Winter-catastrophies in the reindeer husbandry of Finland: Losses and their prevention

• Published in: Rangifer
• Main Authors: Timo Helle, V. Säntti
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Septentrio Academic Publishing 1982
• Subjects: reindeer; winter losses; population ecology; preventing losses; Animal culture; SF1-1100; Kaldoaivi; Lappland; Rangifer; reindeer husbandry; Reindeer lichen
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.7557/2.2.1.419; https://doaj.org/article/faf78f2f9a0346c28c585f1fe2767707

The paper deals with the occurreance of disastrous winters to the reindeer industry in Finland with special attention on the winter catastrophies and tje condition of the pastures, the influence of the disasters upon the population dynamic of the reindeer and the methods used to prevent catastrophies. A reindeer catastrophy has been defined as a situation where the number of reindeer stays 20% below the mean of the reindeer numbers during the two preceeding years. During the winter-catastrophies from 1970/71 to 1980/81 4.5% of the total reindeer number was lost. The highest losses were found in the northwesternmost part of Lappland, where there is no alternative to the reindeer lichen as it is in the middle and southern part of the reindeer industry area (arboreal lichens and supplemental feeding). In Kaldoaivi reindeer association (district), which has been studied in detail, the calf percentage is depending upon how the reindeer is able to manage the winter (r=0.62, n=ll, p«0.05). There is also a positive correlation between the slaughterweight of the calves in the early winter and the calf rate (r=0.79, n=7, p«0.05).During severe winters the mortality rate of males exceeds that of the females. Winter-catastrophies may be prevented by deminishing the numer of reindeer and by guiding the harvest to the most risky cohorts of the population. It has been proved that supplementary and emergency feeding are the most effective methods. In a normal year during the 1970s the total use of dry hay was 0.5—1.5 mill, kg., being up to 5.9—12.5 kg. per reindeer/year. In normal winters 10—16% of the total reindeer stock was intensively fed in enclosures. Supplementary feeding in enclosures is most common in the middle and southern parts of the reindeer industry area, where the essential feed is grown on own land. Katotalvet suomen poronhoidossa: menetykset ja Niiden Torjunta. Abstract in Finnish / Yhteenveto: Artikkeli käsittelee katastrofitalvien esiintymistå Suomen poronhoidossa. Erityistä huomiota kiinnitetään talvikatojen ...