B26405

B20296

FIG. 2.-REINDEER COLD-STORAGE PLANT

The capacity of this plant, at Golovin, is 1,000 carcasses. There are now a number of these small refrigerating places along the Bering Sea coast

A double team in the lead and several single reindeer strung out behind, each drawing a heavy load

FIG. 1.-REINDEER OF THE SHORT, STOCKY TYPE

In good winter condition. The body is short and thick and the horns flattened and irregularly shaped

FIG. 2.

REINDEER OF THE LONG, RANGY TYPE

The two adult animals in the middle foreground, in excellent summer condition, are good examples of this type, which has slender, symmetrically shaped horns

BREEDS AND TYPES OF REINDEER

In the Alaska herds there are two general types of reindeer-a long, rangy, big-framed animal and a short, stocky one (pl. 4). The longer, rangy type has finer, longer, more symmetrically branched and harder horns; the shorter has stockier, broader horns, wide at the base and often irregularly branched at the tips. The rangy type of reindeer usually averages heavier and is therefore better for the production of meat.

The average full-grown reindeer in Alaska stands 102 to 11 hands high, and measures 52 to 6 feet from nose to tip of tail. The maximum measurements are 12 hands high and 7 feet long. The average dressed weight is about 150 pounds and the maximum 300 pounds. The offal averages 35.1 per cent and the skin 6.4 per cent of the dressed weight, a total of about 41.5 per cent; and the meat or dressed carcass averages 58.5 per cent of the live weight.

With a view to the production of a heavier type of reindeer than at present in the herds, experiments in crossing with the large native caribou are being begun on Nunivak Island, where 10 bull caribou have been introduced into the herd of about 500 reindeer held there. Similar experiments will later be carried on at the reindeer station at Fairbanks. The 10 caribou for the Nunivak experiment were captured in the fall of 1924 at Kokrines, on the upper Yukon, where they were staked out for the winter, and the following spring were transported after many hazardous experiences by barge down the Yukon and transshipped to a schooner for the trip to Nunivak.

The numerous measurements and weights of reindeer indicate that the animals may be most profitably slaughtered at 3 years of age. The big gains in growth are made from the time of birth to this age, particularly as fawns and yearlings. A fair gain is made between the ages of 2 and 3 years, but while some is made between 3 and 4 it is so slight as to be negligible. Consequently, though not considered fully mature until the age of 4 or 5, reindeer are so nearly full-grown at 3 years that they should be slaughtered for marketing at this age rather than held for a longer period.

Observations and measurements also show a color difference depending upon the size of reindeer. The dark colors are superior to the lighter ones, and even in spotted animals reindeer of predominantly darker spots show a superiority over those of lighter shades. White animals are clearly inferior and should be promptly disposed of. The distinctly steel-gray animals, however, seem to be fully as large and strong as the dark-colored ones.

Use of the standard of excellence in Table 1 (p. 6), tentatively adopted by the Bureau of Animal Industry and the Bureau of Biological Survey, will, it is believed, be of value to reindeer breeders in the improvement of their herds.

SLED REINDEER

In Department Bulletin 1089, "Reindeer in Alaska," the present method of handling sled reindeer was described and the suggestion made that if the animals were given some form of grain with the lichens, they would endure more hardships without losing so much

97189-26- -2

TABLE 1.-Standard of excellence for reindeer

Points considered

I. Weight and size, according to age (15 per cent)

II. Breed-type and color (10 per cent):

Standard

15

Representative type dark brown in summer, lighter in winter_____ 10

III. Form, deep, broad throughout (50 per cent):

(a) Head and neck (10 per cent) —

1. Masculinity in male and femininity in female--

2. Antlers flattened and triangular, curving upward and forward_

3. Muzzle wide; nostrils large, wide, and open....

4. Eyes clear and bright, indicative of quiet temperament and docile disposition__

5. Face short; jaws strong-.

6. Forehead broad___.

7. Ears small, well covered with hair___

8. Neck short, full, blending smoothly into shoulder___

(b) Fore quarters (10 per cent) —

1. Shoulders smooth, thickly fleshed, compact__.

2. Brisket wide and full, trim___.

3. Legs wide apart, straight, medium short; dewclaws large; toes spreading; hoofs large___.

(c) Body (15 per cent)

1. Chest full, deep, wide, large girth_-

2. Ribs long and well arched, smoothly covered_-.

3. Back and loin broad, straight, deeply covered....

4. Flank full, underline straight--.

(d) Hind quarters (15 per cent)—

1. Hips and rump full, broad, and smooth_.

2. Thighs deep, full, muscular____.

3. Legs strong, dense, smooth boned; hoofs large; toes well spread_

IV. Quality (15 per cent):

1. Pelage heavy, fine texture__.

2. Hide pliable, medium thickness_.

3. Bone dense, smooth, strong....

V. Condition (10 per cent):

Sufficient natural flesh to indicate vigor___

Total.

2

12

1

flesh and strength. Under the crude handling now practiced the animals are neither trained nor cared for properly and the usual procedure is to drive them until they show signs of exhaustion and then to turn them loose and take fresh ones.

TYPE OF ANIMAL

In selecting reindeer to be broken to harness, attention must first be paid to type. An animal showing a docile nature, as indicated by a wide muzzle and clear, bright eyes, large, wide, and open nostrils, and a broad forehead, is the type that may be easily trained and will make the best sled reindeer.

BREAKING

The Lapps state that with a few tame animals to lead they can sufficiently break a string of 10 or 15 reindeer in two or three days to make a trip with each animal pulling 100 pounds on a sled. But great care and patience must be taken in the process not to frighten or injure the animals. With gentle handling, they learn quickly