strong foraging ability, high feed conversion and tolerance to heat and cold. It originates from Jinding Township in Longwan County, Fujian Province, and the outskirts of Xiamen City along the lower reaches of the Jiulong River.
After many years of selection, the Jinding Duck's body size, feather color and eggshell color have become basically uniform, and its genetic performance is stable. Adult weight: drake 1.5-2.0 kg, duck 1.5-1.7 kg. Ducks begin laying at 110-120 days of age, with a cumulative egg production of 260-280 eggs by 500 days of age; egg weight is 70-72 g, and the eggshell is mainly greenish.
3. Khaki Campbell Duck
Originating in the United Kingdom, it is a world-famous excellent egg-type duck breed. It has the characteristics of wide adaptability, high egg production, high feed utilization, strong disease resistance and good meat quality.
The Khaki Campbell Duck has a relatively large body size, close to that of a dual-purpose duck, but it has good laying performance and a docile temperament, making it very suitable for confined rearing. Adult weight: drake 2.3-2.5 kg, duck 2.0-2.3 kg. Ducks begin laying at 120-135 days of age, with an average annual egg production of about 250-270 eggs; egg weight is about 70-75 g, and the eggshell is white. The meat is fresh and tender with a rich aroma.
4. Pekin Duck
The Pekin Duck is a world-famous standard breed of excellent meat-type duck. It has the characteristics of fast growth and good fattening performance, and is the raw material for the world-renowned "Peking Roast Duck". It originates from the area of Yuquan Mountain in the western suburbs of Beijing, and has now spread all over the world, occupying an important position in the international duck industry.
The Pekin Duck has a relatively large body size, a docile temperament and strong flocking behavior. In the matched lines, adult drakes weigh 3.5-4.0 kg and ducks 3.2-3.45 kg, and ducks lay about 220 eggs per year on average. Commercial meat ducks weigh 3.2 kg at 45 days of age, with a feed conversion ratio of 2.4 and a breast meat rate of 13.5%.
5. Cherry Valley Duck
Originating in the United Kingdom, it was introduced into China in the 1980s, when grandparent stock farms were established. It is a world-famous lean-meat duck. It has the advantages of fast growth, a high lean meat rate, a high net meat rate and a high feed conversion rate, as well as strong disease resistance.
The Cherry Valley Duck has a relatively large body size, with adult drakes weighing 4.0-4.5 kg and ducks 3.5-4.0 kg. In parent stock flocks, ducks reach sexual maturity at 26 weeks of age and lay 210-220 eggs per year on average. White-feathered L-line commercial ducks weigh 3.0 kg at 47 days of age, with a feed-to-weight ratio of 3:1, a lean meat rate of more than 70% and a breast meat rate of 23.6%-24.7%.
6. Digo Duck
Originating in Australia, it is a world-famous meat-type duck. It has the characteristics of fast growth, early maturity and easy fattening, a large body size and a high dressing percentage.
Adult drakes and ducks weigh 3.5 kg on average, reach sexual maturity at 180 days of age, and ducks lay 140-160 eggs per year. Commercial ducks weigh 2.5 kg at 50 days of age, and under good feeding conditions can reach 3.5 kg at 56 days of age, with a feed-to-weight ratio of 3:1. They are top-grade raw material for roast duck, braised duck and pressed salted duck.
7. Muscovy Duck
Commonly known as the Muscovy duck, it originates from the tropical regions of South America and Central America. When the Muscovy duck is crossed with the domestic duck, the offspring have no reproductive ability and are commonly known as mule ducks. It has the characteristics of fast growth, a large body size, full breast and leg muscles and excellent meat quality, and is one of the main meat poultry breeds in southern China.
Adult weight: drake 4.0-5.0 kg, duck 2.5-3.0 kg. Ducks begin laying at 180-210 days of age, laying 60-120 eggs per year on average, with an egg weight of 70-80 g. At 3 months of age, commercial ducks weigh 2.7 kg for drakes and 1.8 kg for ducks, with a feed-to-weight ratio of 3:1 and a lean meat rate of about 75%.
The above are the seven excellent duck breeds recommended by the editor. The meat is fine and tender, good in taste and rich in nutrition, containing a large amount of unsaturated fatty acids that do not accumulate in the human body; once absorbed, they can soften the heart and cerebrovascular vessels. The skin of the duck contains a large amount of collagen and is an excellent beauty product.
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