Swedish yellow duck
Ducks (Anas platyrhynchos domesticus) have been domesticated for about 500 years in Sweden. The Swedish yellow duck is a breed that was developed in the early 1900s. It quickly became popular because it lays many eggs.
Yellow duck was bred from blue duck
All domestic ducks – except the Muscovy duck – are descended from mallards that were domesticated a few thousand years ago. The Swedish yellow duck became a distinct breed in the 1920s. It was bred from a few yellow males of the Swedish blue duck breed. Swedish breeds include the yellow duck, the blue duck, the Blekinge duck and the Swedish Muscovy duck.
Several different shades of yellow
The color of their feathers can vary from yellowish brown to yellowish white. Females have roughly the same color all over their body, while males may have a darker neck and head. The bill is light greenish, more yellowish in the male and darker in the female. The legs are usually orange.
Duck, drake and duckling
The duck family consists of a female duck simply called a duck, a drake which is the male duck, and their little chicks that are called ducklings. The duck incubates the eggs and the drake helps guard the female and the nest. Once the ducklings have hatched, the female is left to look after them. The ducklings can both walk and swim as soon as they hatch from their eggs, and they don't stay in the nest but follow their mother to look for food.
Food on land and water
Ducks are good swimmers and they can look for food in the water. They dip their heads and necks in the water to get to the food. Although they swim well, they just as often forage on land. Access to water is not only important for foraging, they also mate in the water. Ducks are also more protected from foxes and other predators as long as they stay in the water.
Quick facts
Food: Plants and bugs
Weight: 2.5–3.5 kg
Young: Up to 200 eggs per year
Lifespan: Up to 20 years, rarely more than 10
The yellow duck landrace is at risk of disappearing
Saved at the last moment
Like many other old Swedish breeds, the number of yellow duck declined when other, more productive, breeds became more prioritized. Keeping ducks as a domestic animal also became less popular. At the end of the 20th century, the yellow duck was thought to have disappeared completely, until a flock was found in the county of Skåne in southern Sweden. The breed has been preserved thanks to this flock.
Preserved in a gene bank
The yellow duck is still around today thanks to dedicated keepers and their active conservation efforts. But the breed is endangered – there are only a few hundred animals left in existence. The survival of the breed and its traits is ensured by a gene bank. Animals without a gene bank certificate may not be used for breeding. The ducks in Slottsskogen are part of this gene bank.
Environmental objectives that ensure preservation
The disappearance of old native breeds is also common in other countries. In our country, 15 national environmental objectives have been developed to ensure a good future. One of the environmental objectives – "A rich agricultural landscape" – states that Sweden should ensure the long-term preservation of native livestock breeds.
Why is it important to preserve different breeds?
The more diverse breeds with different traits we have, the better equipped we are to face changes and challenges in the future. This reduces the risk of harms such as the spread of diseases or eradications due to environmental changes.
Does a disappeared breed make any difference? No one knows for sure. However, we know for sure that having a varied and diverse range of species is necessary for a stable ecosystem. And stable ecosystems are in turn necessary for a sustainable future.