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Common conditions of reindeer
Author(s) -
Foster Aiden
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
in practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.211
H-Index - 25
eISSN - 2042-7689
pISSN - 0263-841X
DOI - 10.1136/inp.c6668
Subject(s) - geography , accommodation , variety (cybernetics) , herd , socioeconomics , environmental protection , ecology , biology , sociology , artificial intelligence , neuroscience , computer science
Reindeer are highly adapted to the extreme climates of northern latitudes and, therefore, when imported to countries such as the UK, are usually expected to live in substantially different conditions to those in which they evolved. This can make them susceptible to a variety of diseases and pathogens, which prospective owners and their vets need to be aware of, especially if reindeer are to share accommodation with other species such as sheep and cattle. The extensive experience and published literature from North America and Scandinavian countries, where reindeer are managed as semidomesticated herds accustomed to seasonal migration, can help to inform the growing knowledge base in the UK. This article discusses some of the common problems affecting reindeer in this country.