Calf mortality in semi-domestic reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) in a Scottish herd: the impact of maternal age and individual differences between cows
Abstract 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...
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.7120/09627286.24.2.173 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0962728600006734 |
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crcambridgeupr:10.7120/09627286.24.2.173 2023-05-15T18:04:17+02:00 Calf mortality in semi-domestic reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) in a Scottish herd: the impact of maternal age and individual differences between cows Jorgensen, MW Jarvis, S Brewer, MJ Goddard, PJ 2015 http://dx.doi.org/10.7120/09627286.24.2.173 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0962728600006734 en eng Cambridge University Press (CUP) https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms Animal Welfare volume 24, issue 2, page 173-183 ISSN 0962-7286 2054-1538 General Veterinary General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology Animal Science and Zoology journal-article 2015 crcambridgeupr https://doi.org/10.7120/09627286.24.2.173 2023-01-20T07:06:44Z Abstract 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. Article in Journal/Newspaper Rangifer tarandus Cambridge University Press (via Crossref) Animal Welfare 24 2 173 183 |
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Open Polar |
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Cambridge University Press (via Crossref) |
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English |
topic |
General Veterinary General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology Animal Science and Zoology |
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General Veterinary General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology Animal Science and Zoology Jorgensen, MW Jarvis, S Brewer, MJ Goddard, PJ Calf mortality in semi-domestic reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) in a Scottish herd: the impact of maternal age and individual differences between cows |
topic_facet |
General Veterinary General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology Animal Science and Zoology |
description |
Abstract 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. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Jorgensen, MW Jarvis, S Brewer, MJ Goddard, PJ |
author_facet |
Jorgensen, MW Jarvis, S Brewer, MJ Goddard, PJ |
author_sort |
Jorgensen, MW |
title |
Calf mortality in semi-domestic reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) in a Scottish herd: the impact of maternal age and individual differences between cows |
title_short |
Calf mortality in semi-domestic reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) in a Scottish herd: the impact of maternal age and individual differences between cows |
title_full |
Calf mortality in semi-domestic reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) in a Scottish herd: the impact of maternal age and individual differences between cows |
title_fullStr |
Calf mortality in semi-domestic reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) in a Scottish herd: the impact of maternal age and individual differences between cows |
title_full_unstemmed |
Calf mortality in semi-domestic reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) in a Scottish herd: the impact of maternal age and individual differences between cows |
title_sort |
calf mortality in semi-domestic reindeer (rangifer tarandus) in a scottish herd: the impact of maternal age and individual differences between cows |
publisher |
Cambridge University Press (CUP) |
publishDate |
2015 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.7120/09627286.24.2.173 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0962728600006734 |
genre |
Rangifer tarandus |
genre_facet |
Rangifer tarandus |
op_source |
Animal Welfare volume 24, issue 2, page 173-183 ISSN 0962-7286 2054-1538 |
op_rights |
https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.7120/09627286.24.2.173 |
container_title |
Animal Welfare |
container_volume |
24 |
container_issue |
2 |
container_start_page |
173 |
op_container_end_page |
183 |
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1766175612318253056 |