Abstract:

【Objective】 For exploring and determining the number of estrus, duration of diestrus and the potential influencing factors in captive Alpine musk deer (Moschus sifanicus). 【Method】 From Oct. 2000 to Jan. 2001, the random sampling and all-occurrence recording methods were used to record the number of estrus and duration of diestrus in 22 captive female Alpine musk deers at Xinglongshan musk deer farm in Xinglongshan National Nature Reserve of Gansu Province. The sampling population was divided into classes by such variables as sexual experience, age, age class, origin, the reproduction cost in previous year and next year, and the potential impacts of the above variables on the estrus and duration of diestrus were explored. 【Result】 The results showed that captive female musk deers entered into estrus seasonally with (1.88±0.13) cycles, and the average duration of diestrus is (12.23±0.52) d (n=22). The duration of diestrus of females at different ages and age-classes was not significantly different (P＞0.05), however, the factor of age influenced the estrus significantly (P＜0.05), and the estrus of sexual-inexperienced females [(3.00±0.32) cycles, n=9] was longer than that of sexual-experienced [(1.55±0.11) times, n=13]. The origin of female deer had no significant impact on the estrus cycles and duration of diestrus. The reproductive cost last year did not affect the estrous and mating parameters such as estrus cycle and the duration of diestrus, but those females fawning next year had more estrus [(1.71±0.16), n=7] and shorter diestrus [(10.13±2.24), n=3] than those barren next year [(2.20±0.18) cycles, n=7; (13.00±2.00) days, n=7].【Conclusion】The temporal estrus pattern of captive female alpine musk deer is influenced by factors such as social interaction among captive individuals, enclosure environments, age and the sexual experience, the origin of females, but is not related to its estrus pattern. Furthermore, the reproduction cost last year of female musk deer do not influence the estrus, those females fawning next year, however, have more estrus and shorter diestrus than those barren next year.

Key words: alpine musk deer (Moschus sifanicus), captive, estrus cycle, Di-estrus, influencing factors