HKlNDF.Kli i;U.VZI.N(; I N VKSTKiA TIOXS IN ALASKA 



5 



BREEDS AND TYPES OF REINDEER 



In the Alaska IkmcIs tlioro are two -ii'iu'ial t3i)es of reindeer — a 

 lonjr. ran<iv. bijr-l lanied animal and a short, stocky one ())1. 4). 

 The longer, ran<ry type has tinoi-. longer, more syniniotrically 

 branc'Iu'd and harder horns; the shorter has stockier, broader horns, 

 wide at the base and often irregularly branched at the tips. The 

 langy type of reindeer usually averages heavier and is therefore 

 better for the production of meat. 



The average full-grown reindeer in Alaska stands IOV2 to 11 

 hands high, and measures aV) to G feet from nose to tij) of tail. The 

 maximum measurements are 12 hands high and T feet long. The 

 average dressed weight is about laO pounds and the nui.ximum ;5(H) 

 pounds. The offal averages 'A^y.l per cent and the skin ().4 per cent 

 of the dressed weight, a total of about 41.5 per cent; and the meat 

 or dressed cairass averages SS.;") per cent of the live weight. 



With a view to the production of a heavier type of reindeer than 

 at present in the herds. exi)eriments in crossing with the lai-ge 

 native caribou are being begun on Xunivak Island, where 10 bull 

 caribou have been introduced into the herd of about 500 reindeer 

 held there. Similar ex])ei'inients will later be carried on at the 

 reindeer station at Fairbanks. The 10 caribou for the Xunivak 

 experiment were captured in the fall of 1924 at Kokrines, on the 

 upper Yukon, wheie 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 X^univak. 



The numerous measurements and weights of reindeer indicate 

 that the animals nmy be most profitably slaughtered at 3 j^ears 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 j'ears. 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 de- 

 pending upon the size of reindeer. The dark colors are superior 

 to the lighter ones, and even in spotted animals reindeer of pre- 

 dominantly 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 Bui-eau of 

 Biological Survey, will, it is believed, be of value to reindeer breeders 

 in the improvement of their herds. 



SLED REINDEER 



In Department Bulletin 10S9. " 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 



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