Enshi Partridge Duck

Enshi Partridge Duck

　　Breed Name: Enshi Partridge Duck

　　Breed Description

　　Origin and Distribution: Also known as Lichuan Partridge Duck. It is a small egg-laying breed. Mainly distributed in the southwestern mountainous areas of Hubei Province, including Lichuan, Laifeng, Xuan'en, Enshi, and Xianfeng.

　　Physical Characteristics: The front body is relatively shallow, the back and waist are straight, the body is delicate and well-proportioned, and the feathers are compact. The drake has a rather thick and short head, a slightly elevated forehead, a slightly raised front body, a broad and flat chest and abdomen, fine and tightly knit feathers, short legs, large webbed feet, vigorous energy, and agile movements. The duck has a small and delicate head, a flat forehead, a slender neck, a narrower front body, a fuller rear body, a deep and wide abdomen, short legs, and thin webbed feet. Adult drakes have greenish-black heads and necks, with most having a ring of white feathers around the middle of the neck. The back and abdomen are bluish-brown, with extremely fine white edges on each feather, giving a fish-scale-like appearance from a distance. The feathers above the beak are black, and there are 2–4 curled tail feathers that stick upward. Adult ducks have neck and back feathers of the same color, mostly partridge-colored, hence the name. Each feather has a black band in the center with light yellow edges, referred to as "red partridge duck"; those with blueish-black backs are called "blue partridge duck." The toes are yellow.

　　Breed Performance:

　　① Growth Rate and Meat Production Performance Average Weight: 6 g at 30 days; 275 g at 60 days; 900 g at 90 days; 1202 g at 120 days; 1322 g at 150 days; 1400 g at 180 days; adult drake 1362 g, duck 1615 g. Feather growth is relatively fast, with full feathering achieved by 60–70 days. At 4 months old, the average semi-eviscerated slaughter rate is 83.40% for drakes and 78.85% for ducks; the average fully eviscerated slaughter rate is 73.52% for drakes and 66.84% for ducks. For adults, the average semi-eviscerated slaughter rate is 84.92% for drakes and 84.34% for ducks; the average fully eviscerated slaughter rate is 76.99% for drakes and 75.63% for ducks.

　　② Egg Production and Reproduction Performance The average laying onset age for ducks is 165 days. Average annual egg production is 183 eggs, with an average egg weight of 65 g. The average egg shape index is 1.38. Eggshells are mostly white, with a few being bluish. Drakes reach sexual maturity earlier than ducks. The mating ratio of drakes to ducks is 1:20. The average fertilization rate of breeding eggs is 80.85%, and the average hatching rate of fertilized eggs is 84.47%. Drakes are usable for 1–2 years, ducks for 3–4 years.