Program to preserve and maintain genetic resources of Muong Khieng duck breed

Facing the risk of an alarming decline in flock numbers, the native Muong Khieng duck breed, the pride of the Son La people, is being strongly revived thanks to a dedicated gene conservation program. Since 2018, the journey to bring back this specialty duck breed has brought positive results, opening a sustainable direction for the local economy.

Photo: Muong Khieng duck breed at Xe village, Muong Khieng commune

Muong Khieng ducks are famous for their strong vitality, ability to withstand harsh farming conditions and especially the delicious, firm quality of their meat. With an ideal adult weight (male ducks reach 1.7-1.9 kg/duck and female ducks 1.4-1.6 kg/duck), this is a breed of livestock that has been maintained by people for generations.

However, in the face of competition from high-yield hybrid duck breeds, the Muong Khieng duck breed has gradually been forgotten and crossbred. The rare genetic resource is at risk of disappearing, causing many people to worry about a part of the province's agricultural heritage.

Realizing the importance of conservation, since 2018, the Agricultural Technical Station of Region III (formerly the Agricultural Service Center of Thuan Chau District) has coordinated with the National Institute of Animal Husbandry to conduct a survey and discover the remaining purebred Muong Khieng duck flocks in Muong Khieng commune.

Immediately, a program to preserve and maintain gene sources was implemented with a scale of 200 ducks/year in Xe village ( Muong Khieng commune) and Lang Luong village (Thuan Chau commune ). Participating households were not only instructed on selection and breeding techniques but also received financial support from the State for purchasing food, vaccines and veterinary medicine. Thanks to that, the duck breeds are always healthy, reproduce stably and retain valuable purebred characteristics.

After many years of effort, the program has succeeded in preserving the Muong Khieng duck gene source. In the coming years, the goal will be raised to a new level. People will not only continue to maintain the breeding stock but also aim to develop organic farming, produce commercial meat and provide high-quality breeding stock to the market.

This is not only a story of restoring a livestock breed but also a testament to the determination of the people and local authorities in preserving and promoting traditional agricultural values, creating a unique product imbued with the identity of Son La./ .

Source: https://sonnmt.sonla.gov.vn/nganh-chan-nuoi/chuong-trinh-bao-ton-va-luu-giu-nguon-gen-giong-vit-muong-khieng-935918