Mianyang Speckled Duck 沔阳麻鸭
Mianyang Speckled Duck is featured among the local specialties of Hubei.
Mianyang Speckled Duck (沔阳麻鸭) is a duck breed raised for both meat and eggs in Xiantao (仙桃). In Shahu (沙湖), its firm meat becomes cured duck, while its large eggs are salted to produce oily red yolks with a fine, crumbly texture.
Where it comes from
Xiantao Daily (仙桃日报) traces the breed to a programme begun at the city’s state livestock and poultry breeding farm in 1960. Gaoyou ducks (高邮鸭) were crossed with female Jingjiang speckled ducks (荆江麻鸭). The provincial livestock bureau approved the resulting breed in 1982.
Around Shahu’s wetlands and waterways, the ducks feed on maihuangcao grass (麦黄草), small fish and shrimp, snails and mussels. The newspaper links this diet and setting with their robust build and firm flesh.
How it is eaten
A January 2023 visit to Gu Yongliang’s (顾永亮) Changqing Egg Products (长青蛋业) business found cured ducks being packed for shipment to Wuhan (武汉). The ducks were glossy and had a salty aroma. Ducks born the previous year weighed about two kilograms each after curing; the business also sold fresh ducks and salted eggs.
Sources & reading
Written from the linked sources and fact-checked against them on 2026-09-27. Recipes and servings vary between kitchens.