46 BULLETIX 1089, V. S. DEPARTMEISTT OF AGEICULTUEE, 



The solution is to adopt the plan of cooperative herds propose 

 by the Bureau of Education, each under a single brand, in whici 

 the owner has a percentage holding. Under this arrangement eaci 

 owner will be given his pro rata share of the total fawn crop, based 

 on the total number of his does in the herd ; and the burden of Iose 

 and expense of running the herd, as well as the increase, will be pro- 

 portionately divided among all the owners. 



Marking all fawns alike in a herd under the percentage owner- 

 ship system is to the best interests of the herd. Marking fawns 

 according to the mother involves the use of the old roping method 

 and handling the herd in a corral for long periods, resulting usually 

 in injury to the animals. On the other hand, marking by percentage 

 involves the use of the chute instead of roping, and, in addition to 

 speeding up operations, insures good results and largely eliminates 

 injury. 



BRANDING. 



Trimming or notching the ears of a reindeer is unsatisfactory as 

 a means of identification, and, as previouslj^ mentioned, such a mark 

 may be altered with comparative ease. A brand on the skin, being 

 less easily changed, is preferable. To try out this method, two year- 

 lings were branded on April 30. 1921, at the Unalakleet station, with 

 a hot iron, one on the jaw and the other on the hip. The hair was 

 clipped, and the brand in the form of a U was applied lightlyi 

 The lesions healed rapidly and the hair began to grow very soon 

 In August of the same year, when the animals were brought back 

 to the station from summer grazing, it was found that the jaw brand 

 had been a complete success, a clear white U being plainly visible 

 (PI. XVIII, Fig. 1). The brand applied to the hip did not show 

 quite so plainly, but was a sufficient mark for practical purposes. ! 



Fourteen other animals were branded during the month of August, 

 1921, for later observation. These were all branded on the hip,l 

 since this promises to be the best location for branding for easy 

 observation when the animals are on the range or are being driven. 

 In these cases the hair was not clipped. In one or two instances, 

 owing to the heavy growth of hair, the brand did not come quite 

 clear and had to be retouched. This, of course, is bad practice. 

 TVith a little more experience it is felt certain that the brand can 

 be applied successfully at one operation. 



Previous attempts at branding in Alaska had not been successful, 

 probably because too much force was used in applying the iron, thus? 

 driving it through the skin. Some animals are reported to have 

 died following the operation. Reindeer skin, as is the case with all 

 heavily coated animals, is very soft and thin, and consequently 

 branding must be done deliberately and carefully. i' 



