Creation of parental flocks of two-line hybrid – Mulard-ducks (cross-breed between Cairina moschata duck and Anas platyrhynchos duck) for the first time in Bulgaria.

Bulgaria is one of the largest producers of duck-produce – Mulard and duck liver is amongst the most exported products. Local producers import one-day old Mulard-ducks from France, which is unavoidable due to the lack of nucleus flocks in Bulgaria – thus the production cycle cannot be close-looped on a local level and the imports lead to overpriced product. As a result, the Hybrid 2020 consortium was created to execute a selection program for creating familial flocks two-line hybrid Mulard-ducks. The task force is made up of 8 agricultural producers, operating the industry, as well as the University of Forestry (UoF). The lead partner of the consortium will provide the breeding-farms and 3600 ducks for the purpose of conducting the cross-breeding. The academic representative, docent Andrey Kurtenkov of the UoF, will be conducting blood sample analysis on the parent ducks and isolating DNA samples for determining the level of familial relationship and based on this consult the lead partner as to which ducks should be mated. The new Mulard-duck offspring will be donated to the 7 other agricultural producers, which will cover the cost of breeding them to maturity and provide the lead partner with key data, including liver weight. Based on these quantitative results, the parents of the corresponding hybrid will be cross-bred again to eventually create a Mulard-duck to be segregated from the rest as a future parent. Successful execution of the project will reduce the dependency of Bulgarian producers on the French, which will improve production and commercial efficiency. If this project is successful, the same methodology can be implemented in creating parental flocks within bird species, such as turkeys, gees, hens, etc.

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