Gutian Black Muscovy Duck

Gutian Black Muscovy Duck

Gutian Black Muscovy Duck is a geographical indication certification trademark.

　　Gutian Black Muscovy Duck is a specialty of Gutian County, Ningde, Fujian.

　　The *Gutian County Annals* also record that the Gutian Black Muscovy Duck is known as the “knobbed duck.” It boasts advantages such as fast growth and high-quality meat, and is regarded by locals as a nourishing delicacy. The feathers of the Gutian Black Muscovy Duck are black with an ink-green sheen, and some of its primary or secondary wing feathers have a small number of white feathers; the knob is black with a red tint and is relatively thin; the beak is reddish with black spots; the irises are light yellow, and the feet are mostly black. It features a large body size, rapid growth, tolerance to coarse feed, ease of fattening, delicious meat, and good foie gras performance. Locals in Gutian regard it as a precious tonic for the body. The Gutian Black Muscovy Duck is one of the leading agricultural industries in Gutian, and the people of Gutian have a long history of raising Black Muscovy Ducks. According to the *Ningde Regional Annals*, the Gutian Black Muscovy Duck is mainly produced in Gutian and Pingnan counties. It has been raised since the Xianfeng era of the Qing Dynasty (1851–1861), with drakes averaging 3.2 kg in weight and laying 85–130 eggs per year. In 1983, the breeding selection of the Gutian Black Muscovy Duck was listed as a scientific research project by the Ningde Regional Science and Technology Commission. In 1986, it received a technical appraisal certificate for the research on the breeding selection of the Black Muscovy Duck issued by the Regional Science and Technology Commission, and was recognized as a local improved breed by the Provincial Bureau of Standards and Metrology.

　　The Black Muscovy Duck is a tropical forest fowl species adept at flying. The natural environment of Gutian County, with its suitable temperatures and abundant water bodies, provides excellent conditions for their growth and development. It is reported that the feathers of the Gutian Black Muscovy Duck are black with a peacock green sheen, and after the growing period, two small white feathers grow on the secondary wings. Drakes are larger in size, while ducks weigh about half that of the drakes. They are rich in various essential amino acids required by the human body, and feature low fat content, high lean meat proportion, firm texture, delicious taste, unique flavor, and possess both distinctive culinary appeal and medicinal tonic benefits. Currently, the market price of Black Muscovy Ducks is around 30 yuan per kilogram locally, and about 60 yuan per kilogram in developed regions. The premium pricing in the market has also stimulated production development, offering very broad prospects.