Peking Duck

Peking Duck

　　Breed Name: Peking Duck

　　Breed Description

　　Origin and Distribution: It is a meat-type breed. Mainly produced in the suburbs of Beijing. Currently distributed across various regions of China and around the world. Known for its fast growth, high reproductive rate, strong adaptability, and excellent meat quality. Roast duck made from Peking Duck enjoys international renown. In 2000, it was listed as a national livestock and poultry breed resource conservation variety.

　　Appearance Characteristics: It has a large, plump body with a rectangular torso. The front part is held high, forming an angle of about 30° with the ground. The back is broad and flat, and the chest is full with a long, straight breastbone. The head is large and the neck is thick. The beak is medium-sized, colored orange-yellow or orange-red. The eyes are large and bright, with gray-blue irises. The whole body is covered with full, pure white feathers that have a creamy sheen. The wings are relatively small. The tail is short and slightly upturned. Male ducks have four curled sex feathers, while female ducks have a plump abdomen, short and thick legs, and wide, thick webbed feet. The shanks and webbed feet are orange-yellow or orange-red. Newly hatched ducklings have golden-yellow down feathers, known as "duck yellow." The color gradually lightens with age, turning white around 28 days old, and the feathers become fully developed by 60 days. The beak, shanks, and webbed feet are orange-red.

　　Breed Performance:

　　① Growth Rate and Meat Production. Average Weight: Birth—60 grams; 7-day-old—650 grams; 49-day-old—1875 grams; 63-day-old—2625 grams; 150-day-old—2875 grams. The Z-type Peking Duck bred by the Institute of Animal Science at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences weighs an average of 3100 grams at 42 days old, with a feed-to-meat ratio of 2.3:1. Domestic and foreign developed hybrid strains include a large male parental line with adult males averaging 4250 grams and females 3750 grams; the female parental line has slightly lighter weights for both sexes. For force-fed ducks, the average semi-eviscerated slaughter rate is 80.60% for males and 81.00% for females; the average fully eviscerated slaughter rate is 73.80% for males and 74.10% for females. For selectively bred strains raised on free-choice feeding, at 49 days old, the average semi-eviscerated slaughter rate is 83.60% for males and 82.20% for females; the average fully eviscerated slaughter rate is 77.90% for males and 76.50% for females. In addition, Peking Ducks aged 80–90 days and mule ducks (crosses between Peking Ducks and Muscovy Ducks) grow quickly, have good meat quality, high feed efficiency, and excellent foie gras potential. Force-feeding for 14–21 days can yield 300–400 grams of foie gras per duck.

　　② Egg Production and Reproductive Performance. Female ducks begin laying eggs at an average age of 165 days. The female parental line produces an average of 240 eggs per year, and after forced molting, can lay over 100 eggs in the second laying period. The average egg weight is 103 grams, average shell thickness is 0.36 mm, average egg shape index is 1.41, and the shells are white. The mating ratio of males to females is 1:(5–6). The average fertilization rate of breeding eggs is 90%, and the average hatchability of fertilized eggs is 80%. Male ducks are productive for 1–2 years, and female ducks for 2–3 years.