The question of the reindeer of even breeds adaptation to the mountain taiga zone in the north-east of Russia

V. .. Fedorov; T. .. Rumyanseva; N. .. Robbek; E. .. Sleptsov; N. .. Vinokurov

The question of the reindeer of even breeds adaptation to the mountain taiga zone in the north-east of Russia

V. .. Fedorov, T. .. Rumyanseva, N. .. Robbek, E. .. Sleptsov, N. .. Vinokurov

Full Text:

PDF (Rus)

Generate QR code

Abstract

The most important element of the ecosystems of the North and an integral part of indigenous life and culture of the peoples of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) is a reindeer (rangifer tarandus). This species is the only representative of the genus reindeer (Rangifer), belonging to the cervids family of the suborder of ruminants, and one of the few species whose wild form coexists with domesticated ones [Baskin, 1970, Davydov, 1997]. Derived from folk selection by different nationalities of northern Russia, the species composition of the northern reindeer has been proved and tested by scientists of the Yakut Scientific Research Institute of Agriculture and approved by the Ministry of Agriculture of the USSR Order № 212 of 23.08.1985. There are bred 3 of 4 approved breeds of northern domestic reindeer (Even, Evenk, Chukchi and Nenets) in Yakutia: Even, Evenk and Chukchi (hargin). These breeds differ by the direction of productivity, exterior-constitutional features and adjustment to the specific climatic conditions. The thoroughbred breeding is widespread, the task of which is to fix the institutional type of animals, their adaptation to local conditions and to further increase their productivity. The Evenk breed of deer is the most numerous breed of northern domestic reindeer bred in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), they are bred in Abyisky, Bulunsky, Verkhnekolymsk, Verkhoyansky, Kobiai, Momsky, Oymyakonsky, Srednekolymskiy Tomponsky, Eveno-Bytantaisk, Ust-Yansky uluses. As from 01.01.2016, there are 87579 heads or 56.1% of the total number of deer in the Republic. The Evens breed is a deer of meat-and-transport type of build, on the exterior it is a quite high-legged animals, with a long, relatively narrow body. Live weight of adult males reach up to 135-145 kg, females 91-110 kg, slaughter yield of 48-50%. The Evenk deer can be divided into ecotypes depending on the natural climatic zone of breeding - tundra, forest tundra and mountain taiga deer, the largest number of livestock is in the mountain taiga and forest-tundra. Each ecotype of the Evenk reindeer is formed under the influence of certain natural and economic conditions, feeding and maintenance, zootechnical work and is characterized by high adaptive and reproductive abilities. Despite the relative study of ecological and ethological features, issues of thermoregulation and bioenergy of reindeer, ecological and physiological adaptation [1, 3, 4], scientific and methodological information on adaptation reactions of deer, depending on natural and climatic zones, is extremely limited and remains practically unexplored. For this reason, research was carried out on zootechnical parameters, rut and calving periods as an adaptation reaction of the northern domestic reindeer of the Even breed in mountain taiga natural and climatic zone of the Northeast of Russia.