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Necropsy findings and causes of loss in semi-domesticated reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) in Northern Norway

Mørk, Torill; Eira, Henrik Isaksen; Rødven, Rolf; Nymo, Ingebjørg Helena; Blomstrand, Berit Marie; Guttormsen, Sandra; Olsen, Line and Davidson, Rebecca Katherine (2024) Necropsy findings and causes of loss in semi-domesticated reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) in Northern Norway. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica, 66, pp. 1-14.

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Document available online at: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13028-023-00723-9


Summary in the original language of the document

Background: Reindeer herding in Norway is based on traditional Sámi pastoralism with the animals free ranging throughout the year. The animals move over large areas in varying terrain and often in challenging weather conditions. Winter crises, such as difficult grazing conditions caused by icing or large amount of snow, are survival bottlenecks for reindeer. Calves are especially vulnerable, and many may die from starvation during winter crises. Predation and starvation are the predominant narrative to explain losses, however, carcasses are difficult to find and often little remains after scavenging and decay. Documentation of the causes of death is therefore scarce.
Results: In this study, we investigated the cause of reindeer mortality in Troms and Finnmark, Nordland and Trøndelag during 2017-2019. Necropsies (n=125) and organ investigation (n=13) were performed to document cause of death. Body condition was evaluated using visual fat score and bone marrow fat index. A wide range of causes of death was detected. The diagnosis were categorized into the following main diagnostic categories: predation (n=40), emaciation (n=35), infectious disease (n=20), trauma (n=11), feeding related disease (n=5), neoplasia (4), others (n=6) and unknown (n=17). Co-morbidities were seen in a number of diagnoses (n=16).
Reindeer herders are entitled to economic compensation for reindeer killed by endangered predators, but a lack of documentation leads to a gap between the amount of compensation requested and what is awarded. An important finding of our study was that predators killed animals in good as well as poor condition during winter. Emaciation was shown to also be associated with infectious diseases, and not only attributable to winter grazing conditions.
Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of examining dead reindeer to gain knowledge about why they die on winter pasture. The work presented herein also shows the feasibility and value of increased documentation of reindeer losses during winter.


EPrint Type:Journal paper
Agrovoc keywords:
Language
Value
URI
English
reindeer
http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_6494
English
animal health
http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_431
English
Arctic
http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_36576
English
predators
http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_6163
English
body condition scoring
http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_efdd161e
English
animal diseases
http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_426
Subjects: Animal husbandry > Health and welfare
Research affiliation: Norway
Norway > NVI - National Veterinary Institute
Norway > NORSØK - Norwegian Centre for Organic Agriculture
Norway > Other organizations Norway
DOI:10.1186/s13028-023-00723-9
Deposited By: Blomstrand, Dr Berit Marie
ID Code:55471
Deposited On:09 Apr 2025 13:27
Last Modified:09 Apr 2025 13:27
Document Language:English
Status:Published
Refereed:Peer-reviewed and accepted

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