Duck meat production presents specific welfare challenges related to water access deprivation, breed-related health problems, and slaughter welfare standards.
Duck meat production welfare combines the welfare problems of intensive poultry production with species-specific issues unique to ducks. Like broiler chickens, fast-growing meat ducks experience lameness and health problems from their extreme genetic selection for rapid growth. Uniquely, ducks are waterfowl that are systematically denied water access - a deprivation of a fundamental behavioral need. The welfare case for duck meat is among the most challenging in commercial poultry production, combining breed reform needs, environmental enrichment requirements, and slaughter welfare improvements. Consumer awareness of duck welfare issues is generally low relative to the scale of production.