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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]
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Abstract

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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

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