Health Benefits of Duck Fat

Since we raise a flock of Muscovy Ducks every year to put in the freezer, I am going to explore the health benefits of this amazing animal, specifically their fat. We chose Muscovies because of their size, ability to fend for themselves, and the fact that they do not need a pond. With Mac’s interest in a healthy lifestyle, ducks are a no-brainer.

Recently, duck fat has come into the world’s view as a health food. There have been tons of studies involving the Gascony region of France, where the residents eat more saturated fat than any other group of people in the industrialized world. They particularly love the swanky food called foie gras, the liver of a fattened duck or goose. Adults and children alike enjoy a slab of foie gras with bread smothered in liquid duck fat. It is easy to assume that any group of people that consume this much fat would suffer from high rates of cardiovascular disease; however, studies show that just the opposite is occurring.

The World Health Organization recently posted the average number of instances of cardiovascular disease per 100,000 citizens. In the United States it was 315, 145 in France, and only 80 in the Gascony region of France. That’s 75% fewer cases! The miracle man trying to change the world’s mind about fat is Dr. Renaud of France’s National Institute of Health and Medical Research. He has published research that suggests that duck fat may improve cardiovascular health.

He has found that duck fat is closer in composition to olive oil than to butter or fat. It is 49% mono-unsaturated fat, which is known to raise good cholesterol. Also, it boasts a low 33% saturated fat content, compared to butter’s 62%.

Dr. Renaud plans to continue his research with a new $3 million grant to focus on the consumption of wine, dairy fats, vegetables, fruits, and duck fat in the United States. Time will only tell just how much these ducks are contributing to our lives.

Growing Forage for Poultry (Chickens & Ducks)

This year I managed to implement a pretty good schedule for keeping a plot of forage growing all season to feed to the chickens (broilers & hens) and to the ducks (Muscovies for meat).

The plantings include: abruzzi rye, crimson clover, rape, browntop millet, and chicory.

Feeding Greens

We feed greens to the chickens and ducks every evening. We have a 5 gallon bucket hung in the chickens' coop with four 4" holes drilled in the sides at the bottom. We fill this bucket with greens every evening. We feed greens to the ducks in a similar manner, or in feed pans with a little grain on top of the greens.

Abruzzi Rye

Rye is planted in the fall. This year I'll plant two plots of rye. The first plot is up already. I'll plant the second plot in a couple weeks. The first plot should provide some greens yet this fall and through the winter, providing greens early next year. The second plot will come up this fall, but not put on much growth until early next year when it will provide greens after the first batch of rye has started to set seed. That's the plan anyway. Last fall I only planted one plot of rye late in November.

When the rye starts to put on growth, we cut buckets of the tender grass to feed to the poultry. We continue feeding this way until after the rye has set seed and the leaves start to fade. We use a pair of lawn shears from Wal-Mart. We've found that if we cut the grass up into shorter lengths, the birds will eat more of it, especially once it has set seed. When we cut plants to feed, we always cut high enough that some leaves are left. This keeps a cover crop in place, and usually allows the crop to come back to set seed.

Protein content:  About 26% (15 to 48% per links below).

     15-26%:  http://hayandforage.com/silage/other-silage/plant-winter-rye-for-spring-forage-0720/

     29-48%:  http://outagamie.uwex.edu/files/2010/08/Fall-Grain-Rye-factsheet-3.pdf

 

     26-27%: http://www.usask.ca/agriculture/plantsci/winter_cereals/winter_rye/Rye2.htm

Crimson Clover

Crimson clover is also planted in the fall and overwinters, blooming in the spring. I've got one plot that is far enough along that the ducks are foraging on it. The second planting has just come up, but won't provide any forage or cut greens until next spring.

The clover is cut similar to the rye. Crimson clover is very determined to set seed, and will usually do so even after being cut for greens as long as it is not cut too short. If allowed to set seed and mature and drop seed, it is pretty good at volunteering again the following year.

Protein content: 20% or higher; 12-14% even at full bloom stage http://msucares.com/crops/forages/legumes/cool/crimsonclover.html


Rape

Rape is a brassica that is typically planted for forage. It can be planted in late summer, fall, and in late Feb. - mid March. I read about planting rape for poultry in The Dollar Hen by Milo Hastings / Robert Plamondon.

We are still feeding a batch of rape that was planted mid August and will soon start to feed a larger plot that was planted a little later. A third plot will hopefully overwinter, and provide forage and greens early next year.

We cut the rape leaving some leaf structure so that the plants can come back and keep a cover crop on the plot until tilled under and replanted. Because of it's high protein content, we try to feed rape during as much of the year as possible.

Protein content: 19-20% http://home.limagrain.co.uk/files/28-forage-rape-2009.pdf


Browntop Millet

Millet is a warm season grain. Browntop millet is a shorter millet that sets a lot of seed. Duck hunters often plant it.

We plant succession plots all summer and cut it similar to the rye. The ducks are very good at eating the grain off the stalks even after the stalks have fallen over, or been walked down by the ducks.

Protein content: 11-16% http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/plantsci/hay/r1016w.htm


Chicory

I just planted the first plot of chicory this fall. Chicory is a perennial. So far, the ducks seem to like it. I may overseed parts of the pasture with it.

Protein content: 30% (maybe higher?) http://www.wildlifeseeds.com/whitetail/seeds/chicory-plus.html


I'll update this and add pictures as I get time.

Mac