History

        The Ilan Branch, Livestock Research Institute was first established in 1968 and was located at the Provincial Ilan Agricultural Professional High School. It was attached to the Taipei Agricultural Improvement Station at that time. Because duck is the only experimental animal of this Branch, it is well known as “Duck Research Center”. The Ilan Branch was moved to the present location in 1972. In the next year, it was reorganized as the Ilan Animal Propagation Center under Taiwan Livestock Research Institute and in 1976 it was renamed as the Ilan Animal Propagation Station. In 1981, it was upgraded as the Ilan Branch. This Branch was further reorganized for the organization simplifying as the Ilan Branch, Livestock Research Institute, Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan on Jul. 1, 1999.

Assistance to the Duck Industry

      The Ilan Branch is the only institute to do research and provide assistance to the duck industry. This institute has provided a lot of assistance to the egg duck and meat duck producers whenever they need it and enhanced the competiveness of the industry. 
      Duck industry has existed at least 300 years. Tsaiya duck, Pekin duck, Muscovy duck and mule duck are the major breeds in Taiwan. Tsaiya duck is the only laying breed and over 460 millions of eggs are produced annually. Duck eggs are usually used for processing alkalized eggs (pidan) or salted eggs. Pekin duck, Muscovy duck and mule duck are meat type duck. Average 31.3 million meat ducks are slaughtered annually, including 6% of Muscovy ducks, 15% of Pekin ducks and 79% of mule ducks. In addition to the both sides to maintain closed relationship of cooperation beyond, in recent years, through the research of DRC in the fields of physiology, breeding, processing, nutrition and management, etc., duck technology has been rapid progress. In future, continuous R & D meeting the demand of duck industry and active assistance to this industry is always necessary for the sustainability of duck production. And will try to establish an environmentally friendly facility with high bio-security to produce duck products having excellent quality will always be our goal in Taiwan.

Major Responsibilities

1. Genetic selection and improvement of duck breeds
2. Researches on duck nutrition
3. Researches on duck physiology 
4. Establishment of duck feeding and management model
5. Research on duck processing products
6. Conservation and utilization of Tsaiya ducks and black Muscovy duck
7. Production and extension of excellent breeder ducks
8. Assistance to duck industry
9. Duck excreta treatment and reutilization