Ovarian function and pregnancy rates in reindeer calves [Rangifer tarandus) in southern Norway

Ropstad, Erik; Lenvik, Dag; Bø, Esben; Fjellheim, M.M.; Romsås, K. B.

doi:10.7557/2.10.5.954

Cited by 11 publications

(16 citation statements)

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“…The proportion of lactating female yearlings varied between 0 and 50% (Table 1). This supports earlier and more fragmentary observations of pregnant calves, in both South and North Ottadalen (Reimers, 1983b reindeer areas in Norway, such as Hardangervidda and Snøhetta (Reimers, 1983b), but are reported in semidomestic reindeer herds in southern Norway (Lenvik & Fjellheim, 1988;Ropstad et al, 1991). Indeed, such a high proportion of females conceiving as calves and calving as yearlings is relatively rare among wild ungulates (Gaillard et al, 2000), but it occurs frequently in soay sheep (Clutton-Brock et al, 1997) and sometimes in smaller deer species, such as white-tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus (Cheatum & Morton, 1942) and black-tailed deer Odocoileus heminous (McCullough, 1997).…”

Section: Age At First Reproduction and Senescencesupporting

confidence: 90%

Life‐history variation of wild reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) in the highly productive North Ottadalen region, Norway

2005

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Variation in life history is a central key to understanding population dynamics, and density dependence and climate are important factors in shaping life-history variation in ungulates. Early growth is often sensitive to adverse conditions and this may in turn affect juvenile survival and age at first reproduction. We report variation in body weight of 5079 reindeer Rangifer tarandus from North Ottadalen, a very productive reindeer area in Norway, sampled over 14 years in the period 1967-1989. The North Ottadalen reindeer herd was established in 1964 from a winter herd of some 500 semi-domestic reindeer, and allowed to grow to a peak of over 3300 reindeer in 1974, after which increased harvest decreased the population size. The proportion of lactating yearling females varied between 0% and 50%. Lactating females had lower autumn body weights than non-lactating females. A decline in body weight with age, i.e. senescence, was evident in both males and females from around 7 to 9 years of age. Body weights of all age and sex groups as well as the proportion of yearling females lactating decreased over time, and more so in younger than older males, although the population size declined markedly after the population peak in 1974. We found no effect of the North Atlantic Oscillation or local weather on body weight. The possible causes of the marked decline in performance with time in the North Ottadalen reindeer herd are discussed, and it is suggested that this may be related to the transition from being managed as semi-domestic to wild (i.e. hunted).

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Section: Age At First Reproduction and Senescencesupporting

confidence: 90%

Life‐history variation of wild reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) in the highly productive North Ottadalen region, Norway

2005

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“…The present result is also in accordance with those reported in various species of deer in which the cyclic production of progesterone lasts for 4-5 months (Asher, 1985;Curlewis et al, 1988;Knox et al, 1988). (Daupiné, 1978) and reindeer (Ropstad et al, 1991 …”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 82%

Plasma concentrations of progesterone, oestradiol, LH and 15-ketodihydro-PGF2 in Norwegian semi-domestic reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) during their first reproductive season

Ropstad¹,

Forsberg²,

Je³

et al. 1995

Reproduction

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“…Of 144 these amounts the kidney-knob constituted 2.6 and 1.9 g per kg CW. Much higher amounts of perirenal fat, corresponding to 5.2 and 4.5 g per kg CW, were reported for female calves from the central part of southern Norway slaughtered in NovemberDecember and in January (Ropstad et al, 1991). The lower amounts of fat found in September (Nilsson et al, 1996b) and in January in the present study may indicate a lack of body fat reserves and poorer condition.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 51%

Evaluation of silage diets offered to reindeer calves intended for slaughter. II. Feeding of silage and concentrate from January to March

Nilsson

Olsson²,

Lingvall³

1996

Ran

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An experiment involving 56 male reindeer calves, with a mean initial live weight of 39 kg (SD=4.6), was undertaken to evaluate the effect of the concentrate:silage ratio on the performance during feeding to slaughter. Forty four of the calves were divided in four groups, two groups each being allotted to diets with low, 60% (LC), or high, 80% (HC) proportions of a commercial pelleted feed. The remaining twelve calves were slaughtered at the start of the experiment. The experimenral period lasted from January to March. The proportions of concentrate to silage were based on the dry matter (DM) content. The silage, 44% DM, was made from the primary growth of a predominantly grass sward preserved as plastic-wrapped big bales. Animal health was good throughour the experimenr. Small amounts of lichens were mixed into the diets during the first rwo weeks of feeding and may have contributed to the lack of adaptationai problems. The mean daily intakes of DM and metabolisable energy were higher (P<0.01) for calves offered the HC-diet. Despite the higher feed intakes, the increased proportion of concentrate in the diet did not significantly alter live weight gains or carcass weight gains. However, the greater fat deposition (P<0.05) and better carcass gradings indicated a better condition of the animals at slaughtet when less silage was fed. This experiment was the the final part of a three year study of silage based diets for reindeer intended for slaughter and the general conclusion is that the best role of grass silage of this quality is as a limited part of the ration. The silage may, however, play an important role during the adaptation period and further detailed studies are needed to evaluate the applicability of silage as a part of the diet to reindeer.

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Ovarian function and pregnancy rates in reindeer calves [Rangifer tarandus) in southern Norway

Cited by 11 publications

References 0 publications

Life‐history variation of wild reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) in the highly productive North Ottadalen region, Norway

Life‐history variation of wild reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) in the highly productive North Ottadalen region, Norway

Plasma concentrations of progesterone, oestradiol, LH and 15-ketodihydro-PGF2 in Norwegian semi-domestic reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) during their first reproductive season

Evaluation of silage diets offered to reindeer calves intended for slaughter. II. Feeding of silage and concentrate from January to March

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