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Persson, Anna-Marja, 2014. Is the maternal condition important for domesticated reindeer calf survival?. First cycle, G2E. Skara: SLU, Dept. of Animal Environment and Health

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Abstract

There are many challenges within reindeer husbandry in Sweden. There are climate changes, predator problems, and exploitations to mention some of them. The reindeer population contains of 65-70 % females and thus, represent the main part of the population. Studies have been made on productivity and calf survival with results showing that the weight and condition of the female is positively correlated with calf survival. Two reindeer-herding districts (Udtja and Gällivare) in northern Sweden suffer from high bear predation and this study was performed to see if maternal conditions affect calf survival within these districts. Females were weighed and tested for pregnancy in April 2011 and 2012. In June, during calf marking, observations were made to register whether or not the females reared a calf. Mean weights were calculated in both districts with the purpose to determine a difference between the districts. In 2011 there was a significant difference in mean weight (t.test=, P<0.0001), but in 2012, the difference was weakly significant (t.test=, P<0.082). Between the two districts in total mean weight, the difference was significant (t.test=, P<0.0001). Udtja had the highest mean weights in both 2011 and 2012, as well in total. The observations during calf marking showed that Gällivare district had the highest calf survival with survival rates of 56.7 % in Gällivare, whereas Udtja only had 42.0 %. It was not possible to determine the importance of good maternal condition based on the results from the present study, even though other studies within the same subject found correlations between good condition in females and calf survival.

Main title:Is the maternal condition important for domesticated reindeer calf survival?
Authors:Persson, Anna-Marja
Supervisor:Skarin, Anna
Examiner:Jung, Jens
Series:Studentarbete / Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet, Institutionen för husdjurens miljö och hälsa
Volume/Sequential designation:567
Year of Publication:2014
Level and depth descriptor:First cycle, G2E
Student's programme affiliation:VK002 Ethology and Animal Welfare - Bachelor's Programme 180 HEC
Supervising department:(VH) > Dept. of Animal Environment and Health
Keywords:female reindeer condition, raindeer, rangifer tarandus, mean weight, calf survival
URN:NBN:urn:nbn:se:slu:epsilon-s-3580
Permanent URL:
http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:slu:epsilon-s-3580
Subject. Use of subject categories until 2023-04-30.:Animal feeding
Language:English
Additional Information:Har fått ett beslut om embargo på 12 månader för arbetet. Vet inte om ni behöver det eller om ni får dem automatiskt. Jag kan skicka det om ni kontaktar mej. Hälsn Gunilla Jacobsson, HMH, Skara
Deposited On:19 Aug 2014 14:41
Metadata Last Modified:19 Aug 2015 23:15

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