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Musk deer farming in China

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

Meng Xiuxiang ,
Zhou Caiquan ,
Hu Jinchu ,
Li Cao ,
Meng Zhibin ,
Feng Jinchao ,
Zhou Yijun  and
Zhu Yinjiu
Meng Xiuxiang*
Affiliation:
Institute of Rare and Precious Animals and Plants, China West Normal University, Nanchong, 637002, People's Republic of China School of Life and Environment Sciences, Central University for Nationalities, 27 Zhong GuanCun, NanDaJie, Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 18 Bei-S-iHuan-Xi-Lu, Beijing, 100080, People's Republic of China
Zhou Caiquan
Affiliation:
Institute of Rare and Precious Animals and Plants, China West Normal University, Nanchong, 637002, People's Republic of China
Hu Jinchu
Affiliation:
Institute of Rare and Precious Animals and Plants, China West Normal University, Nanchong, 637002, People's Republic of China
Li Cao
Affiliation:
Institute of Rare and Precious Animals and Plants, China West Normal University, Nanchong, 637002, People's Republic of China
Meng Zhibin
Affiliation:
Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 18 Bei-S-iHuan-Xi-Lu, Beijing, 100080, People's Republic of China
Feng Jinchao
Affiliation:
School of Life and Environment Sciences, Central University for Nationalities, 27 Zhong GuanCun, NanDaJie, Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China
Zhou Yijun
Affiliation:
School of Life and Environment Sciences, Central University for Nationalities, 27 Zhong GuanCun, NanDaJie, Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China
Zhu Yinjiu
Affiliation:
School of Life and Environment Sciences, Central University for Nationalities, 27 Zhong GuanCun, NanDaJie, Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China
*
†Email: mengxiuxiang2006@hotmail.com
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Abstract

Five musk deer species (genus Moschus) are distributed in China, and the present estimated numbers in the wild are between 220 000 and 320 000. Population size of musk deer has dropped significantly due to historical over-hunting and loss or degradation of their habitat. Musk deer farming, therefore, has become one of the most appropriate ways to protect and utilize musk deer resources. In China, musk deer farming and extracting musk from the captive musk deer have been reasonably successful since the early 1950s. At present three species of musk deer, namely forest (Moschus Berezovskii), alpine (M. sifanicus) and Siberian (M. moschiferus) musk deer are farmed in China and, of these, the forest musk deer is the main captive population. The present patterns of musk deer farming in China, however, need to be improved and developed into more economic and scientific modes in order to improve the rate of survival and reproduction, and to increase the production of musk.

Keywords

Chinamusk deer (Moschus spp.)
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Science , Volume 82 , Issue 1 , February 2006 , pp. 1 - 6
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 2006

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