ESTIMATING FAT-CONTENT OF CARIBOU FROM BODY CONDITION SCORES

Body condition scores provide a subjective measure of body fatness. We scored the condition of 64 barren-ground caribou (Rangifer tarandus g ranti) and 10 reindeer (R. t. tarandus) that were later killed and ana lyzed for chemical composition. A body reserve index (product of body condition score and body mass) was superior to either body mass or bod y condition score as a predictor of fatness for older calves and adult s. The probability of pregnancy for adult female caribou was significa ntly related to both body condition score (n = 107, P = 0.017) and bod y reserve index (n = 103, P < 0.001).