Blood composition of the reindeer. I. Haematology

• Published in: Rangifer
• Main Authors: Mauri Nieminen, Jouni Timisjärvi
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Septentrio Academic Publishing 1981
• Subjects: reindeer; blood composition; bood cells; neonatal period; serum bilirubin; iron; Animal culture; SF1-1100; Northern Finland; Rangifer
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.7557/2.1.1.399; https://doaj.org/article/37367e70bc5a45ae992adea1a98d904f

The semi-domestic reindeer is a ruminant which exhibits a highly advanced adaptation to the marked seasonality of the northern environment. Since the reindeer has an economic importance and previous information about its blood composition is scanty in respect to age, season, calving and nutrition, the haematology of 578 reindeer were studied. The blood samples were taken from the jugular vein mainly in connection with the marking of calves during summer and at reindeer round-ups in autumn and winter at 10 reindeer rearing subunits in Northern Finland in various seasons in 1973-79. The red blood cell count (8xl012/l), haemoglobin (108 g/1), packed cell volume (35%), white blood cell count (6x109/l) and serum iron (26 micromol/1) were low in newborn calves and reached their adult levels in autumn at the age of 5 months (average 11 x 1012/1, 182 g/1, 51%, 9x109/l, 44 micromol/1, respectively). The total serum bilirubin was relatively stable and vitamin B12 high in the first days after birth. The stable serum bilirubin indicates a relatively small breakdown of foetal erythrocytes. E-MCV of adult females was about 49 fl and the diameter of round erythrocytes about 5.5 microm and their thickness about 1.5 microm. No sickling was observed. The red cell osmotic fragility had a initial and final haemolysis points of 0.71 and 0.37% NaCl solution. The relative proportions of neutrophil, eosinophil and basophil granulocytes and agranular lymphocytes and monocytes were 52, 5, 2, 42 and 2 %, respectively. The calving of the reindeer occurs without visible haemorrhage. The body weight, red blood cell count, haemoglobin, packed cell volume and serum iron of pregnant hinds dropped, however, during the early lactation period, and a relative anaemia developed is partly due to iron deficiency and, perhaps, also breakdown of foetal erythrocytes. The means of body weight (range 50-70 kg), red blood cell count (8-11 x 1012/l), haemoglobin (118-185 g/1), packed cell volume (42-51%), white blood cell count (6-10 x 109/l), erythrocyte ...