Le Shou Modern Agricultural Park – Leading Xian County in Building an International Duck Breeding Industry Hub

Leshou Duck Industry Beijing Duck Breeding Demonstration Farm

Lately, Yang Jiwei, the head of the Beijing Duck Standard Breeding Farm in Dawangzhuang Industrial Park, has been busy building "villas" for ducklings. Unlike typical brooding sheds, this "villa" features three floors and stands an impressive 3.7 meters tall.

"This is the three-dimensional cage-raising model we’ve recently explored—multi-level farming that boosts chick-rearing density and increases overall farming efficiency by 30%," Yang Jiwei explained. "Of course, higher stocking densities also mean greater challenges in environmental control. But Yang Jiwei isn’t worried, thanks to his reliable 'helpers'!"

"To build modernized livestock facilities, we not only need to install automated feeding systems and automatic water supply systems—but an essential component is the inclusion of automated manure removal equipment. The duck manure produced during farming is regularly and automatically cleared away by scraper belts, effectively maintaining a clean and hygienic environment while minimizing bacterial growth."

Not only that, but the temperature and humidity monitoring probes inside the greenhouse act like the "sharp eyes" of environmental control.

"You don’t need to enter the shed—now you can monitor the temperature and humidity levels inside anytime, right from your smartphone. If the temperature or humidity inside the shed reaches the critical threshold we’ve set, the fans and water curtains will automatically activate, ensuring the farming environment remains perfectly suited for your livestock at all times," said Yang Jiwei.

Enhancing the智能化 level of farming is just one aspect of Xian County Leshou Modern Agricultural Park's innovative initiatives. Over the years, the park has also been actively pursuing advancements in germplasm resource innovation.

In recent years, the park has established a strategic partnership with the Beijing Institute of Animal Science & Veterinary Medicine under the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, jointly advancing research and promotion of a new breed of Beijing ducks—and successfully developing a breeding duck variety that boasts independent intellectual property rights.

Currently, the vast majority of domestic livestock and poultry breeds have been introduced from abroad, which has undoubtedly filled a significant gap in China's agricultural sector. Of course, most notably, the establishment of China's innovative breeding base for meat ducks has drawn widespread acclaim.

"Last year, the Beijing Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine under the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences signed a Cooperation Framework Agreement with the Xian County People's Government for the establishment of the China Meat Duck Germplasm Innovation Center, aiming to build China’s premier meat duck germplasm innovation base within the park," said Zhang Xiaodong. He added that the base will leverage resources from two key platforms—the Key Laboratory of Animal Genetic Breeding and Reproduction (Poultry) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, as well as the National Waterfowl Industry Technology R&D Center—to drive forward a major national initiative focused on independent innovation in the seed industry. The goal is to cultivate a world-class meat duck breeding hub and position Xian County as the "International Capital of Meat Duck Seed Industry."

Once the project is completed, the park will be able to leverage internationally advanced breeding technologies to develop 3 to 5 new meat duck varieties tailored to the needs of the meat duck industry and various processing applications, ultimately supplying them to global markets.

Interior view of the workshop at Hebei Leshou Duck Industry Co., Ltd., Guozhuang Branch

Hebei Leshou Duck Industry Co., Ltd. – Guozhuang Branch

Targeting the eco-circular industry, the Da Wangzhuang Beijing Duck Standard Farm was established in 2018, creating an integrated farming and breeding base that leverages harmless, organic fertilizers to cultivate high-quality grain crops like corn. In 2020, the Guo Zhuang branch was set up, expanding the company’s footprint into duck meat processing and slaughtering operations…

It's clear that the history of the park's development is, in essence, the story of building its industrial chain. And in turn, constructing this full-fledged industrial chain has further fueled the park's growth and advancement.

"Expanding into various industries can first help us control production costs. Corn cultivation has always been a strong suit of Xian County, and by sourcing directly within our park, we can save significantly compared to purchasing externally. Similarly, developing small-scale farming among local households also keeps costs low," said Zhang Xiaodong. He added that building a fully integrated industrial chain is crucial not only for maximizing control over food safety but also for ensuring the overall security of the industry. "Whether it’s planting, livestock farming, or processing, the companies operating in the park have, after years of experience, established a comprehensive set of advanced technical and quality-control parameters. Moreover, this integrated approach allows us to maintain both the planned production of our meat duck products and the stability of our sales."

The development of the entire industrial chain has brought tangible benefits to local farmers.

In Tanzhuang Village, Nanhetou Township, Xian County, 59-year-old farmer Miao Naihong is busy feeding his ducks. "I've been raising ducks for six or seven years now—about 4,000 ducks per shed. I raise six to seven sheds a year and can earn around 50,000 yuan."

Miao Naihong joined the park's farming team in 2014. He has difficulty walking, and in recent years, life wasn’t exactly prosperous. When he heard that Leshou Company was encouraging farmers to raise ducks, he immediately became interested. "Raising 'contract ducks' means the company handles everything—from providing ducklings and feed to ensuring disease prevention, offering technical guidance, and even taking back the finished product for processing. That way, we don’t have to worry about market or technical risks—just stay diligent and committed, and our profits will remain steady."