From
ancient times domestic ducks have served as a source
of food and income for people in many parts of the
world. Ducks are a source of meat, eggs and
down-feathers (for making bedding and warm jackets).
Ducks are able to subsist and grow to maturity on
relatively simple diets, based on locally available
feed stuffs. Duck meat and duck eggs are good
dietary sources of high quality protein, energy and
several vitamins and minerals.
When properly included as part of a well balanced
daily diet, duck meat and eggs can supply a
substantial portion of the nutrients required by
humans. Ducks may be raised in small or large
flocks. A small flock of ducks may be kept by a
household as a supplemental source of food or
income.
A small flock of ducks can be established at low
cost. A higher investment is required to establish
larger, or commercial flocks, which require better
buildings, equipment and feeds. However, greater
income, supporting several families may be realized
if a large flock is properly managed.
Domestic ducks fall into the following major
genetic classifications:
Common Ducks
Most domestic ducks fall into this group. Common
ducks are believed to have originated from the
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos). Some of the better
known breeds of common ducks include the Pekin,
Asylesbury, Rouen, Call, Indian Runner, Khaki
Campbell, Cayuga, Albio, Maya, and Tsaiya. Different
breeds and varieties of common ducks can interbreed
and produce fertile offspring. Eggs from common
ducks require about 28 days to hatch.
Muscovy Ducks
The Muscovy (Cairina moschata) is distinctly
different genetically from common ducks. This breed
is believed to have originated in South America,
although ancient records of this or a similar breed
have been found in Egypt. There are both colored and
white feathered varieties of Muscovies. The Sudani
is a breed of Muscovy found in Egypt. Unlike common
ducks, the head and face of Muscovies is covered
with caruncles (a fleshy growth that resembles
wattles). Another prominent feature of Muscovy ducks
is the large difference in body size between the
drake and the duck, the male weighing 30-50% more
than the female. Muscovies tolerate hot weather much
better than common ducks. Muscovy eggs require about
35 days to hatch. While Muscovies can be crossed
with common ducks, their offspring are sterile.
Sterile Hybrid Ducks
When Muscovies and common ducks are allowed to
mate naturally, the fertility rate is usually very
low. It is a common practice today to use artificial
insemination to increase the fertility. Whatever the
method of mating, the offspring are sterile and
cannot be used for breeding.
These sterile hybrids
are called mule (Muscovy male x common female) or
hinny (common male x Muscovy female) ducks. In some
cases special names are assigned to hybrids by
commercial breeders. For example, one hybrid
produced by crossing Muscovy males with Pekin
females is called "Moulard". Such names may identify
the commercial breeder and the particular strain of
Muscovy and common duck used to produce the hybrid.
In Taiwan, the hybrid produced by crossing a White
Muscovy male with a Kaiya (Pekin x Tsaiya) female is
called simply, the "Mule Duck". Mule Ducks are
popular among the people of Taiwan because of their
taste and high proportion of lean meat.
Choosing the right Breed
of Duck. Choose a breed of duck that best suits your
needs. This may be a native breed that is well
adapted to the weather conditions of the area where
you live, or it may be a breed that performs better
than local breeds, available from duck keepers in
other areas or from a commercial breeder.
Meat Type Breeds
If you are mainly interested in meat, and able
to obtain the necessary feed or feed ingredients
required, choose a meat-type breed like the Pekin.
Pekin ducks grow rapidly, reaching approximately 90%
of their adult weight at 7 weeks of age, when
properly fed. It is not uncommon for commercially
grown Pekin ducks to weight 7 lb. (3.2 kg) at 7
weeks of age. Their growth rate under less favorable
conditions will depend upon the quality of the diet
they are fed. But even under less optimum
conditions, Pekins can do quite well. The meat from
Pekin ducks is very tender and succulent and known
worldwide for its delicious taste. Some meat-type
breeds, such as the Aylesbury and Rouen, and
unimproved lines of Pekins as well, have become less
popular in recent times due in part to the
development of improved Commercial lines of Pekin or
other white-feathered Pekin-like ducks.
The Muscovy duck is also
a popular meat duck in some areas of the world. This
breed is presently very popular in France. The large
breast muscle of the male (often weighing 700 grams
at 13 weeks) gives this breed an advantage over
common ducks which have considerably less breast
muscle. However the large difference in body size
between the Muscovy drake and duck , as already
mentioned, as well as the fact that Muscovies have
lower fertility rates than most breeds of common
ducks, are major shortcomings.
Commercial Muscovy
breeders in France, however, have partially overcome
this reproductive deficiency through genetic
selection. Mule ducks are an improvement over the
pure Muscovy in that the difference in size between
males and females is not nearly as great, and are
superior to the Pekin in that they have more lean
meat.
Egg Type Breeds
If eggs for human consumption are the product
desired, choose a high egg producing breed of duck
such as the Khaki Campbell, Tsaiya or Indian Runner.
These breeds are capable of laying in excess of 230,
and in some cases, over 300 eggs per year. These
breeds are usually considerably smaller in body size
than meat-type ducks. Although Pekin ducks are
usually bred for their meat, some high egg producing
commercial strains of Pekin or Pekin-like ducks have
been developed.
Multi-purpose
breeds
Often ducks are kept as a source of both meat
and eggs, and for their feathers as well. A number
of breeds such as the Pekin, Aylesbury, and Maya
(China) can meet these requirements. Some compromise
is necessary when a strain is selected for both meat
and eggs. Generally ducks that reach heavy weights
at market age are not the best egg layers, and ducks
that are good egg producers, are smaller in body
size. A dual purpose line is usually selected for
moderate body size and satisfactory egg production.
Local breeds are often good choices if both meat and
eggs are needed.
Ducks for Herding
For centuries, ducks in the rice producing areas
of the Orient have been managed under the
traditional herding system. Under this system,
native ducks are selected for generations for their
ability to glean most of their food from harvested
rice fields, levees, swamps and waterways. A flock
of herded ducks may be the major source of income
for one or more families. Examples of breeds of
ducks selected for herding are the Alabio and Bali
of Indonesia and the native Maya in China. The name
"Maya" (house duck) refers to a very common duck
found in the rice growing areas of China. The
feather coloring of Mayas resembles that of the
female Mallard, and for this reason, Mayas are
sometimes called "Sparrow Ducks". In addition to the
Maya, there are a number of distinct lines or breeds
in China, such as the Shao (Shaoxing brown duck),
Gaoyou, Jinding, Baisha, Yellow Colophony, and of
course the Pekin (Beijing duck).
Courtesy: Pakagri.blogspot
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