Authors : Guang Ma, Baocao Gong and Xiuxiang Meng
Abstract: Behavioral patterns of captive alpine musk deer were studied at Xinglongshan Musk Deer Farm (XMDF) in northwest China. Throughout the lactation season (August-October 2003), 13 behaviors categories were recorded for 30 female and 24 male alpine musk deer (Moschus sifanicus) to explore effects of gender and age-classes. Females had a higher frequency of resting, feeding, ruminating and affinitive behaviors than males, potentially due to the increased energy demands and influences of newborn fawns during lactation. Among females there was no effect of age-class on the behavioral patterns whereas, adult males displayed more frequent tail-pasting behavior and agonistic interaction than sub-adult males. The potential causative mechanisms for the behavioral differences were discussed.
Guang Ma, Baocao Gong and Xiuxiang Meng, 2011. Impacts of Gender and Age on Behavioral Frequencies of Captive Musk Deer During Lactation. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 10: 1265-1268.