![]() Overseas, Pekin ducks have achieved weights of up to 3.2 kg by 6 weeks of age, but in Australia, the production figures are much lower and producers generally try to achieve the marketable weight of 2.85 kg in 6 weeks. The Pekin duck is the preferred breed for commercial meat production in Australia, primarily due to its rapid growth rates. It was developed as a breed in China during the time of the Mongols. The Pekin duck ( Anas Domesticus) has a large body, orange feet and beak and creamy white feathers. They have four strategically placed breeder farms and two hatcheries which supply 21 growing farms. ![]() Pepe’s Ducks Pty Ltd has two different types of Peking ducks the Grimaud duck (French) and the Cherry Valley duck (English) both world leaders in terms of duck genetics. These companies have capitalised on improvements in duck growth which has been fuelled by research in Europe and North America and by adapting this to suit Australian conditions. It is only since the 1970s -80s that the duck industry in Australia has really expanded, with two main companies, Pepe’s Ducks and Luv-a-Duck. Globally, Australia is very young in terms of the history of duck as a commercial enterprise. In Australia, production is rapidly increasing, fuelled by a dramatic increase in the demand for duck meat. Today, duck products are still very popular and remain in strong demand, particularly in Asia. Since domestication some 4000 years ago, ducks have been used for their meat, eggs and feathers.
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