Updated July 2009 by Sarah Clarahan, student, Iowa State University.


Overview
The majority of the poultry production in the United States is made up of chicken, egg and turkey products. Thus, the USDA's Economic Research Service (ERS) does not routinely follow the markets for other poultry, such as ducks or geese.

According to USDA's 2007 Census of Agriculture (2009), about 31.3 million ducks were raised in the United States in 2007. Indiana, California and Pennsylvania are the top three producers of ducks.

Geese production has shown a slight decrease since 2002. More geese are being raised but less are being sold. Nearly 339,000 geese were raised in 2007. Texas, Minnesota and South Dakota are the top producers of geese in the United States.

The USDA reported that Americans consume about 0.34, or 1/3, pound of duck per person yearly, down from 0.44 pound in 1986. Consumption of goose is even less. High-value products from ducks and geese include liver pate, down feathers and smoked meat products. Tongues and feet products are also used as a delicacy, mostly exported to Hong Kong, although some are used by Asian Americans. Some agricultural producers are also finding markets for stocking ducks in the game farm industry.

 
Marketing

• Poultry Grading and Certification Programs, Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), USDA - Provides grading and certification services for chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, guineas, pigeons and shell eggs, including process verification.
• Poultry-Small Farm Flock, University of Minnesota Extension, 2002 - Provides a quick overview of small farm poultry markets.
• U.S. Poultry and Egg Association - This trade association represents the entire poultry industry, including producers of broilers, turkeys, ducks, eggs and breeding stock, as well as allied companies.

Processing/Manufacturing

• Labeling and Consumer Protection Staff, FSIS, USDA - Ensures that meat, poultry and egg products are safe, wholesome and accurately labeled. View information about labeling claims and apply for approval of a specific label.
• Processing Farm-Raised Poultry, Kansas State University, 2000 - Guide to home processing of poultry.

Production

• Duck and Goose from Farm to Table, FSIS, USDA - Publication that provides a background into duck and goose regulations and the market uses of duck and geese products.
• Free Range Goose Production, Agriculture and Food Development Authority, Ireland.
• Goose Production, Food and Agriculture Organization, United Nations, 2002 - This publication examines several facets of goose production. It also examines specific products from goose production such as foie gras, meat and down feathers.
• Management Requirements for Waterfowl, Virginia Cooperative Extension - This publication provides production information for ducks and geese.
• Muscovy Duck Care Practices, University of California - This publication examines several facets of muscovy duck production.
• Poultry Your Way, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, 2005 - Reviews management alternatives in the commercial raising, processing and marketing of poultry. Contains farm profile of Muscovy ducks.
• Raising Ducks in Small Flocks, University of California Extension, 2000.

Businesses/Case Studies

• Case Study of the South Dakota Poultry Headquarters, Inc., 2000 - Tom and Ruth Neuberger of Canistota, South Dakota, raise, process and distribute 6,000 chicken, geese, turkeys and pheasants per year, using free-range techniques and a mobile meat market, called the Goosemobile. They also have a complementary business of Dakota Down Feather Products.
• Maple Leaf Farms, Milford, Indiana - This vertically integrated producer is the largest producer of duckling in North America and features the White Pekin duckling.

Links checked November 2009.