Reindeer antlers and what they can tell us about the reindeer population

Kjos‐Hanssen, Odd

doi:10.1080/00293652.1973.9965188

Cited by 4 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…In the literature a few reports on antler chewing exist (Kelsall 1968, Kjos-Hanssen 1973, Thomson 1977. According to Thomson (1977) antler chewing seems t o take place at almost any time of the year after shedding of the velvet.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Antlers-a Mineral Source inRangifer

Wika

1982

Acta Zoologica

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In a calving area on western Hardangervidda, Norway, shed antlers of female reindeer, Rangifer tarandus tarandus L., have been collected for several years. Many of these antlers have been chewed on by reindeer. In the literature antler chewing has been reported to take place on both shed and unshed antlers. Our observations support these findings. Based on the present observations it is suggested that the antlers may subserve the mineral householding of the animals under special conditions. The female reindeer has to pass through a nutritionally marginal season which often coincides with calving. Bringing the bony antlers to the calving areas seems advantageous in the maintenance of calcium balance. The growth of antlers may therefore be looked upon as part of a mineral saving strategy. The mineral stored in the antler thus represents a reserve to be used during pregnancy and lactation. This is in contrast to the common view that shedding of antlers is just waste of mineral when there is a great need for calcium.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Antlers-a Mineral Source inRangifer

Wika

1982

Acta Zoologica

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“…Reindeer are also known to seasonally resort to mineral supplementation, likely to compensate for the low P, Ca and sodium content of the plants and lichens they consume (Grasman and Hellgren, 1993). Frequent antler chewing are reported in spring during the calving season (Kjos-Hanssen, 1973;Marie, 1982), as well as mineral licks, notably in the summer (Cowan and Brink, 1949). We have no data to quantify these supplementations, but it seems reasonable to suspect they can influence enamel δ 44/42 Ca values.…”

Section: Osteophagia and Mineral Licksmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…bone consumption) and the consumption of natural mineral licks are two common sources of mineral supplementation that cervids, and more generally artiodactyls, use during periods of high mineral requirement (e.g. lactation, juvenile growth, antlerogenesis), notably to cope with phosphorus (P) or other element deficiency (Cowan and Brink, 1949;Kjos-Hanssen, 1973;Krausman and Bissonette, 1977;Marie, 1982;Grasman and Hellgren, 1993;Cáceres et al, 2011;Gambín et al, 2017). There is yet no direct measure of mineral supplementation effects on enamel Ca isotope composition in the literature.…”

Section: Osteophagia and Mineral Licksmentioning

confidence: 99%