Mandarin Duck

Mandarin Duck

　　The Mandarin Duck, also known as Muscovy duck or foreign duck, is an omnivorous poultry breed in the duck family. It differs in physique from the common domestic duck—its body is long and oval-shaped, tapering at the front; it has a large head and short neck; its beak is short and narrow, with well-developed serrations inside the bill. This breed grows quickly, reaches a heavy body weight, is drought-resistant, can thrive on coarse feed, and is easy to fatten. Compared to Cherry Valley ducks, the Mandarin Duck has a lower fat content, an extremely thin subcutaneous fat layer, very little abdominal fat, a high ratio of breast and leg muscle, and offers tender, delicious meat, giving it high commercial value. The Mandarin Duck has strong production performance; it can adapt to being raised in water, on land, or in confinement. Adult Muscovy ducks average 3,640 grams in weight, with females averaging 2,600 grams. The feed-to-meat ratio is 1:3.04, and adult ducks lay about 100–150 eggs per year. (Zhoukou)