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9
Muscovy
The muscovyl (Cairina moschata), a unique ducklike
species of the South American rainforest, belongs to ~
a small group of waterfowl that perch in trees. In t'
poultry science, however' it is normally Grouped with
domestic ducks for lack of a better classification.
Except in France, Italy, and Taiwan, muscovies
_ _
have received little modern research. But their promise can be judged
from the fact that they account for 50 percent of the duck meat
consumed in France about 60,000 tons per year and they are often
consumed in Italy and Taiwan as well.
For Third World subsistence farming, muscovies have excellent
possibilities. There is probably no better choice for a meat bird that
requires minimal care and feed. Tame, quiet, and able to forage for
much of their keep, they are inherently hardy, vigorous, and robust.
They have heavily fleshed breasts and are highly prized for their meat,
which is dark, more flavorful, and less fatty than that of common
ducks. An average muscovy gives more meat than a chicken of the
same age, and it also survives hot, wet environments better. In addition,
muscovies are better parents than the domestic duck. Females are
probably the best natural mothers of any poultry species, as measured
by their success at incubating their eggs and caring for their young.
All in all, this bird deserves more attention than it has received so
far in Third World livestock projects. Dispersed around the warm and
hot regions of the world, muscovies already exist in small numbers in
backyards and villages, much like the domestic chicken in previous
centuries. Despite a lack of research, the present unimproved stocks
are already impressive meat yielders. Used more widely and more
intensively, they could contribute much to poor people's meat supplies.
' Most commonly, this bird is known as the muscovy duck or Barbary duck. In Latin
America today, it is called the criollo duck.
125
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MICROLIVESTOCK
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Muscovies and chickens in a village in Benin, West Africa. (WFP/FAD photo by
Banoun/Caracciolo)
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MUSCOVY
127
Crossing the muscovy with the common duck produces a hybrid
that combines many of the advantages of both. This cross, known as
"mulard," or "mule duck" in English, is raised in France for its liver
and meat and is produced in quantity in Taiwan (see sidebar, page
1321. It, too, has a major future role.
AREA OF POTENTIAL USE
Muscovies are suitable for use almost anywhere that chickens can
be kept. Moreover, their tropical ancestry and inherent robustness
give them an advantage in hot and humid climates.
APPEARANCE AND SIZE
Although a muscovy somewhat resembles a goose, it is one of the
greater wood ducks of tropical South America. It was domesticated
in pre-Columbian times, most likely in the rainforests of Colombia.
Related wild types, looking very much like the muscovy, still occur
in South American wetlands, particularly mangrove swamps.
Males have mature live weights of 5 kg and females about 2.5 kg.
Both have broad and rounded wings. The adults have patches of bare
skin around the eyes, rather than feathers. Much of this is covered in
"caruncles," which superficially resemble warty outgrowths. The feet
have sharp claws. Both sexes raise a crest of feathers when alarmed.
There is much color variation among the various muscovy popula-
tions including types that are called white, colored, black, blue,
chocolate, silver, buff, and pied.2 The most common types (they are
not considered breeds) are the white and the colored. The white
produces a cleaner looking carcass, but the colored is the most popular
meat type in France. Its plumage is an iridescent greenish black,
except for white forewings.
DISTRIBUTION
The native range of the muscovy's probable wild ancestor covers
much of Central America and northern South America. The domestic
form also occurs over most of Latin America from southern Chile to
the northern limits of traditional culture in lowland Mexico-including
2 In general, the wild type is black, the highly bred commercial is white, and others are
all grades in-between
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MICROLIVESTOCK
the Caribbean, where it was present shortly after Columbus landed.3
The birds can be observed among the domestic fowl in the high Andes,
for example, and are feral in southern coastal areas of the United
States.
Camed across the Atlantic, probably in the early 1500s, the domes-
ticated muscovy spread quickly in Europe, and thence to North
America, Asia, Afnca, and Oceania. Today, it finds favor with the
food-loving French as "canard de Barbarize," and France has the
greatest concentration of muscovies in Europe.
Down the centuries the muscovy became popular in tropical Asia
(especially the Philippines and Indonesia) and in China and Taiwan.
Throughout Indonesia (where it is known as "entok") it is popular
with villagers for incubating eggs from ducks, geese, and chickens. It
is now spreading into Oceania, and has recently gained particular favor
in the Solomon Islands.
Muscovies are also known in Africa and can be found in many
villages, especially in West Africa.
STATUS
Not endangered.
HABITAT AND ENVIRONMENT
Wild muscovies occur mainly along tropical jungle streams, but
domestic muscovies are found in many environments from the heat of
Central America to the cold of Central Europe. They also tolerate dry
conditions, but they thrive best where climates are both hot and wet.
BIOLOGY
Muscovies utilize high-fiber feeds better than chickens and common
ducks, and eat larger quantities of grass. They also consume other
green vegetation and readily snap up any insects they can find. If
quality forage is available, only a small daily ration of grain or pellets
is required for them to reach peak production.
Muscovy females normally hatch and raise large broods efficiently.
3 The Spaniards first met the domesticated bird at Cartagena, Colombia, in 1514, where,
according to Oviedo, the Indians kept it in domestication and called in "quayaiz." He
describes the warts about the head and makes the identity clear, showing also that the
color had already been affected by domestication. It was extremely abundant in Peru,
whence the Spaniards exported it under the name of "pato perulero" to Central America,
Mexico, and Europe. (J. C. Phillips, 1922, A Natural History of Ducks, Boston and
New York: Houghton Mifflin Co., volume 1, page 66.)
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MUSCOVY
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'2,'
The wild muscovy's natural range covers a vast area of tropical America. As a result,
their domesticated descendants are well adapted to many conditions, including both
tropical and temperate climates. The arrow indicates the area where this bird was
probably first domesticated.
It is not unusual to see them with a dozen or more fragile ducklings
in tow many of them adopted from other species. They bravely
protect their young and have been known to beat off cats, dogs, foxes,
and other marauders.
Normally, muscovies are healthy and live and breed for many years.
They suffer few diseases, especially when free ranging. However, they
seem to be more susceptible to duck virus enteritis (duck plague) than
common ducks.
BEHAVIOR
While appearing to be slow and lethargic, muscovies can be quick
and agile when one tries to catch them. Females are strong fliers and
readily clear a standard fence. Males frequently become so ponderous
that they cannot get airborne without an elevated perch or the aid of
a strong wind. Although they forage over a larger area than chickens,
they generally neither decamp nor wander as far as common ducks.
Domesticated muscovies are either solitary or live together in small
family groups, but sometimes in winter they flock together on bodies
of water. They swim and dive well.
These birds seldom make loud noises. A drake's voice resembles a
muffled "puff"; females are almost mute. However, both can hiss or
make a soft sound not unlike that of sleigh bells.
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MICROLIVESTOCK
A BETTER FLY TRAP
The muscovy is a voracious omnivore that is particularly
fond of insects. For years, some Canadian farmers have sworn
that a few muscovies took care of all fly problems on their
farms. In 1989, Ontario biologists Gordon Surgeoner and Barry
Glofcheskie (see Research Contacts) decided to put this to the
test.
Starting with laboratory trials, the entomologists first put a
hungry five-week-old muscovy into a screened cage with 400
living houseflies. Within an hour it had eaten 326. Later, they
placed four muscovies in separate cages containing 100 flies
each. Within 30 minutes over 90 percent of the insects were
gone. It took flypaper, fly traps, and bait cards anywhere from
15 to 86 hours to suppress the populations that much.
Moving to field tests, the researchers placed pairs of two-
year-old muscovies on several Ontario farms. Videotapes showed
the birds snapping at houseflies and biting flies about every
30 seconds and being successful on 70 percent of their
attempts. With that efficiency, they achieved 80 - 90 percent fly
control in enclosures such as calf rooms or piggeries. The
birds were given only water and had to scavenge for all their
food. Females seemed to eat about 10 percent more flies than
males, and individuals of any age between eight days and two
years were equally effective.
The birds fit the practical needs for farmyard fly control.
They stayed close to piglets and calves, to which flies are
particularly attracted. They even snatched flies off the hides of
resting animals without waking them up. On one farm, the
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birds huddled between sleeping piglets and were accepted by
the sow lying beside them. This was noteworthy because most
fly-catch~ng devices (chemical, electrical, or mechanical) must
be kept far from animals.
To the Canadians, the economic advantages are clear. A 35-
cow dairy needs $15~$390 worth of chemicals for controlling
flies during the fly season; muscovy chicks, on the other hand,
cost less than $2 each, eat for free, and can be sold for a profit
of 200~00 percent.
The researchers point out that employing muscovies does
not eliminate all need for insecticides, but it reduces the
amounts required. And muscovies are biodegradable, will not
cause a buildup of genetic resistance, and taste better than
flypaper. Indeed, their meat is excellent, and the naturally
mute birds seldom malce any noise.
Reportedly, muscov~es are kept in some houses in South
America to control not only flies, but also roaches and other
insects.
The muscovy is polygamous (a young male will try to mate with
almost any fowl, including chickens). Mating can occur on land or in
water. Males are pugnacious and tolerate no opposition. Because of
this, they do not do well in close confinement.
USES
The muscovy is generally raised only for its meat, which is of
excellent quality and taste. In stews it is hard to distinguish from pork;
cured and smoked it is similar to lean ham.4 The fat content is low.
Muscovy eggs are as tasty as other duck eggs, and a muscovy female
can supply a large number if she is kept from sitting.
These birds are useful for clearing both terrestrial and aquatic
weeded
Down feathers are used, like those of other ducks, in clothing and
comforters.
HUSBANDRY
Muscovies may be raised like common ducks. An ideal grouping is
one male to five or six females.
4 Indeed, perhaps because of this, Israel is a big muscovy producer.
5 National Academy of Sciences, 1976, Making Aquatic Weeds Useful: Some Perspec-
tives for Developing Countries, Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press, p. 49.
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MICROLIVESTOCK
TlIE l~lULE DUCK OF TAIWAIY*
In parts of Europe, hybrids between muscovies and common
ducks are reared for fattening. [Iowever, Taiwan has made the
most outstanding use of this "mule duck." Thanks in part to
m muscovy hybrid, Taiwan's duck industry has grown rapidly
in the last decade. The total value of duck products now
exceeds $346 million per year. Much of the boom in duck
production is due to improved feeding disease control, and
management systems, but much is also due to the performance
of the mule duck.
Taiwan. Mule-duck chicks. (Food & Fertilizer Technology Centre)
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MUSCOVY
133
This hand is now glands major m~t-duck breech and
about 50 melon are Consumed each year. Indeed the duck
lndus~ has been so successful that ~l~n is lucr~slngly
~po~lng Dozen duck brag and d~msUck meat to Japan. ~
nag prides 24 percent of ~e duck meat eaten In Japan
most of It coming Tom mule duck. Also, Tallinn Is Spoking
papally incubated mule-duck egg throughout Southeast ask.
and mule duck supply most of the raw matedal far Talons
large Other Inducts.
glen Myers hag been producing mule duck far 250
garb but the recent jump In production ~ due to the use of
adlnclal lnsemloabon to overcome the natural reticence of the
dl~rent species to mate. Fortunately adlOclal lnsemloatlon
~ weN developed and Is a standard pad of ~rmlng p~cUce in
again.
Mule duck are successful bemuse they have less fat than ~
broker chlc~n and they grow aster indeed, they On rich a
market Might of 2.8 ~ at 6~75 days of age, depending
upon the withes season, and management in paw this fast
grog Is bemuse they are sterna and waste no energy In
preparing far a seal Sentence or In laying eggs.
The usual cross employs a muscat male and a domesUc-
duck ~male. The domestic breeds most employed far mule-
duck production are Svelte ~1~ (man male x alto T=lya
~male), Large Svelte ~1~ (man male x Mate ~1~ ~male)
and colored ~1~. Both sues of the hybrid o~prlng weigh
about the amp
Crosses between a muscat hen and a domesUc dam are
much rarer ,mdR10naH~ this was bemuse of the deferent
mating bachelor of the go specks but Men with adlOc~1
lnsemloabon Enable they are not much used) and the males
of these hybrids are much hoer than the ~males. Females
of this cross do 1~ eggs but the eggs are small (about 40 g)
and Beg embryos do not develop.
There are almost 300 duck-breedlug Was In Elan, ant
nually produclug more than 500,000 tamale domestic duck
far use In produclog mule duck. Some Myers combine duck
Bang with ash kilns. The Amen of 4,000 duck on one
hectare of pond En prime 50,000 tHapla with 20 percent of
their Bed. It helps the Ever get rld of waste as well as Dialog
him Fresh ash to sell.
* ln~ation in gas section Tom Chain Ad.
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MICROLIVESTOCK
Except in Taiwan, France, Hungary, and a few other European
countries, they exist predominantly in small Hocks in farmyards and
village ponds. However, they can be reared under intensive conditions
in a shed or pen that is well lighted and equipped with low roosts and
bedding. Under such conditions, they may be fed diets recommended
for rearing common ducks or given coarse feeds, including whole
grain. If chicken rations are used, fresh greens must be provided to
avoid "cowboy" legs, a symptom of niacin deficiency.
Although they thrive in areas where there is abundant water, they
do not require access to swimming water. They prefer to nest under
cover and will use nesting boxes. A normal clutch size is 9-14 eggs;
however, clutches of up to 28 can occur. There may be 4 clutches
annually, and (when the hen does not have to brood the ducklings)
some muscovies have laid 100 eggs in a yearn
The egg weight, which increases with the female's age, ranges from
65 to 85 g. The eggs require 33-35 days to hatch, a week longer than
the common duck's. Hatching success of 75 percent or more is common.
Compared with domestic ducks early growth is slow, which is
perhaps why muscovies have not enjoyed wider industrial use. How-
ever, after the slow period they grow rapidly and, because they forage
on a broader range of vegetation than common ducks, they can
scavenge a large proportion of their diet at little or no cost.
When raised intensively, females average 2 kg and males 4 kg at
11-12 weeks of age. Females may reach sexual maturity by 28 weeks
of age; males require a month more.
ADVANTAGES
As noted, the muscovy is an extremely good forager and thrives
under free-ranging conditions. Unlike other ducks, it grazes on grass
and leaves and will maintain itself on pasture. Apparently, it can digest
bran and other fibrous feeds better than common ducks can.
The males are larger than all but the largest strains of table duck.
They have exceptionally broad, well-muscled breasts and provide one
of the leanest meats of any waterfowl.
The muscovy is apparently more resistant to diseases that regularly
decimate other poultry. This is one reason why villagers favored them:
when chickens die, muscovies often survive.
The female's strong parental qualities help assure the survival of
ducklings with a minimum of human intervention. Her ability to
6 However, to get 100 or more eggs per female per year is only possible with efficient
management, and then only with ducks in their first or second laying year. If the female
is allowed to hatch her own eggs and keep her ducklings, she is likely to produce only
two broods per year. Information from W. F. HolIander.
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135
incubate and hatch most other poultry eggs is an added advantage to
small farmers who have neither the capital to buy, nor the knowledge
to operate, artificial incubators.
Unlike other ducks, muscovies are not easily alarmed, and fright
does not affect their egg production and laying. Indeed, they are so
phlegmatic that automobiles can be major causes of death.
LIMITATIONS
Because they are a tropical species, these birds are much less tolerant
of cold than common ducks and require more protection from freezing
weather.
The muscovy's feed conversion is not as good as the chicken' s.
Also, compared with some other meat-duck breeds, muscovies have
a slower rate of growth and require about =6 weeks longer to attain
maximum development of breast muscles.
Muscovies can be difficult to handle. If their legs are free, the
handler may be badly lacerated by the claws.
Although adults have a fair homing ability, muscovies may wander
away when local forage is sparse, and young birds may be carried long
distances downstream, never to return.
Because they feed on greenery, they can devastate gardens if the
plants are very young.
Muscovies can be unsuspected carriers of poultry diseases, so that
healthy-looking muscovies may infect the other species.
RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION NEEDS
Poultry scientists should unite in efforts to advance technical knowl-
edge and public appreciation of this bird. Governments and researchers
should begin evaluations of local varieties and their uses and perform-
ances. The experiences of France, Italy, Eastern Europe, and Taiwan
should be gathered and made available for a worldwide readership.
It is important that the many muscovy varieties within the countries
of Latin America where the bird has a centuries-long history of
domestication-be maintained and studied. Many superior varieties
and specimens may be awaiting discovery.7
The muscovy's nutritional requirements, range and confined systems
of management, and disease vulnerability are poorly understood and
need study. Especially needed are ways to increase growth rate.
A muscovy-research project of this type has already begun at La Molina University
in Lima. Specimens have been collected from all parts of Peru, with researchers selecting
those that grow larger more quickly and have other valuable traits.
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I
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Representative terms from entire chapter:
mule duck