Congyang Media Duck

Congyang Media Duck

The Congyang Media Duck is a protected geographical indication product.

The Congyang Media Duck is a certified geographical indication trademark.

　　The Congyang Media Duck is a medium-sized meat duck breed, an excellent local waterfowl genetic resource formed through long-term artificial selection and natural domestication by the laboring people of Anhui. It is mainly distributed in areas such as Guanbuqiao Town, Congyang Town, Huigong Township, and Laizhou Town in Congyang County, Anqing City, Anhui Province. It is documented that the breeding of Congyang Media Ducks has a history of over 700 years. This breed is capable of free-range grazing, has strong foraging ability, is tolerant of coarse feed, resistant to diseases, and possesses strong adaptability.

　　It is documented that the breeding of Congyang Media Ducks has a history of over 700 years. The original production area is located in the central-southern part of Anhui Province, bordering the northern bank of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, characterized by a mild and humid climate, an intricate network of waterways, and numerous lakes and ponds scattered across the landscape. The average annual temperature is 16.5 ℃, and the average annual rainfall is 1326 mm. There are currently 40,229 hectares of water surface, mostly swamps with depths of less than 3 m, rich in aquatic plants and animals, providing high-quality feed for wild waterfowl. Such as mugwort, duckweed, water chestnut, and gorgon fruit, along with abundant fish, shrimp, snails, clams, and various plankton. Therefore, it is home to a large population of wild waterfowl, especially various species of wild ducks. Before liberation, local residents made a living from fishing and hunting for generations, with hunters mainly netting various wild ducks and geese. Their hunting method was to hide nets underwater by the lake. When flocks of wild ducks swam above the nets, hidden hunters would trigger the closing mechanism, causing the nets to swiftly spring up from underwater and enclose the ducks, capturing them to be sold in market towns. Some wild ducks were kept for domestication. When capturing more wild ducks, they would be tethered within the netted enclosure as “media (bait),” and when the “media” called out, it would lure wild ducks into the net enclosure, thereby achieving the goal of netting them. Over time, the Congyang Media Duck population expanded progressively through generations and has continued to this day, forming a unique resource. To maintain the characteristics of wild ducks, duck farmers continuously introduced new wild ducks to mix with the Congyang Media Duck flock for natural crossbreeding. [1]

　　 Production Area Distribution: The Congyang Media Duck originated in the Congyang County area of Anqing City, Anhui Province, where it has been bred for over 700 years, and has now spread to neighboring provinces and counties. The core production areas are mainly distributed in towns such as Guanbuqiao Town, Congyang Town, Huigong Township, Laizhou Town, and Chenyaohu Town in Congyang County, Anqing City, Anhui Province, as well as areas such as Shuangzhongmiao and Xiaoweitown in Wuhe County, Bengbu City, and Tuohu Township. [2]

　　 Production Environment – Geographic Conditions

　　The production area lies between longitude 117°05' to 118°04' east and latitude 31°01' to 33°20' north. The terrain is higher in the west and lower in the east, diverse in landform, featuring not only low mountains and hills but also alluvial plains and riverside levees. The highest elevation is 674.9 m, and the lowest is just 13 m.

　　Climate Conditions

　　The production area has a subtropical humid monsoon climate and a warm temperate transitional monsoon climate, with distinct seasons throughout the year, a mild climate, abundant rainfall, ample sunshine, a long frost-free period, and relatively rich light, heat, and water resources. The average annual temperature is 14.7 ℃, the lowest temperature is -23.3 ℃, and the highest is 40 ℃. The average annual rainfall is 896.3 mm, the average annual sunshine duration is 2306.7 hours, and the average frost-free period is 212 days. The average first frost date is November 1st, and the average last frost date is April 2nd. The multi-year average sunshine duration is 2306.7 hours, with a sunshine percentage of 52%. The average wind speed over the years is 3.4 m/s. The maximum monthly average wind speed is 4.2 m/s, and the minimum is 2.9 m/s. The average wind force is level 2, and the maximum is level 7.

　　Water Sources and Soil Conditions

　　The production area has numerous rivers and lakes with vast water surfaces and abundant water resources. In lakes, ditches, and grassy flats, there is a wide variety of aquatic plants and plankton, such as mugwort (its seeds, known as artemisia millet, can be used as human food), duckweed, water chestnut, lotus, and gorgon fruit. The swamps abound with fish, shrimp, crabs, snails, clams, and a variety of insects, as well as numerous plankton species, providing an excellent habitat and high-quality natural feed for the growth and reproduction of media ducks.

　　The production area features a diverse range of soil types, primarily including paddy soil, fluvo-aquic soil, lateritic red soil, yellow-brown soil, purple soil, calcareous soil, meadow soil, sandy black soil, brown soil, and yellow-brown soil, among which paddy soil and fluvo-aquic soil cover larger areas. Purple soil, calcareous soil, and yellow-brown soil are smaller in area and more scattered in distribution.

　　Feed Crop Situation

　　The production area has a diverse range of crops with abundant resources, mainly including grain and oil crops such as rice, cotton, wheat, corn, and sweet potato. Feed crops are primarily corn and other grains. The abundance of grain and vegetables can be largely converted into feed, laying a solid foundation for the raising of media ducks. The production area yields 919,000 tons of grain, 880,000 tons of corn and other grains, and 865,800 kg of oil crops annually. [2]

　　 Ecological Adaptability: The Congyang Media Duck is an excellent local waterfowl genetic resource formed through long-term artificial selection and natural domestication by the local laboring people, with a long history and complete adaptation to the local climate conditions. The Congyang Media Duck is capable of free-range grazing, has strong foraging ability, is tolerant of coarse feed, resistant to diseases, and possesses strong adaptability. [2]

　　Congyang Media Duck

　　 Congyang County Congyang Media Duck Breeding Association

　　 11523539

　　 Media Duck (live poultry)