6 



BULLETIN 1423, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



Table 1. — Standard of excellence for reindeer 



Points considered Standard 



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



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



Kepresentative type darlv 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 



2. Antlers flattened and triangular, curving upward and for- 



ward — 1 



3. Muzzle wide : nostrils large, wide, and oiK>n 2 



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



docile disposition 1 



5. Face short : jaws strong 1 



6. Forehead broad 1 



7. Ears small, well covered with hair 1 



8. Neck short, full, blending smoothly into shoulder 1 



(&) Fore quarters (10 per cent) — 



1. Shoulders smooth, thickly fleshed, compact 3 



2. Brisket wide and full, trim 2 



3. Legs wid{> apart, straight, medium short ; dewclaws large ; 



toes spreading ; hoofs large 5 



(c) Body (15 per ceiif) — 



1. Chest full, deep, wide, large girth 5 



2. Ribs long and well arched, smoothly covered 3 



3. Back and loin broad, straight, deeply covered 5 



4. Flank full, underline straight 2 



(d) Hind (piarters ( per cent) — 



1. Hips and rump full, broad, and smooth 5 



2. Thighs deep, full, muscular 5 



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



spread 5 



IV. Quality (15 per cent) : 



1. Pelage heavy, fine texture 5 



2. Hide pliable, medium thickness 5 



3. Bone dense, smooth, strong 5 



V. Condition (10 per cent) : 



Sufficient natural flesh to indicate vigor 10 



Total 100 



flesh and stienjitli. Under the crndo handling now practiced the ani- 

 mals are neither trained nor cared for properly and the usual pro- 

 cedure is to driA'e them imtil they show sijrns 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 nos- 

 trils, 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 

 sufiiciently break a string of 10 or 1.5 reindeer in two or three days to 

 make a trip with each animal j^ulling 100 pounds on a sled. But 

 great caie and patience must be taken in the ))rocess not to frighten 

 or injure (he animals. AVith gentle handling, they learn (piickly 



