title: The reproductive performance of female Forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii) in captivity.
abstract: Reproductive performance of 750 adult female Forest musk deer (FMD, Moschus berezovskii) was monitored (from 2005 to 2009) on two Forest musk deer farms in Sichuan province, China. The mean (± SEM) lengths of the estrous cycle, pregnancy, and consecutive fawning intervals were 17.5 ± 0.8 d (n = 64), 182.9 ± 0.8 d (n =190), and 363.2 ± 2.4 d (n = 120), respectively. Copulation occurred from the end of October to early March, with the majority (84.1 ± 1.9%) during November and December (P < 0.05). The fawning rate was 68.7 ± 2.2% in yearling hinds and 73.3 ± 1.3% in adult hinds. Fawning occurred from the end of April to early September, with the majority (88. 9 ± 2.2%) during May and June (P < 0.005), including a peak in May (52.0 ± 1.0%). Yearling hinds fawned later (7.3 ± 1.8 d) than adult hinds. Rates of premature delivery and dystocia were 2.7 ± 0.4 and 2.0 ± 0.3%, respectively. There was a 1.07:1 female-to-male ratio at birth (P > 0.05), with 67.7% twins, but only two cases of triplets and one set of quadruplets among 537 fawns. Birth weight averaged 518.7 ± 10.3 g, ranging from 304 to 775 g (n = 240), with male fawns slightly heavier than females (521.1 ± 14.8 vs 516.9 ± 14.3 g). Postnatal and pre-weaning mortality rates were 25.0 ± 1.2 and 17.9 ± 3.1%, respectively. Postnatal mortality and urinary calculus were much more common in male fawns (P < 0.01). The mortality rate due to suppuration and dyspepsia were different (P < 0.001) between postnatal and pre-weaning periods. Due to higher mortality of male fawns, the adult sex ratio was significantly female-biased. In conclusion, captive FMD had similar seasonal patterns of copulation and fawning as wild FMD and other musk deer species.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Bio-resources and Eco-environment (Ministry of Education), College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Wen-Hua
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiu-Yue
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zhong-Kai
authors.initials: ZK
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xü-Xin
authors.initials: XX
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Cheng-Zhong
authors.initials: CZ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Wen-long
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Bi-Song
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Yue
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000502:physiology; D001724:Birth Weight; D002681:China; D003307:Copulation; D003670:Deer / Q000502:physiology*; D030762:Estrous Cycle / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009026:Mortality; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D011247:Pregnancy; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*; D012621:Seasons; D012737:Sex Factors; D012744:Sex Ratio