PECULIARITIES OF DAILY MILK PRODUCTIVITY OF PECHORA TAIGA DOMESTICATED COW MOOSE AND THEIR INTERCONNECTION WITH REPRODUCTIVE FUNCTION

• Main Authors: Vasilenko, Tatyana F., Sivoxa, Irine N, Kozhykhov, Mikhail V., Lemons II, Patrick R.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Lakehead University 2001
• Subjects: Alces alces; Pechora; taiga
• Online Access: http://alcesjournal.org/index.php/alces/article/view/555

Investigations of 17 postpartum lactation periods of 5 domesticated female moose (Alces alces) were made over a 4-year period at the Pechoro-Ilych Nature Reserve in the Komi Republic. Duration of domesticated cow moose lactation period averaged 105 days. Maximum milk production averaged 6-7 liters of milk per day on the twentieth day of the postpartum period. A noticeable decline (1-2 liters) in milk production in moose was observed between days 30 and 60. During this period, cow moose exhibited an excited behavior, which is characteristic of estrus activity. This "estrus behavior" and the existence of vaginal mucus in some females were not connected with corresponding cytological changes in the vagina. However, "estrus behavior" was connected with a noticeable decrease in moose daily milk productivity.