Farming ducks
Commercial meat ducks may be reared in indoor or
outdoor systems. When the birds reach the desired weight at around 42 to
56 days old they are sent for slaughter.
Ducks are given specially formulated diets and are provided with access to water for drinking. However, farmed ducks may not be given access to an open water source for bathing, or if they do have an open water source, this may not be suitable.
Some ducks, particularly Barbary ducks, may have the ends of their bills trimmed to try to reduce the risk of any damage to other birds caused by pecking. However, the most commonly used breed of meat duck in the UK - the Pekin - is not beak trimmed.
Birds
are provided with housing similar to that described for indoor
production, with the addition of access to an outdoor range area during
the day.
Once birds reach the
desired weight for slaughter of around 3.1 to 3.5 kilogrammes, usually
at around 42 to 56 days of age, they are caught, placed in transport
crates and transported to an abattoir for slaughter.
Around 14.3 million ducks (primarily a Pekin cross breed) were reared for meat in the UK in 2012¹.
¹FAOSTATS. (2014) Production: Livestock primary [online]. Rome. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations: Statistics Division. [Accessed 13.10.14]
The
most commonly used breed of duck in commercial meat production in the
UK is the domestic/common duck, in particular the Pekin.
Find out about some of the key welfare issues for meat ducks.
Rearing systems
Indoor
The majority of commercial meat ducks reared in the UK are reared in indoor systems. Typically, several thousand birds are raised together within a building. Straw is usually provided to cover the floor.Ducks are given specially formulated diets and are provided with access to water for drinking. However, farmed ducks may not be given access to an open water source for bathing, or if they do have an open water source, this may not be suitable.
Some ducks, particularly Barbary ducks, may have the ends of their bills trimmed to try to reduce the risk of any damage to other birds caused by pecking. However, the most commonly used breed of meat duck in the UK - the Pekin - is not beak trimmed.
Free-range
Birds
are provided with housing similar to that described for indoor
production, with the addition of access to an outdoor range area during
the day.
End of rearing
Once birds reach the
desired weight for slaughter of around 3.1 to 3.5 kilogrammes, usually
at around 42 to 56 days of age, they are caught, placed in transport
crates and transported to an abattoir for slaughter.
Numbers of farmed ducks
Around 14.3 million ducks (primarily a Pekin cross breed) were reared for meat in the UK in 2012¹.¹FAOSTATS. (2014) Production: Livestock primary [online]. Rome. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations: Statistics Division. [Accessed 13.10.14]
Breeds
The
most commonly used breed of duck in commercial meat production in the
UK is the domestic/common duck, in particular the Pekin.Find out about some of the key welfare issues for meat ducks.
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