Which breeds are best for meat-type ducks? Two recommended improved hybrid lines

1. Digao duck The Digao duck is a large hybrid-line meat duck developed by the Australian Digao company from introduced Pekin ducks. It was introduced into China in the 1980s. Parent-stock breeder ducks of this breed were raised at the Guangdong Overseas Chinese Farm. In 1987, the Nanhai County breeding duck farm in Guangdong Province introduced parent-stock Digao ducks, and the commercial ducks produced were well received.

The Digao duck's appearance is similar to that of the Pekin duck. Ducklings have red-yellow feathers, which turn white after the juvenile plumage is molted. The head is large and slightly long, the neck is thick, the back is long and broad, the breast is wide, the body is slightly long, the breast muscles are full, and the tail is slightly raised, with 2-4 sex feathers; the bill is yellow, and the shanks and webs are orange-red.

This duck reaches sexual maturity at 182 days, and egg production enters its peak at 33 weeks of age, with a laying rate above 90%. Annual egg production is 200-230 eggs, with an average egg weight of 88 grams and white eggshells. The male-to-female breeding ratio is 1:5-6, the fertilization rate is above 90%, and the hatchability of fertilized eggs is about 85%. Each parent-stock female duck can provide about 160 commercial ducklings. Newly hatched ducklings weigh about 55 grams, reach 1114 grams at 30 days of age, and 2713 grams at 60 days of age. At 7 weeks of age, commercial meat ducks weigh 3 kg, with a feed-to-meat ratio of 1:2.9-3; the semi-eviscerated dressing percentage is 92.86%-94.04%, and the fully eviscerated dressing percentage (including head and feet) is 79.76%-82.34%. The breast muscle weighs 273 grams, and the leg muscle weighs 352 grams.

The Digao duck has strong adaptability, and can still maintain relatively high production performance even when the natural environment and rearing conditions change considerably. This duck is resistant to cold and tolerant of heat, likes to rest in dry places, and can mate naturally on land, making it a good duck breed for dryland pen rearing and cage rearing in rural areas.

2. Furong duck The Furong duck is the first lean-type hybrid meat duck bred in China.

This duck has strong reproductive capacity, fast early growth, low feed consumption, and a high lean meat rate. Breeder ducks are housed from 26-65 weeks of age, female ducks produce 209 eggs, and commercial meat ducks reach an average body weight of 3-3.2 kg at 49 days of age, with a feed conversion ratio of 2.83-2.87. The breast muscle rate of the carcass reaches 16.5%-16.9%. The rate of skin plus subcutaneous fat in the carcass is less than 30%, reaching the international advanced level. It is the first of its kind in China, and has created a good example for breeding lean-type duck hybrid lines in China.

A total of 150,000 parent-stock breeder ducks and 19.18 million commercial meat ducks were promoted in 14 provinces and cities across the country, with an average marketable rate above 90%. Each breeder duck earned a profit of 35 yuan, and each meat duck earned a profit of 3.5 yuan. Furong duck meat is thick and tender, with no gamey smell, and is a top-quality poultry product. This breed won the second prize of the National Science and Technology Progress Award in 1990.