Australian Spotted
Encyclopedia
The name Australian Spotted is something of a misnomer, as the Australian Spotted duck is one of the few breeds of domesticated duck
s that originated in the United States
. John C. Kriner and Stanley Mason of Pennsylvania
developed this breed by allowing Calls, Mallard
s, Pintail
s, and various Australia
n wild ducks to crossbreed
for several years before selecting the desired specimens. The first exhibit of the Australian Spotted began in 1928.
Many duck enthusiasts don't believe that Pintails contributed to the acculturation, because a Mallard derivative and Pintail cross renders a sterile duck due to chromosomal differences. However, it is possible for a rare mutant Mallard-Pintail cross to pass on its genes to generations to come, leaving it possible that the Pintail did indeed contribute to the specimens. David Holderread, one of the top waterfowl breeders in the United States, has said that he has observed various traits in the Australian Spotted that are distinct to Pintails.
Domesticated duck
Domesticated ducks are ducks that are raised for meat, eggs and down. Many ducks are also kept for show, as pets or for their ornamental value...
s that originated in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. John C. Kriner and Stanley Mason of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
developed this breed by allowing Calls, Mallard
Mallard
The Mallard , or Wild Duck , is a dabbling duck which breeds throughout the temperate and subtropical Americas, Europe, Asia, and North Africa, and has been introduced to New Zealand and Australia....
s, Pintail
Northern Pintail
The Pintail or Northern Pintail is a widely occurring duck which breeds in the northern areas of Europe, Asia and North America. It is strongly migratory and winters south of its breeding range to the equator...
s, and various Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n wild ducks to crossbreed
Crossbreed
A crossbreed or crossbred usually refers to an animal with purebred parents of two different breeds, varieties, or populations. Crossbreeding refers to the process of breeding such an animal, often with the intention to create offspring that share the traits of both parent lineages, or producing...
for several years before selecting the desired specimens. The first exhibit of the Australian Spotted began in 1928.
Many duck enthusiasts don't believe that Pintails contributed to the acculturation, because a Mallard derivative and Pintail cross renders a sterile duck due to chromosomal differences. However, it is possible for a rare mutant Mallard-Pintail cross to pass on its genes to generations to come, leaving it possible that the Pintail did indeed contribute to the specimens. David Holderread, one of the top waterfowl breeders in the United States, has said that he has observed various traits in the Australian Spotted that are distinct to Pintails.