Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-m6dg7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-04T19:31:18.229Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Calf mortality in semi-domestic reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) in a Scottish herd: the impact of maternal age and individual differences between cows

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2023

MW Jorgensen ,
S Jarvis ,
MJ Brewer  and
PJ Goddard
MW Jorgensen*
Affiliation:
380B Haecker Hall, 1364 Eckles Ave, University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN 55108, USA
S Jarvis
Affiliation:
University of Edinburgh, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, Easter Bush Veterinary Centre, Easter Bush, Roslin EH25 9RG, UK Scotland's Rural College, The Roslin Institute Building, Easter Bush EH25 9RG, UK
MJ Brewer
Affiliation:
Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB15 8QH, UK
PJ Goddard
Affiliation:
Ecological Sciences Group, The James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB15 8QH, UK
*
* Contact for correspondence and requests for reprints: [email protected]
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

High calf mortality rate is a significant problem facing semi-domestic reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) production around the world. Mortality rates, commonly due to predation, can range from 5 to 70%, which constitutes a great welfare concern. This study examined the influence of quantifiable maternal characteristics on reindeer calf survival. Data were compiled from 18 years’ worth of records on the survival of calves in the Cairngorm reindeer herd (Scottish Highlands, UK). Overall, mortality rate of calves (n = 635) in the herd was 34.9% to six months old, rising to 47.8% by one year old. For both Total Calf Survival (including perinatal losses) and Postnatal Calf Survival (excluding perinatal losses) of calves up to six months old, the only maternal trait found to significantly influence calf survival was the age of the cow at calving. Calves of very young and old cows showed higher mortality rates. Only 40% of the cows were associated with 77% of calf deaths and it was demonstrated that there were significant individual differences between cows in relation to their ability to consistently rear calves successfully. These findings can be applied to reduce calf mortality within herds, guiding selection towards females with successful reproductive histories and with ages falling in the prime productive range (3-11 years old). Additionally, annual variation had a highly significant influence on calf survival with rising mortality over the recorded period, indicating a role of environment on survival and an avenue for further research to investigate the impact of external factors, such as climate and pathogen load on post-natal loss.

Keywords

animal welfareindividualmaternal caremortalitypost-natalreindeer
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 24 , Issue 2 , May 2015 , pp. 173 - 183
Copyright
© 2015 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

References

Baxter, EM, Jarvis, S, Sherwood, L, Farish, M, Roehe, R, Lawrence, AB and Edwards, SA 2011 Genetic and environ-mental effects on piglet survival and maternal behaviour of the far-rowing sow. Applied Animal Behavior Science 130: 28–41. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2010.11.020CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Binns, SH, Cox, IJ, Rizvi, S and Green, LE 2002 Risk factors for lamb mortality on UK sheep farms. Preventative Veterinary Medicine 52: 287–303. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0167-5877(01)00255-0CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bjärvall, A and Franzén, R 1981 Mortality transmitters: an important tool for studying reindeer calf mortality. Ambio 10(1): 26–28Google Scholar
Bradley, MJ, Kutz, SJ, Jenkins, E and O’Hara, TM 2005 The potential impact of climate change on infectious diseases of Arctic fauna. International Journal of Circumpolar Health 64(5): 468–477. http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/ijch.v64i5.18028CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Chetkiewicz, CLB and Renecker, LA 1994 Reindeer calf pro-ductivity and survival on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska. University of Alaska Fairbanks (AFES) Circular 100: 1–8Google Scholar
Clutton-Brock, TH, Stevenson, IR, Marrow, P, MacColl, AD, Houston, AL and McNamara, JM 1996 Population fluctuations, reproductive costs and life-history tactics in female Soay sheep. Journal of Animal Ecology 65: 675–689. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/5667CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Colman, JE, Lilleeng, MS, Tsegaye, D, Vigeland, MD and Reimers, E 2012 Responses of wild reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) when provoked by a snow-kiter or skier: A model approach. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 142: 82–89. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2012.08.009CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cundiff, LV, Gregory, KE and Koch, RM 1982 Selection for increased survival from birth to weaning. Proceedings of 2nd World Congress on Genetics Applied To Livestock Production pp 310. 4-8 October 1982, Madrid, SpainGoogle Scholar
Eales, FA, Small, J and Gilmour, JS 1983 Neonatal mortality of lambs and its causes. In: Haresign, W (ed) Sheep Production pp 289–298. Butterworths: London, UKGoogle Scholar
Eloranta, E and Nieminen, M 1986 The effects of maternal age and body weight on reindeer calf birth-weight and survival. Rangifer 6(1): 105. http://dx.doi.org/10.7557/2.6.1-App.623CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Espmark, Y 1971 Mother-young relationship and ontogeny of behav-iour in reindeer (Rangifer tarandus L). Zeitschrift für Tierpsychologie 29:42–81. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0310.1971.tb01723.xCrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Everett-Hincks, JM and Dodds, KG 2008 Management of maternal-offspring behavior to improve lamb survival in easy care sheep systems. Journal of Animal Science 86(14): 259–270. http://dx.doi.org/10.2527/jas.2007-0503CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gaillard, JM, Festa-Bianchet, M, Yoccoz, NG, Loison, A and Toïgo, C 2000 Temporal variation in fitness components and population dynam-ics of large herbivores. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 31: 367–393. http://dx.doi.org/10.1146/annurev.ecolsys.31.1.367CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gerhart, KL, Russel, DE, van de Wetering, D, White, RG and Cameron, RG 1997 Pregnancy of adult caribou (Rangifer tarandus): Evidence for lactational infertility. Journal of Zoology 242:17–30. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1997.tb02926.xCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gilbert, OL 1974 Reindeer grazing in Britain. Lichenologist 6: 165–167. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0024282974000272CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Guinness, FE, Clutton-Brock, TH and Albon, SD 1978 Factors affecting calf mortality in red deer (Cervus elaphus). Journal of Animal Ecology 47(3): 817–832. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/3673CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hamel, S, Gaillard, JM, Festa-Bianchet, M and Côté, SD 2009 Individual quality, early-life conditions, and reproductive suc-cess in contrasted populations of large herbivores. Ecology 90(7): 1987–1995. http://dx.doi.org/10.1890/08-0596.1CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Helle, T and Tarvainen, L 1984 Effects of insect harassment on weight gain and survival in reindeer calves. Rangifer 4(1): 24–27. http://dx.doi.org/10.7557/2.4.1.488CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Holand, ⊘, Gjøstein, H, Losvar, A, Kumpula, J, Smith, ME, Røed, KH, Nieminen, M and Weladji, RB 2004 Social rank in female reindeer (Rangifer tarandus): effects of body mass, antler size and age. Journal of Zoology 263: 365–372. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0952836904005382CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kojola, I 1989 Mother's dominance status and differential invest-ment in reindeer calves. Animal Behaviour 38: 177–185. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0003-3472(89)80080-6CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kojola, I and Eloranta, E 1990 Reproductive investment by females in semi-domesticated reindeer. Rangifer Special Issue 3:343–349. http://dx.doi.org/10.7557/2.10.3.877Google Scholar
Kojola, I and Helle, T 1993 Calf harvest and reproductive rate of reindeer in Finland. The Journal of Wildlife Management 57(3): 451–453. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/3809269CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kumpula, J and Colpaert, A 2003 Effects of weather and snow conditions on reproduction and survival of semi-domesticated reindeer (R.t. tarandus). Polar Research 22(2): 225–233. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-8369.2003.tb00109.xCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mellor, DJ and Stafford, KJ 2004 Animal welfare implications of neonatal mortality and morbidity in farm animals. The Veterinary Journal 168: 118–133. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2003.08.004CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Nieminen, M 2010 The impact of large carnivores on the mor-tality of semi-domesticated reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus L) calves in Kainuu, southeastern reindeer herding region of Finland. Rangifer 30(1): 79–88. http://dx.doi.org/10.7557/2.30.1.1218CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nieminen, M, Norberg, H and Maijala, V 2011 Mortality and survival of semi-domesticated reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus L) calves in northern Finland. Rangifer 31(1): 71–84. http://dx.doi.org/10.7557/2.31.1.2029CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nilsson, O, Nordkvist, M and Rydén, L 1965 Experimental Babesia divergens infection in reindeer (Rangifer tarandus). Acta Veterenaria Scandanavica 6(4): 353–359CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Norberg, H, Kojola, I, Aikio, P and Nylund, M 2006 Predation by golden eagle Aquila chrysaetos on semi-domesticated reindeer Rangifer tarandus calves in northeastern Finnish Lapland. Wildlife Biology 12(4): 393–402. http://dx.doi.org/10.2981/0909-6396(2006)12[393:PBGEAC]2.0.CO;2CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nybakk, K, Kjelvik, O, Kvam, T, Overskaug, K and Sunde, P 2002 Mortality of semi-domestic reindeer Rangifer tarandus in central Norway. Wildlife Biology 8: 63–68CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ortegareyes, L and Provenza, FD 1993 The amount of expe-rience and age affect the development of foraging skills of goats browsing blackbrush (Coleogyne ramosissima). Journal of Animal Science 71: 380–383Google Scholar
Reimers, E 1982 Winter mortality and population trends of rein-deer on Svalbard, Norway. Arctic and Alpine Research 14(4): 295–300. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/1550792CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Reynolds, WL, DeRouen, TM, Moin, S and Koonce, KL 1980 Factors influencing gestation length, birth weight and calf survival of Angus, zebu and zebu cross beef cattle. Journal of Animal Science 51(4): 860–867CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rognmo, A, Markussen, KA, Jacobsen, E, Grav, HJ and Blix, AS 1983 Effects of improved nutrition in pregnant reindeer on milk quality, calf birth-weight, growth and mortality. Rangifer 3(2): 10–18. http://dx.doi.org/10.7557/2.3.2.476CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rönnegard L, Forslund P and Danell Ö 2002 Lifetime patterns in adult female mass, reproduction, and offspring mass in semido-mestic reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus). Canadian Journal of Zoology 80: 2047–2055. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z02-192CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rönnegard L, Woolliams JA and Danell Ö 2003 Breeding schemes in reindeer husbandry. Rangifer 23(2): 45–55. http://dx.doi.org/10.7557/2.23.2.360CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ropstad, E 2000 Reproduction in female reindeer. Animal Reproduction Science 60-61: 561-570. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0378-4320(00)00100-7CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sibbald, AM, Hooper, RJ, McLeod, JE and Gordon, IJ 2011 Responses of red deer (Cervus elaphus) to regular disturbance by hill walkers. European Journal of Wildlife Research 57: 817–825. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10344-011-0493-2CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Skogland, T 1985 The effects of density-dependent resource lim-itations on the demography of wild reindeer. Journal of Animal Ecology 54: 359–374. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/4484CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thompson Hobbs, N, Andrén, H, Persson, J, Aronsson, M, and Chapron, G 2012 Native predators reduce harvest of rein-deer by Sámi pastoralists. Ecological Applications 22(5): 1640–1654. http://dx.doi.org/10.1890/11-1309.1CrossRefGoogle Scholar
VSN International 2011 GenStat for Windows, 14th Edition. VSN International: Hemel Hempstead, UKGoogle Scholar
Weladji, RB, Gaillard, JM, Yoccoz, NG, Holand, ⊘, Mysterud, A, Loison, A, Nieminen, M and Stenseth, NC 2006 Good reindeer mothers live longer and become better in raising offspring. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Biological Sciences 273: 1239–1244. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2005.3393CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Weladji, RB, Loison, A, Gaillard, JM, Holand, ⊘, Mysterud, A, Yoccoz, NG, Nieminen, M and Stenseth, NC 2008 Heterogeneity in individual quality overrides costs of reproduction in female reindeer. Oecologia 156: 237–247. http://dx.do i.org/10.1007/s00442-008-0961-xCrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Weladji, RB, Mysterud, A, Holand, ⊘ and Lenvik, D 2002 Age-related reproductive effort in reindeer (Rangifer tarandus): Evidence of senescence. Oecologia 131: 79–82. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00442-001-0864-6CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed