Abstract: Musk, widely used in the medicine and perfume industries, is secreted by adult male musk deer (Moschus spp.) and is one of the national strategic reserved materials in China. As musk deer (Moschidae) has been listed as the first class of national protected animals, it is explicitly prohibited to extract musk from the endangered wild musk deer. Musk deer farming has been one of the most important measures for the sustainable supply of natural musk and ex situ conservation of the endangered musk deer, of which the forest musk deer (M. berezovskii) is the most abundant. During November 1 to December 28 of 2023, the musk secretion of captive forest musk deer from the Zherong Musk Deer Farm in Fujian Province was monitored. Variables such as musk appearance, moisture content, and muscone levels were examined and compared based on the collected musk samples. The results showed that the overall extraction rate of forest musk deer in Fujian Zherong Musk Deer Farm was 100%, the effective extraction rate reached 85.07%, with musk secretion ranging 5.8-25.1 g per animal. The musk secretion of forest musk deer at the age of 1.5 years old was significantly lower than that of other age groups (P<0.01), and the highest musk secretion was recorded at the age of 2.5 years (16.91±5.36 g). The mean muscone content in mature musk secreted by captive forest musk deer was 1.66%±0.83% (n=57), without any difference among age groups (P>0.05). Muscone content was significantly correlated with musk appearance score (r=0.281, P<0.01). Our results suggest that musk secretion variables such as effective musk extraction rate and muscone content of captive forest musk deer in Zherong, Fujian Province were at a relatively favorable level compared with captive forest musk deer in other regions of China. In the practice of musk harvesting in musk deer farms, it is recommended that musk harvesting of male individuals secreting abnormal musk should be delayed to allow the musk to fully mature and increase musk production and quality. Since musk deer farming is currently the unique way to supply natural medicinal musk, it is recommended that the musk evaluation standards of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia should be revised accordingly, such as specifying standardized musk harvesting procedures.

Key words: musk resource, forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii), musk deer farming, musk secretion, muscone