(M. A. J.) Duck Industry.—The breeding and rearing of ducks in the United States is very largely a farm enterprise and there are only a few sections where the industry has been developed on a commercial basis. Ducks are raised in the United States almost exclusively for the production of meat, although in other coun tries, such as England and Holland, ducks have been bred for egg production.
Of the various breeds of ducks recognized as standard breeds in the American Standard of Perfection, only the Muscovy, Pekin, Rouen and Runner are kept to any considerable extent, the other varieties being bred mostly for exhibition purposes.
Pekin Duck.—Imported into America from China in 1873, this is (1928) the most popular commercial duck in the United States. It is practically the only breed kept on commercial duck farms. On Long Island, in New York State, the duck industry has been developed on a very extensive scale, many farms keeping several thousand breeding stock annually and raising as many as 50,000 to ioo,000 young ducks. Other commercial Pekin duck farms are situated in different parts of the country, especially adjacent to some of the larger cities. Young ducks are marketed usually at from 8 to 12 weeks of age when they weigh from about 41 to 6 lb. each; at this age and weight they are popularly known as "green ducks," a term used to designate the very tender quality of the flesh. A very important market has developed for dressed green ducks, especially in such cities as New York, Philadelphia, Chicago and San Francisco, and it is expected that there will always be a popular demand for duck meat. The standard weights in pounds are : Adult drake, 9 ; adult duck, 8; young drake, 8; young duck, 7. The plumage colour of the Pekin is creamy white.
Runner duck, formerly called the Indian Runner, is especially adapted for egg production, and has an entirely different structure from all other breeds of ducks since it is small in body and upright in carriage. The American stocks have descended from stocks that were once common in Holland and Belgium. The standard weights, in pounds, are : Adult drake, 41; adult duck, 4 ; young drake, 4; young duck, 31. There are three varieties of Runner called the White, Penciled, and Fawn and White.
The main facts concerning the world industry are summarized in the following notes, taken mainly from Marketing Poultry Products by E. W. Benjamin (New York, 1925) : Canada.—The 192o estimate for Canada was a production of I70,000,000 dozens and a consumption of 170,200,000 dozens, thus showing a slight balance of imports. Actually, however, Canada imports many more eggs than this, the 1920 estimate being over 7,000,000 dozens from the United States alone. They substituted these imported eggs for the best of their own products, shipping the latter to Europe under the national Maple Leaf brand. The reputation of Canadian eggs in foreign countries is high, because the Canadian Government has established grading rules for all eggs to be exported.
China.—Most of the Chinese egg production is in southern China ; the hens are small, laying small eggs, and the poor care which they receive undoubtedly causes a relatively low egg pro duction. Exports have been increasing rapidly during the last few years, most of these eggs going to Great Britain, the United States and France.
Australia.—The Australian eggs are especially large, and some of the highest egg records known have been made in the Australian egg laying contests. Australia has the commercial advantage of being in the southern hemisphere, which means that producers can ship their eggs north during their flush season, to arrive on the markets during the season of scarcity.
Russia.—Russia and Siberia have tremendous possibilities for the production of poultry and eggs, and the country is developing a considerable production of cereals which is essential for any large poultry-producing country. Before the World War, Russia was exporting very large quantities of eggs to Great Britain, Germany, Austria, Holland, France and Denmark.
Germany.—Germany imports more eggs than she exports, but seems to occupy the position of an important exchange centre for eggs coming in from Russia, Austria and Bulgaria, and going out to Great Britain, Holland and France.
France.—France imports more poultry products than she ex ports; her principal exporting business is to Great Britain, while she imports from a great many countries, including Belgium, Russia, Turkey, Wales, Germany and Austria. The French people show considerable skill in producing and preparing fancy dressed poultry. Paris and similar markets receive some of the best poul try sold in continental Europe.
Ireland.—Co-operative organisations have increased the interest in poultry-keeping in Ireland, and English markets have always furnished a convenient and desirable outlet for the eggs produced. Packing and grading have been so standardised in some sections that the eggs have established a good reputation on the English market.
Denmark—The development of the poultry industry in Den mark has been linked with the development of the Danish co-oper ative associations. Denmark imports some eggs from Russia which she re-exports or uses for her own consumption, thus creating a larger surplus for export to the British markets, which she has sedulously cultivated.
Holland.—Holland was formerly an importing country, buying eggs principally from Russia and Germany. Of recent years she has exported large quantities of eggs—in 1927 over 70,000 tons.
For information on Poultry and Poultry Farming in the United States, see above.
BIBLIOGRAPHY.—General books, T. W. Sturgess, The Poultry Manual (1909) ; R. Pearl, Diseases of Poultry (1915) ; B. F. Kaupp, Poultry Diseases and their Treatment (1917) ; H. R. Lewis, Productive Poultry Husbandry (1923) ; R. C. Punnett, Heredity in Poultry (1923) ; E. G. Brown, The Poultry-keeper's Text Book (1924) ; W. The Complete Poultry Book (1924) ; E. W. Benjamin, Marketing Poultry Products (1925) ; T. W. Toovey, Commercial Poultry Farming (1926) .
Poultry Diseases. T. M. Doyle, Journ. Comp. Path. and Then (1925-26-27) ; Vet. Res. (1926-27) ; leaflet Fowl Pox (Min. Agr. & Fish., No. 138).
Br., Sch. of Agric. Cambs. (P. A. F.)