Ecolovo Foods and Cherry Valley have entered into a strategic partnership to build a state-of-the-art breeding infrastructure for meat ducks. This collaboration combines Cherry Valley’s genetic expertise and Ecolovo’s market reach to develop a new, small-sized roast duck breed and meet demand for high-quality Cherry Valley PS ducklings in China. Cherry Valley, historically significant for its role in global duck breeding, continues its legacy in the Chinese market with advanced breed lines like the “Nankou No. 1” and “Jingdian Beijing Duck.” The partnership also aligns with China’s efforts to diversify meat duck breeds to fit consumer demand for specialty products, such as Muscovy-based dishes and robust meat-fat type ducks for roast. With an annual production of over 4.2 billion ducks, China’s duck industry generates more than USD 71.43 billion in value.
Ecolovo Foods and Cherry Valley have partnered strategically to build a state-of-the-art breeding infrastructure for meat ducks. This collaboration combines Cherry Valley’s genetic expertise and Ecolovo’s market reach to develop a new, small-sized roast duck breed and meet the demand for high-quality Cherry Valley PS ducklings in China. Historically significant for its role in global duck breeding, Cherry Valley continues its legacy in the Chinese market with advanced breed lines like the “Nankou No. 1” and “Jingdian Beijing Duck.” The partnership also aligns with China’s efforts to diversify meat duck breeds to fit consumer demand for specialty products, such as Muscovy-based dishes and robust meat-fat type ducks for roast. With an annual production of over 4.2 billion ducks, China’s duck industry generates more than USD 71.43 billion in value.
Ecolovo has signed a “Strategic Cooperation Intent Agreement” with Cherry Valley to establish a world-leading breeding infrastructure for specialty meat ducks. They will also build a specialized multiplication base for Cherry Valley breeds in China.
Key Aspects of the Partnership
1. New Breed Development
Leveraging both companies’ resources, Ecolovo and Cherry Valley aim to create a novel small-sized roast duck breed, distinct from Cherry Valley’s current Cherry Valley and Pekin ducks. This new line will be optimized for market promotion and adaptability, catering specifically to evolving market demands.
2. Advanced Grandparent Breeding Base
With Cherry Valley’s genetic expertise in white-feathered meat ducks and Ecolovo’s established marketing channels, the collaboration will focus on building a high-quality Cherry Valley grandparent duck breeding base. This facility is expected to meet the growing demand for premium Cherry Valley parent ducks within the Chinese market.
About Cherry Valley and Its Legacy
Founded in 1959 by Sir Joseph Nickerson in Lincolnshire, England, Cherry Valley Farms has a storied history in purebred duck breeding. Today, Cherry Valley ducks dominate over 60% of China’s white-feathered meat duck market—a milestone achieved since their introduction in the 1990s. In 2017, Beijing Capital Agribusiness & Foods Group acquired Cherry Valley Farms, heralding a “century-long homecoming.”
With Beijing Capital Agribusiness & Foods Group’s stewardship, the genetic foundations of Cherry Valley have expanded to include new lines like the “Nankou No. 1 Beijing Duck” and “Jingdian Beijing Duck,” new breeds certificated in 2006 and 2021 respectivelly, and targeting premium and mass-market roast duck market.
China’s Domestic Innovation in Duck Breeding
In recent years, Chinese researchers have accelerated domestic breeding programs to meet diverse consumer preferences. Notable contributions include the “Z-type Beijing Duck,” developed by the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and various regional breeds such as Sichuan Agricultural University’s “Tianfu Meat Duck.”
Prof.Hou Shuisheng, chief scientist at the National Waterfowl Industry Technology System, highlighted that China’s duck industry produced about 4.2 billion birds in 2023, yielding over 10 million tons of meat and generating more than CNY 500 billion (USD 71.43 billion) in industry value.
Market-Driven Breeding Criteria
For China’s roast duck market, according to Prof. Hou, preferences lean toward “meat-fat type” ducks with optimal body fat and heat resistance. In contrast, Muscovy breeds remain popular for specialty foods such as marinated and sauced duck, valued for their thin skin, low fat, and muscular density. Specialty meat cuts also require ducks with well-developed breast and leg muscles, attributes suited to high-stress environments and varied culinary applications.
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