| . Musk deer (Moschus spp.) is the only extant genus of Moschidae. There are more than 70% of the population living in China. More than 83% of the captive musk deer is the forest musk deer (M. berezovskii), which is the first species in captivity as well as the most widely distributed one. Captive breeding of musk deer is very important for both guaranteeing the meet of market demand and ex-situ conservation. However, the effectiveness of captive breeding has entered a bottleneck period and the achievement of biodiversity conservation is ineffective. So it is essential to find a new parameter. In this study, how do climate conditions influence the effectiveness of captive breeding is discussed, as well as the timing and synchrony of parturition. With the discussion of whether forest musk deer can be domesticated, this study can offer a reference for improving productivity and protecting the wild population.The data using in this study are collected and analysed from Ma’erkang Musk Deer Farm and Dujiangyan Musk Deer Farm (Jinfengshan Farm and Baisha Farm) in Sichuan Institute of Musk Deer Breeding, including the reproduction data from Dujiangyan (1991-2003) and Ma’erkang (1988-2015), the musk secretion data from Dujiangyan (1991-2003) and Ma’erkang (2007-2014), the data of mean temperature and average precipitation both in Dujiangyan and Ma’erkang (1981-2010), and the data of daily maximum temperature, daily minimum temperature and daily precipitation in these two area (1980-2015). The data are analyzed with SPSS 19.0 and Excel 2013. The main research results are as follows:1. As time goes on, with the accumulating of farming experience, the survival rate of forest musk deer in one area was improving gradually and can be described by an exponential regression equation y=lE-43e00519x, especially in the Ma’erkang (R2=0.61).2. There was no significant correlation between mean temperature and survival rate in one area. Dujiangyan r=0.473, P=0.12, Ma’erkang r=0.460, P=0.52.3. Climatic conditions are not strongly related to the temporal pattern of forest musk deer’s parturition (P>0.05). It shows that the temporal pattern of forest musk deer’s parturition is developed in the long term evolution and can not quickly respond to the severe climate change which caused by human activities in a short time.4. The location (r=-0.632) and annual mean temperature (r=0.614) of the farms are extremely related to the average musk secretion (P<0.01). z=-2.358x-0.090y+13.222 (R2=.401). The number of musk deer’s breeding-house is strongly related to the average musk secretion (r=-0.292, P<0.05). These show that the environmental elements, especially the temperature and the daily management, have an important influence on musk secretion.5. In this study, musk secretion does not regulate the temporal pattern of forest musk deer’s parturition. The whole farm average musk secretion and the breeding-house average musk secretion are not strongly related to the temporal pattern of forest musk deer’s parturition (P>0.05).6. There was extremely significant correlation between the start date of parturition and the years since farm established in Ma’erkang (r=-0.736, P<0.01). y=-1.0874x+18.955 (R2=0.542). In Dujiangyan, there was significant correlation between the start date of parturition and the years since farm established (r=-0.554, P<0.05), as well as the time span of parturition and the years (r=0.639, P<0.05). y=-1.1429x+6.3846 (R2=0.307). These results show that the forest musk deer can be tame. If time has no length limitation, the forest musk deer can change seasonal parturition to all year round parturition.
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