Varieties of meat breeds of ducks
The duck is the most popular bird, which is being raised in many households. The explanation for this popularity is their endurance, as well as their high adaptability to any weather conditions. In various conditions, these birds demonstrate the highest results, becoming an effective supplier of meat products, as well as eggs. Especially popular are meat breeds of ducks, which show good performance.
Meat breeds of ducks
Characteristics of the meat breed
The most popular for households are ducks (broilers), which are raised for meat. This popularity is due to the fact that they are characterized by rapid maturity, high vitality rates, good egg production, and high quality meat. Breeding a beef breed is a simple and affordable process that can provide a decent level of profit.
Among the breeds that are often grown in our climatic conditions, we can distinguish:
- Beijing view;
- white Moscow;
- black white-breasted;
- Ukrainian gray;
- musky.
Each of these varieties is different and should be considered separately before filling the house.
Peking duck
Peking duck meat breed is considered one of the most popular types. The place of its withdrawal is considered to be Beijing. According to historical information, this happened about 300 years ago. Later this species was transported to the territory of South America, as well as the European continent, where it soon gained popularity. The Peking species is distinguished by good immunity, early maturity, and an accelerated set of mass indicators.
Outwardly, these birds are very massive, have a large head with a bulging frontal part. The orange-black color of the slightly concave beak is also a characteristic feature of the breed. The legs of these representatives of birds are short, massive and located next to the tail. The eyes are deep blue in color, and the plumage of the bird is often white with a slightly noticeable tint of yellow.
Strong wings, tightly fitting to the surface of the body, as well as a slightly raised long body can also be attributed to characteristic features, as, in fact, the length, as well as the width of the back, which has a slight slope towards the protruding tail.
A beef duck can gain more than 2 kg already at fifty days of age, while adults can reach more than 3.5 kg. The egg can be quite large and weigh about 90 g. During the first 3 years, the duck has the highest level of egg production.
Another reason for the popularity of the Peking duck is its omnivorous nature, thanks to which it gladly absorbs plant and animal food, as well as various combined feeds.Given such features, it becomes very important to correctly formulate a daily diet, on which, among other things, egg production depends. In addition, these birds are characterized by omnivorousness, as well as easy adaptation to new conditions, thanks to which caring for a duck is not difficult.
White Moscow
The breed of white meat Moscow duck is a product of the selection of Peking and Khaki Campbell. Today in the territory of the Russian Federation this particular breed is dominant. Given the nature of its origin, this bird has significant similarities with its peking breed relatives. The color is white with some pinkish tinge, as well as the width of the body, which is slightly raised upward, indicate this relationship. The round shape of the chest, as well as the small size of the head, which is placed on a thin neck, are features that indicate belonging to the breed.
The birds have pale pink legs, which are placed so that they are widely spaced. The beak is often pinkish in color. Males grow quite quickly and can, with proper feeding, reach a weight of more than 4.5 kg, while for females the maximum weight does not exceed 3.5 kg. At the same time, it should be noted that weight indicators can vary in a positive direction, subject to the availability of appropriate care. During the season, representatives of this species are able to provide larger 120 eggs, therefore, in addition to high-quality meat, they can also make a profit of a good level.
The key attractive factor that ensures the cultivation of this meat breed is considered to be the low purchase price provoked by the large population of poultry of this species. In addition, the value of the species can be considered frost resistance and the presence of a strong immune system, as well as unpretentiousness in food. Based on this, every owner of a poultry house strives to have it in his arsenal. The popularity of the breed is supported by excellent commercial qualities of meat, which is tender and very tasty.
Chickens of white Moscow ducks are able to survive in the minimum necessary conditions, and also grow rapidly, due to which their weight overcomes the 2-2.5 kg mark within a few months.
Features of the black white-breasted appearance
Another representative of the meat breed, which is very common on the territory of our state, is the black white-breasted type of duck. This duck is great for home breeding. The artificially bred breed was based on the genes of Ukrainian white-breasted ducks, Peking ducks, and also khaki-campbell ducks.
- The species is characterized by a deep chest and raised torsos, wide and long backs that slope towards the caudal zone.
- Black color, which is diluted with white necks and breasts, is also a characteristic feature.
- The width of the legs apart, which are located in the back of the body, which leads to their wide landing, is a kind of visiting card of this bird.
- On a not very large head, there are large black eyes and a beak of a similar color.
- The wings of this species are characterized by a tight fit to the surface of the body.
The maturity of a black white-breasted duck occurs at the age of six months, and it is then that its mass reaches its maximum size, which varies from 3 to 3.5 kg. In addition, in one breeding season, this breed is able to provide about 130 eggs weighing up to 90 g. Thanks to this, raising these ducks is a profitable type of home business.
Ukrainian gray
This breed also belongs to the category of those bred by humans, and the main "foundation" in this case is the domestic Ukrainian, as well as the wild duck. This species differs in size and massiveness, which is confirmed by an average weight for drakes of 4 kg and for a female - 3 kg.As you can see, these birds are not the largest, but at the same time they quickly gain weight and develop, which makes it possible to get a mature individual within a few months, when their weight "exceeds" 2 kg.
For breeding and normal weight gain, such ducks do not require special feed or additives, while, in addition to good weight, more than 100 eggs can be obtained from one individual during the season. The egg-laying period occurs at the end of winter and may continue until the onset of the autumn period. At the same time, even in home conditions, in certain conditions, more than 250 eggs can be obtained from a duck, which makes the business of this area the most attractive occupation. At the same time, the eggs are not particularly large, but everything compensates for their number.
The simplicity of rearing creates a special appeal for the breed, since this duck is not picky in terms of feed and gladly absorbs greens, waste from the kitchen. She can also diversify her diet with algae and aquatic vegetation, which is rich in the shore of any pond or small river where walking can be organized. The summer growing period is convenient in that it is he who is marked by the possibility of introducing into the diet only a quarter of the feed in the form of grain, while the rest can be compensated by the above generally available method.
During the cooling period, the duck's diet should contain grain (50%), while the other half should be formed from pumpkin, potatoes, cabbage and apples. Ukrainian grays are among those breeds that easily endure winter, so their maintenance even during this period does not imply significant difficulties. Heating is not necessary in the ducks' area, but a warm bed of thick straw and warm walls is necessary. In addition, when setting up a barn, care should be taken to protect the bird from drafts that can cause illness.
Walking during winter should not be forgotten either, because even at this time the birds need fresh air, and their immune system allows them to take “snow baths”, which, in the case of other breeds, could become a serious problem. Ukrainian grays are large birds that have a strong constitution, as well as short ones, with a wide paw. The impressive length and width, among other things, is also a key feature for the breed, along with the gray color and white stripe on the neck. The beaks of the representatives of the breed are curved and have a dark color, due to which there is an external similarity of such birds with wild relatives.
Musky breed
The musky species belongs to the category of beef breeds that have been used for domestic breeding for many years. According to experts, it is the representatives of this species that are the very first domesticated birds that have gained wide popularity in Mexico and South America. The muscovy duck is popularly called Indootki, because it looks very similar to it. At the same time, there is no connection between the indicated species. On the territory of our country, the peak of the popularity of this breed falls on the end of the 80s of the last century.
The appearance of the muscovy duck indicates its some affinity with clawed geese, which is not typical for other meat breeds already described above, which are popular with breeders.
The Indo-woman has a very calm personality, as well as a robust immune system, conducive to normal cultivation. Unlike other species, the muscovy duck does not require a pond, which greatly simplifies the process of arranging a barn and paddock for walking. Moreover, it is musky ducks that are the largest representatives of the species, since the weight of an adult drake can exceed 6 kg, while females have average characteristics and rarely overcome the 4 kg mark.
Not the best indicators of egg production, which are at the level of 100 units during the season, are fully compensated by the advantages described above. At the same time, musk eggs can be stored for a much longer time compared to Peking duck products. Muscovy ducks have strong maternal instincts, which make them excellent brood hens.
Indo-duck meat has a great taste, as well as a delicate structure with a minimum amount of fat, which makes it in demand on the market. The correct approach to building a business of growing musk breed will allow you to quickly and without any special difficulties "recoup" investments and come out with a profit.
Business is serious
The choice of which of the listed breeds of ducks to grow may depend solely on the individual aspirations of a person, however, any of the listed options is able to provide the household with serious volumes of meat, as well as eggs, which today belong to the category of in-demand goods. The attractiveness of such a business lies in the minimum required investment and a short payback period, which is a decisive factor for a novice businessman who does not have serious start-up capital.
The list of prerequisites consists of:
- the presence of a barn and a plot of land (own or rented);
- the presence of a fodder base (grass, a nearby reservoir, combined fodder, grain);
- the knowledge necessary for the correct arrangement of the barn and the further development of the poultry;
- a business plan to make growing a profitable business.