Mulard duck
Breed of Domestic duck · Origin: France
- Type
- hybrid
- Suitability
- primary
- Liver Avg Weight
- 550g
- Weight Range
- 300-700g
- Fat %
- 55%
- Gavage Tolerance
- Generally docile during gavage; lower stress indicators than Muscovy. Industry claims good adaptation; welfare advocates cite hepatic lipidosis and mortality.
- Growth Period
- 77 days
- Gavage Period
- 12 days
- Mortality (gavage)
- 4%
- Mortality (normal)
- 1.5%
- Prevalence
- 95%
- Feed
- Corn mash (whole or ground corn, sometimes with fat added)
Behavioral Traits
Docile, sterile hybrid. Males only used (females' livers too small). Limited vocalization during gavage reported.
Welfare Data (18)
| Type | Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| anatomical | anatomical | 60 percent_fat | Veterinary pathology |
| anatomical | anatomical | 30 percent_fat | Veterinary pathology |
| behavioral | behavioral | — | EU Scientific Committee 1998 |
| disease_prevalence | disease_prevalence | 100 percent | Veterinary consensus |
| feed_volume | feed_volume | 300 grams_per_feeding | Veterinary literature |
| feed_volume | feed_volume | 7 kg_total_gavage | Farm operations data |
| gavage_duration | gavage_duration | 12 days | CIFOG |
| gavage_duration | gavage_duration | 18 days | HVFG operations |
| gavage_frequency | gavage_frequency | 2.5 times_per_day | Industry standard |
| lesion_rate | lesion_rate | 50 percent | L214/veterinary surveys |
| liver_enlargement | liver_enlargement | 8 fold_increase | EU Scientific Committee 1998 |
| liver_weight | liver_weight | 80 grams | EU Scientific Committee 1998 |
| liver_weight | liver_weight | 300 grams | EU regulations |
| liver_weight | liver_weight | 600 grams | Industry data |
| liver_weight | liver_weight | 1000 grams | Veterinary literature |
| mortality_rate | mortality_rate | 8 percent | Belgian welfare report |
| mortality_rate | mortality_rate | 3 percent | HVFG/Marcus Henley statements |
| stocking_density | stocking_density | 4 birds_per_cage | EU directives |