On the quality of Svalbard reindeer pasture in the summer and autumn

Late summer and autumn reindeer pasture plants from Adventdalen, Svalbard were analyzed for contents of fatty acids, energy content, protein, fibre, ether extract as well as content of macro minerals. Food intake of grazing reindeer in Adventdalen was estimated from fecal production. Large intake of high quality food seems to account for the growth and fattening of Svalbard reindeer during summer.Om kvaliteten på reinbeite av reinbeite på Svalbard sommer og høst.Abstract in Norwegian / Sammendrag: Innholdet av fettsyrer, energi, protein, fiber, eterekstrakt og makromineraler ble analysert i reinbeiteplanter fra Adventdalen på Svalbard. Plantene ble samlet på ettersommeren. Forinntaket hos beitende rein i Adventdalen ble estimert ut fra fecesproduksjonen. Et stort inntak av for med høy kvalitet synes å kunne forklare vekst og fettlagring hos Svalbard-reinen om sommeren.Huippuvuorten poronlaidunten laadusta kesalla ja syksylla.Abstract in Finnish / Yhteenveto: Rasvahappojen, energian, fiiberin, eetteriuutteen ja makromineraalien sisaltoa analysoitiin poronlaidunkasveissa Huippuvuorten Adventtilaaksosta. Kasvit kerattiin loppukesalla. Adventtilaaksossa laiduntavien porojen rehun kulunki arvioitiin lannan maarasta. Korkealaatuisen rehun suuri kulutus nayttaa vovan selittaa Huippuvuorten porojen kasvun ja rasvakerrostuman kesalla

Trace elements in the alimentary tract of Svalbard reindeer

In the alimentary tract of Svalbard reindeer concentrations of Fe and Co were higher in winter than in summer, whereas the concentrations of Mn and Cu were equal in both seasons. Zn concentrations were higher in summer throughout the alimentary tract, but Mo were highest only in the distal part. The general pattern of absorption in the alimentary tract seems to correspond to findings in other ruminants. The very high levels of Fe and Co are emphasized.Sporelementer i fordøyelseskanalen hos Svalbard-rein.Abstract in Norwegian / Sammendrag: Konsentrasjonen av Fe og Co i fordøyelsessystemet hos Svalbard-rein var høyere om vinteren enn om sommeren, mens konsentrasjonene av Mn og Cu var like vinter og sommer. Zn konsentrasjonene var høyest om sommeren gjennom hele fordøyelsessystemet, mens Mo konsentrasjonene var høyest i det distale avsnittet. Det generelle absorbsjonsmønster synes å stemme overens med funn fra andre drøvtyggere. De svært høye nivåer av Fe og Co blir fremhevet.Huippuvuorten peuran ruoansulatuskanavan ilmaisijaelementeistå.Abstract in Finnish / Yhteenveto: Huippuvuorten peuran ruoansulatuskanavassa mitattiin talvella korkeammat Fe- ja Co-pitoisuudet kuin kesalla, kun taas Mn- ja Cu-pitoisuudet olivat samanlaisia kesålla ja talvella. Zn-pitoisuudet olivat korkeimmillaan kesållå koko ruoansulatuskanavassa, kun taas Mo-pitoisuudet olivat korkeimmat kanavan distaaliosassa. Yleinen absorptiomalli nayttaa hyvin sopivan yhteen muilla mårehtijoilla tehtyjen loydosten kanssa. Tutkimuksessa korostetaan raudan ja koboltin erityisen korkeaa tasoa

A note on the manipulation of sodium and potassium concentrations in the rumen of reindeer and the possible effect on digestibility

Rumen Na+ and K+ concentrations in reindeer were manipulated by introducing 4 M KC1 or 4 M NaCl into the reindeer rumen. A positive correlation was found between salivary and ruminal concentrations of Na+ and K+. Decreased ruminal Na+ concentrations seemed to decrease dry matter digestibility in nylon bags incubated in the rumen.Om manipulering av natrium og kalium konsentrasjoner i vomma hos rein og om de mulige effekter på fordøyeligheten.Abstract in Norwegian / Sammendrag: Na+ og K+ konsentrasjoner i vomma hos rein ble regulert ved å gi reinen 4 M KC1 eller 4 M NaCl direkte i vomma. Det ble funnet en positiv korrelasjon mellom spytt og vomkonsentrasjoner av Na+ og K+. Redusert Na+ konsentrasjon i vomma synes å redusere tørrstoff-fordøyelighet i nylonposer plassert i vomma.Poron pötsin natrium- ja kaliumkonsentraation kokeellisesta mu-uttamisesta ja tämän mahdollisesta vaikutuksesta sulavuuteen.Abstract in Finnish / Yhteenveto: Poron potsin natrium- ja kaliumkonsentraatioita muutettiin antamalla 4 M KC1 tai 4 M NaCl suo-raan potsiin. Syljen ja potsin Na ja K -konsentraatioiden vålillå todettiin positiivinen korrelaatio. Alentunut Na -konsentraatio potsisså nåyttåå våhentåvån kuiva-aineen sulavuutta potsiin sijoitetuissa nailonpusseissa

Seasonal variations in mineral status of reindeer calves from Elgaa reindeer herding district, Norway

Botanical analyses of rumen content from reindeer calves slaughtered during the period August to April showed dominance of grasses (36%), lichens (30%) and woody plants (21 %). Na content in rumen, bone, liver and muscle samples increased from August to April, whereas K and Mg decreased. It is suggested that the high level of K in summer forage'increases Na excretion and drains the body reserves of this mineral. The body reserves of Na are apparently rebuilt through fall and winter.Sesongvariasjoner i mineralstatus hos reinkalver fra Elgå reinbeitedistrikt.Abstract in Norwegian / Sammendrag: Botaniske analyser av vominnhold fra reinkalver som ble avlivet i perioden august til april viste dominans av gress (36%), lav (30%) og treaktige planter (21%). Innholdet av Na i vom, bein, lever og muskelprøver økte fra august til april, mens K og Mg avtok. Det blir antydet at det høye nivået av K i sommerbeite øker ekskresjon av Na og minsker kroppsbeholdningen av dette mineralet. Kroppsreservene av Na synes å bli bygget opp igjen i løpet av høst og vinter

Mineral nutrition and alimentary pools in muskoxen and caribou on the Angujaartorfiup Nunaa range in West Greenland

Minerals (Na, K, Cl, Ca, P, Mg) and crude protein concentrations as well as total contents were measured throughout the alimentary tract of muskoxen and caribou from Angujaatorfiup Nunaa range, Søndre Strømfjord area in West Greenland. The muskoxen had significantly higher K concentrations in the caecum and proximal colon than the caribou. Caribou collected during the summer season had the highest Mg concentrations throughout the alimentary tract. In both species water, Na, K and CI concentrations decreased through the distal part of the alimentary system whereas Ca, Mg, P and crude protein concentrations increased. The muskoxen had relatively larger mineral pools and total content in the omasum than the caribou, and the caribou relatively larger mineral pools (except K and CI) and total content in the caecum. Higher concentrations of Mg in the alimentary tract of the caribou than the muskoxen during the summer could also indicate that the caribou feed more on herbs with high concentrations of Mg. The data does also indicate that both the caribou and the muskoxen are living in an area where high intakes of minerals from both vegetation and mineral licks are possible. Based on the present study the muskoxen is apparently a typical grazer whereas the caribou is more like a concentrate selector

Muskox and caribou adaptation to grazing on the Angujaartorfiup Nunaa range in West Greenland

In recent years (1970-90) the caribou population of the Angujaartorfiup Nunaa range has decreased from about 40 000 animals to 2000. Overgrazing presumably depleted the lichen resources on the range during the population peak. At the same time altogether 27 muskoxen introduced in 1962 and 1965 have proliferated and the muskox population reached 3000 animals in 1990. At the present monocots dominate the diet for both species. The alimentary tract of both muskox and caribou collected in the fall of 1990 had characteristics of grazing ruminants, e.g. relatively small caecum-colon compared to total alimentary size and large alimentary fill relative to body weight. Caribou had an omasum comparable in size to the grazing Svalbard reindeer whereas the omasum of the muskoxen in size, resembled that of domestic cattle. Both winter and summer samples showed highest ruminal hemicellulose and cellulose concentrations in the muskoxen, whereas lignin and nitrogen were equal in the two species. Conclusively our data suggest adaptation to grazing in both species, but more so in muskoxen than in caribou

Transport and recycling of radiocesium in the alimentary tract of reindeer

Transport of radiocesium between the body pools and the alimentary tract was studied in 7 reindeer calves. Comparisons were made between reindeer receiving the Cs- binder Prussian blue (Ammon-ium-ironhexacyanoferrate) and untreated animals. The calves were fed lichens contaminated with 134Cs + 137Cs from the Chernobyl accident (about 10 kBq/day) for 4 weeks. Absorption and secretion of radiocesium, Na and K in the alimentary tract were calculated using 51Cr-EDTA as a reference substance. Thirteen sections of the alimentary tract were sampled and analysed for radionuclides and chemical composition. In 4 animals, feeding with contaminated lichens continued until they were slaughtered, whereas in the 3 others the lichen feeding terminated 4 days before slaughter. The activity concentration of Cs nuclides increased 5-17 - fold from duodenum to the distal colon, whereas the concentration of Na decreased and K remained almost constant. Radiocesium, Na and K were secreted into the rumen, the omasum and the abomasum, whereas Na and K also were secreted into the proximal small intestine. Prussian blue had no effect on Na and K recycling, but the flow of radiocesium from the abomasum to the anus and the fecal excretion increased markedly. In the 3 animals where feeding with contaminated lichens was disconutinued 4 days before slaughter, endogenous Cs was continuously recycled between the body pools and the alimentary tract. The net exchange of radiocesium between body pools and the alimentary tract was more than 4 times the amount ingested when lichens were fed. It is concluded that radiocesium is rapidly recycled between the alimentary tract and the other body pools. Cs-binders like ammonium-ironhexacyanoferrate may bind both endogenous Cs and Cs from feed

Hexacyanoferrates and bentonite as binders of radiocaesium for reindeer

The effects of varying doses of caesium binders (Bentonite and several forms of iron-hexacyanoferrates) on radiocaesium accumulation in red blood cells and on radiocaesium transfer to urine and faeces were studied in feeding experiments with reindeer calves. The caesium binders were added to a ration of lichen (containing 9.5 kBq of 134Cs+137Cs originating from the Chernobyl accident) and fed together with a pelleted reindeer feed (RF-71) for 42 days. A 50% reduction in red blood cell radiocaesium concentration was obtained with a daily dose of 1 mg/kg body weigth of ammoniumironhexacyanoferrate (AFCF) and with 500 mg/kg of bentonite. Three mg/kg of AFCF or 2 g/kg of bentonite reduced both urinary excretion and RBC concentrations with more than 80%. It is concluded that iron-hexacyanoferrates, as a result of their high caesium binding capacity, are particularly useful as caesium binders for free ranging ruminants like the reindeer.Hexacynoferrater og bentonitt som bindere av radiocesium i reinAbstract in Norwegian / Sammendrag: Effekten av bentonitt og ulike typer jernhexacyanoferrater (Berlinerblått) på akkumulering av radioaktivt cesium i røde blodlegemer og på utskilling av radioaktivt cesium i urin ble undersøkt i foringsforsøk med reinkalver. Cesiumbinderne ble gitt daglig sammen med lav som inneholdt 9.5 kBq 134Cs+137Cs fra Tsjernobyl ulykken, og 1 kg reinfor (RF-71) i en periode på 42 dager. En daglig dose på 1 mg/kg kroppsvekt av ammoniumjernhexacyano-ferrat (AFCF) reduserte radiocesiuminnholdet i blodlegemer med 50%, mens en dose pa 500 mg/kg bentonitt var nødvendig for å oppnå samme effekt. Tre mg/kg AFCF eller 2 g/kg/bentonitt var nødvendig for å oppnå mer enn 80% reduksjon i radiocesium konsentrasjonen i blodlegemer og i radiocesium utskilling med urinen. På grunn av de små daglige mengder som kreves er jern-hexacyanoferratene spesielt velegnete som cesiumbindere for beitedyr

Radiostrontium, radiocesium and stable mineral composition of bones of domestic reindeer from Vågå, Norway

Radiostrontium, radiocesium and macromineral concentrations were measured in metatarsal or metacarpal bones from 78 reindeer (59 calves and 19 adults) in the Vågå reindeer herding district in Southern Norway. Samples were collected in the period August 1988 to May 1989. Radiocesium concentrations increased from August through the winter. Radiostrontium varied slightly around an average value 1810 Bq/kg DM. Mg concentrations decreased through the winter, the concentrations of other minerals and bone density showed only small variations. No signs of mineral deficiencies were observed. It is concluded that radiostrontium mainly originated from the Chernobyl nuclear accident.Radiostrontium, radiocesium og stabile mineraler in reinknokler fra Vågå, NorgeAbstract in Norwegian / Sammendrag: Innhold av radiostrontium, radiocesium og makromineraler ble målt i reinsdyrknokler (metatarsus og metacarpus) innsamlet fra 78 dyr (59 kalver og 19 voksne) tilhørende Vågå tamreinlag. Prøvene ble samlet i perioden august 1988 til mai 1989. Innholdet av radiocesium økte fra august og gjennom vinteren, mens innholdet av radiostrontium var temmelig konstant (1810 Bq/ kg tørrstoff). Magnesium innholdet avtok gjennom vinteren, mens innholdet av andre mineraler samt knoklenes tetthet varierte lite. Det ble ikke observert noen tegn på mineralmangel. Mesteparten av det radioaktive strontium kom fra atomkraftulykken i Tsjernobyl