Forage chemistry and the digestive system in reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) in northern Norway and on South Georgia
Comparative chemical and botanical analyses of the reticulo-rumen content (RR) and the fill of the digestive system were carried out in free-living Norwegian reindeer {Rangifer t. tarandus) on South Georgia (SG) in summer (mean body mass (BM) = 74 kg, n - 10), and in northern Norway in late summer (...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Septentrio Academic Publishing
1999-04-01
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| Series: | Rangifer |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://septentrio.uit.no/index.php/rangifer/article/view/285 |
| _version_ | 1828950693284675584 |
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| author | Svein D. Mathiesen Tove H. Aagnes Utsi Wenche Sørmo |
| author_facet | Svein D. Mathiesen Tove H. Aagnes Utsi Wenche Sørmo |
| author_sort | Svein D. Mathiesen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Comparative chemical and botanical analyses of the reticulo-rumen content (RR) and the fill of the digestive system were carried out in free-living Norwegian reindeer {Rangifer t. tarandus) on South Georgia (SG) in summer (mean body mass (BM) = 74 kg, n - 10), and in northern Norway in late summer (NS) (mean BM = 77 kg, n = 6) and winter (NW) (mean BM = 60 kg, n = 11). The RR of SG reindeer contained mainly grasses, while grasses dominated in NS reindeer and woody plants and lichens in NW reindeer. Mean ruminal plant cell-wall contents (CWC) comprised 37% of organic dry matter (OM) in SG reindeer and 50 and 69% in NS and NW reindeer, respectively. The high CWC in NW reindeer was due to high intake of lichens containing as much as 45% hemi-cellulose. Mean ruminal content of lignin was as low as 5% of OM in SG reindeer, which was different (P < 0.05) from NS (14%) and NW reindeer (15%), respectively. The mean total gastro-inresrinal tract (GIT) (fill and tissue) weight was 27% of BM in SG reindeer, different (P < 0.05) from NS (18% of BM) and NW reindeer (22% of BM), respectively. Wet weight RR content was 14.5% of BM in SG reindeer, not different from NS (12.2% of BM) and NW reindeer (14.2% of BM). The ratio between the wet weight content of the distal fermentation chamber (DFC) and the RR wet weight content was 1:10 in SG reindeer, different (P < 0.05) from NS (1:14) and NW reindeer (1:14). We did not find any significant differences between the intestinal lengths of the groups investigated. It was concluded that the degree of fill of the different parts of GIT in reindeet seems to be related to the lignin content of plants eaten and not only of seasonal changes in appetite and availability of plants. Our data stress the fact that reindeer are highly adaptable to a wide range of different dietary plants, even in the southern hemisphere. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T06:26:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0e5b1af07e3142a5aaa65e46248acc34 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1890-6729 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T06:26:47Z |
| publishDate | 1999-04-01 |
| publisher | Septentrio Academic Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Rangifer |
| spelling | doaj.art-0e5b1af07e3142a5aaa65e46248acc342022-12-21T23:13:39ZengSeptentrio Academic PublishingRangifer1890-67291999-04-0119210.7557/2.19.2.285261Forage chemistry and the digestive system in reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) in northern Norway and on South GeorgiaSvein D. Mathiesen0Tove H. Aagnes Utsi1Wenche Sørmo2Dept. of Arctic Veterinary Medicine, The Norwegian School of Veterinary Science; N-9292 Tromsø, NorwayDept of Arctic Biology, and Dept of Medical Biology, University of Tromsø, N-9037 Tromsø, NorwayDept of Arctic Biology, and Dept of Medical Biology, University of Tromsø, N-9037 Tromsø, NorwayComparative chemical and botanical analyses of the reticulo-rumen content (RR) and the fill of the digestive system were carried out in free-living Norwegian reindeer {Rangifer t. tarandus) on South Georgia (SG) in summer (mean body mass (BM) = 74 kg, n - 10), and in northern Norway in late summer (NS) (mean BM = 77 kg, n = 6) and winter (NW) (mean BM = 60 kg, n = 11). The RR of SG reindeer contained mainly grasses, while grasses dominated in NS reindeer and woody plants and lichens in NW reindeer. Mean ruminal plant cell-wall contents (CWC) comprised 37% of organic dry matter (OM) in SG reindeer and 50 and 69% in NS and NW reindeer, respectively. The high CWC in NW reindeer was due to high intake of lichens containing as much as 45% hemi-cellulose. Mean ruminal content of lignin was as low as 5% of OM in SG reindeer, which was different (P < 0.05) from NS (14%) and NW reindeer (15%), respectively. The mean total gastro-inresrinal tract (GIT) (fill and tissue) weight was 27% of BM in SG reindeer, different (P < 0.05) from NS (18% of BM) and NW reindeer (22% of BM), respectively. Wet weight RR content was 14.5% of BM in SG reindeer, not different from NS (12.2% of BM) and NW reindeer (14.2% of BM). The ratio between the wet weight content of the distal fermentation chamber (DFC) and the RR wet weight content was 1:10 in SG reindeer, different (P < 0.05) from NS (1:14) and NW reindeer (1:14). We did not find any significant differences between the intestinal lengths of the groups investigated. It was concluded that the degree of fill of the different parts of GIT in reindeet seems to be related to the lignin content of plants eaten and not only of seasonal changes in appetite and availability of plants. Our data stress the fact that reindeer are highly adaptable to a wide range of different dietary plants, even in the southern hemisphere.https://septentrio.uit.no/index.php/rangifer/article/view/285Rangifer tarandus tarandusdigestive chemistryNorwaySouth Georgiarumenplant cell-wall |
| spellingShingle | Svein D. Mathiesen Tove H. Aagnes Utsi Wenche Sørmo Forage chemistry and the digestive system in reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) in northern Norway and on South Georgia Rangifer Rangifer tarandus tarandus digestive chemistry Norway South Georgia rumen plant cell-wall |
| title | Forage chemistry and the digestive system in reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) in northern Norway and on South Georgia |
| title_full | Forage chemistry and the digestive system in reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) in northern Norway and on South Georgia |
| title_fullStr | Forage chemistry and the digestive system in reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) in northern Norway and on South Georgia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Forage chemistry and the digestive system in reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) in northern Norway and on South Georgia |
| title_short | Forage chemistry and the digestive system in reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) in northern Norway and on South Georgia |
| title_sort | forage chemistry and the digestive system in reindeer rangifer tarandus tarandus in northern norway and on south georgia |
| topic | Rangifer tarandus tarandus digestive chemistry Norway South Georgia rumen plant cell-wall |
| url | https://septentrio.uit.no/index.php/rangifer/article/view/285 |
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