Youxian Ma Duck

Youxian Ma Duck

Youxian Ma Duck is a geographical indication certification trademark.

　　Youxian Ma Duck is a well-known local egg-laying duck breed in Hunan Province. Its feathers are a mix of yellow-brown and black, creating a mottled appearance, hence the name "Ma" (mottled) Duck. It is characterized by its small size, fast growth, early maturity, high egg production, efficient feed conversion, and strong adaptability. Youxian Ma Ducks typically grow full feathers between 70–75 days of age, and at 90 days old, male ducks weigh 1,120 grams and females 1,180 grams. By 120 days, both sexes weigh around 1,240 grams, after which their weight stabilizes. Female ducks enter their laying period at 120 days, which can last 3–4 years, producing 200–250 eggs per year, with a maximum of up to 310 eggs. Youxian Ma Ducks originate from the Mi River and Sha River basins in Youxian County, with key production areas including Wangling, Yatangpu, Datongqiao, Xinshi, and Gahe. The county produces 4 million Ma Ducks annually and 7,000 tons of eggs.

　　The breeding of Ma Ducks in Youxian has a long history. As early as over 1,700 years ago during the Eastern Han Dynasty, Ma Ducks were a common poultry breed raised by local farmers. Through long-term practice, the people of Youxian have accumulated extensive experience in selecting, hatching, and raising Ma Ducks. Many households made a living by raising ducks, operating duck shops to sell ducklings, or herding flocks along the Liling, Zhuzhou, Xiangtan, and Changsha areas for local sales. Others traveled to cities such as Changsha, Xiangtan, Hanshou, and Nanxian to open duck shops and teach breeding techniques. Place names in the county such as Yatangpu and Yadali originated from duck breeding and hatching activities.

　　Youxian Ma Duck enjoys a high reputation nationwide. In July 1981, the Central Newsreel and Documentary Film Studio produced the educational film "Youxian Ma Duck." In February 1984, the breed was listed as a local fine breed of Hunan Province and included in the "Hunan Poultry Breed Register and Breed Atlas." To protect this valuable local breed and improve its genetic purity, the Youxian County Science and Technology Commission, along with departments of animal husbandry, meat production, and foreign trade, designated Xinshi and Datongqiao as the "Youxian Ma Duck Conservation Area" in 1981 to focus on purebred reproduction. Between 1998 and 1999, the provincial and county animal husbandry bureaus jointly developed large-scale breeding techniques for Youxian Ma Ducks, with the project awarded the Third Prize for Scientific and Technological Progress by Zhuzhou City.