Measurement of the milk intake of reindeer and caribou calves using tritiated water

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Zoology
• Main Authors: McEwan, E. H., Whitehead, P. E.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1971
• Subjects: Animal Science and Zoology; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; caribou
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z71-068; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z71-068

The relation between water turnover and milk intake of five reindeer and caribou calves was determined using the tritium dilution technique. The results indicate that mean turnover rates of tritiated water of male calves from birth to 4 weeks of age increased from 1.44 to 1.65 liters per day, and that caloric intake ranged from about 3500 to 4100 kcal/day.