Bali Duck
Encyclopedia
The Bali Duck is a lightweight breed of domesticated duck
raised primarily for decoration or as pet
s, although they are good layers. It is similar to the Indian Runner Duck
, differing only in having a crest on the top of the head.
The Bali Duck weighs around 2.25–2.75 kg (5–6 lb) with a slender, upright body. The body carriage is not as varied as that of the Indian Runner: Balis tend to vary between carrying their body at angle of 60–70 degrees to the ground whereas Indian Runners can be anywhere in the range of 45–75 degrees. The Bali has wider shoulders and heavier-set body than the Indian Runner, and a coarser head and bill shape. It can be clearly distinguished by the crest on the top of its head.
The Bali Duck comes in a variety of standard colours, but the most common are white, brown and a Mallard
colouring. It produces 120–250 eggs a year. These eggs are blue-green to white in colour.
The Bali Duck is one of the oldest breeds of domestic duck. It is uncommon outside of Bali
, and has not achieved the same success as the Indian Runner. Although it is a good layer, it has not been the subject of selective breeding
for egg production (as the Indian Runner has), possibly because of the high in ovo mortality rate. The same gene
responsible for producing the crest codes for a number of defects including back and balance problems, arched necks and complications in the formation of the skull that lead to death before hatching. On average one of every three offspring will lack the crest. The method routinely used in Bali for producing the largest number of viable ducks is to cross
crested and non-crested specimens - this results in a higher survival rate, but reduces the number of crested offspring to 50%.
Domesticated duck
Domesticated ducks are ducks that are raised for meat, eggs and down. Many ducks are also kept for show, as pets or for their ornamental value...
raised primarily for decoration or as pet
Pet
A pet is a household animal kept for companionship and a person's enjoyment, as opposed to wild animals or to livestock, laboratory animals, working animals or sport animals, which are kept for economic or productive reasons. The most popular pets are noted for their loyal or playful...
s, although they are good layers. It is similar to the Indian Runner Duck
Indian Runner Duck
Indian Runners are an unusual breed of domestic duck. They stand erect like penguins and, rather than waddling, they run. The females usually lay about 150 – 200 eggs a year or more, depending whether they are from exhibition or utility strains...
, differing only in having a crest on the top of the head.
The Bali Duck weighs around 2.25–2.75 kg (5–6 lb) with a slender, upright body. The body carriage is not as varied as that of the Indian Runner: Balis tend to vary between carrying their body at angle of 60–70 degrees to the ground whereas Indian Runners can be anywhere in the range of 45–75 degrees. The Bali has wider shoulders and heavier-set body than the Indian Runner, and a coarser head and bill shape. It can be clearly distinguished by the crest on the top of its head.
The Bali Duck comes in a variety of standard colours, but the most common are white, brown and a Mallard
Mallard
The Mallard , or Wild Duck , is a dabbling duck which breeds throughout the temperate and subtropical Americas, Europe, Asia, and North Africa, and has been introduced to New Zealand and Australia....
colouring. It produces 120–250 eggs a year. These eggs are blue-green to white in colour.
The Bali Duck is one of the oldest breeds of domestic duck. It is uncommon outside of Bali
Bali
Bali is an Indonesian island located in the westernmost end of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lying between Java to the west and Lombok to the east...
, and has not achieved the same success as the Indian Runner. Although it is a good layer, it has not been the subject of selective breeding
Selective breeding
Selective breeding is the process of breeding plants and animals for particular genetic traits. Typically, strains that are selectively bred are domesticated, and the breeding is sometimes done by a professional breeder. Bred animals are known as breeds, while bred plants are known as varieties,...
for egg production (as the Indian Runner has), possibly because of the high in ovo mortality rate. The same gene
Gene
A gene is a molecular unit of heredity of a living organism. It is a name given to some stretches of DNA and RNA that code for a type of protein or for an RNA chain that has a function in the organism. Living beings depend on genes, as they specify all proteins and functional RNA chains...
responsible for producing the crest codes for a number of defects including back and balance problems, arched necks and complications in the formation of the skull that lead to death before hatching. On average one of every three offspring will lack the crest. The method routinely used in Bali for producing the largest number of viable ducks is to cross
Crossbreed
A crossbreed or crossbred usually refers to an animal with purebred parents of two different breeds, varieties, or populations. Crossbreeding refers to the process of breeding such an animal, often with the intention to create offspring that share the traits of both parent lineages, or producing...
crested and non-crested specimens - this results in a higher survival rate, but reduces the number of crested offspring to 50%.