Microlivestock Little-Known Small Animals with a Promising Economic Future (1991) / Chapter Skim
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30 Water Deer
30 Water Deer
Pages 321-326
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From page 321... ...
In winter, the coat is thick and variable in color; pale fawn ~ They are also known as Chinese water deer, Chinese river deer, or the Yangtze River deer.
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From page 322... ...
It is mainly found in the provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Jiangxi, Hunan, Hubei, and Fujian, the mid and lower Yangtze River Basin, and coastal areas and islands in central and eastern China. It is also found in Guilin, southern Sichuan Province, Guangxi Province, and Guangdong Province in the south.2 In Korea, the animal lives along the lower reaches of most rivers, except those in the extreme northeast.
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From page 323... ...
Up to seven fetuses have been observed in a single pregnant female, although the normal litters are two or three. The gestation period is about 176 days.
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From page 324... ...
USES In China the water deer are hunted for their meat and skins, and newly born fawns are killed to obtain the mother's colostrum for medicinal purposes. In a few localities in England, the species has become a game animal.
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From page 325... ...
RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION NEEDS The water deer has been successfully kept in semicaptivity for many years; however, for it to reach a level of domestication suitable for use as microlivestock, research is needed in the following areas: · Reproduction; Performance under a range of environments; Grazing efficiency; Basic physiology; · Captive breeding and domestication measurements of growth rates, space requirements, and feed needs; and · Modifying behavior to overcome territoriality-for instance, imprinting on humans, selection of docile specimens, hand rearing, and castration. The water deer is not an endangered species; however, efforts should be made to preserve the populations in their native ranges and habitats.
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From page 326... |
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