Reproduction in female reindeer

Reindeer are either wild or kept under very extensive farming systems. They are seasonal breeders, with mating coinciding with the decreasing photoper iod in the autumn, and with calving in the spring. Little is known regardin g the factors that influence reproduction in reindeer or of their reproduct ive physiology. Studies carried out to date have mainly focused on issues r elated to the population dynamics of wild populations and semi-domestic her ds, and to a limited extent on the reproductive physiology of the female. N or is much known about reproductive disorders and their medical treatment, or of the possibilities to manipulate or control reproduction by the use of hormones. Modern reproductive techniques such as artificial insemination a nd in vitro fertilisation, maturation and transfer of embryos have so far r eceived scant attention. In the future, it is possible that reindeer under certain conditions might be kept in more intensive production systems. Limi ted access to high-quality winter pastures and increased demands for produc tivity have resulted in artificial feeding becoming a common practice in va rious reindeer herding areas in Scandinavia. In efforts to enhance the prod uctivity of reindeer herds, attention has been focused on factors affecting reproduction in the female and survival of the offspring. Further knowledg e on these issues seems necessary when developing strategies for optimaliza tion of meat production in domestic herds and the harvesting of wild popula tions. This paper puts a broad focus on various aspects of reproduction, in cluding factors influencing the fecundity of reproductively active females. In order to understand these effects it is important also to have a basic understanding of the reproductive physiology of these animals. (C) 2000 Pub lished by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.