REIXDEER GRAZIXG INVESTIGATIONS IX ALASKA O 
BREEDS AND TYPES OF REINDEER 
In the Alaska herds there are two general types of reindeer — a 
long, rangy, big- framed animal and a short, stocky one (pi. 4). 
The longer, rangy type has finer, longer, more symmetrically 
branched and harder horns ; the shorter has stockier, broader horns, 
wide at the base and often irregularly branched at the tips. The 
rangy type of reindeer usually averages heavier and is therefore 
better for the production of meat. 
The average full-grown reindeer in Alaska stands 10% to 11 
hands high, and measures 5y 2 to 6 feet from nose to tip of tail. The 
maximum measurements are 12 hands high and 7 feet long. The 
average dressed weight is about 150 pounds and the maximum 300 
pounds. The offal averages 35.1 per cent and the skin 6.4 per cent 
of the dressed weight, a total of about 41.5 per cent ; and the meat 
or dressed carcass averages 58.5 per cent of the live weight. 
With a view to the production of a heavier type of reindeer than 
at present in the herds, experiments in crossing with the large 
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 experiments 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, where 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 Xunivak. 
The numerous measurements and weights of reindeer indicate 
that the animals may be most profitably slaughtered at 3 years 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 years, 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. \Vhite 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 Bureau of 
BiologicalSurvey, will, it is believed, be of value to reindeer breeders 
in the improvement of their herds. 
SLED REINDEER 
In Department Bulletin 1089, " 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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