First reindeer calves born at Fairbanks Experiment Farm

April 17, 2018

The first reindeer calves of 2018 arrived this weekend at the Fairbanks Experiment Farm.

Photo by Jeff Fay. The first reindeer calves of 2018 rested near their mothers at the Fairbanks Experiment Farm.

A student worker found the first calf at 10 a.m. Sunday, and reindeer caretaker Erin Carr discovered two more calves when she arrived to work Monday morning.

The arrival of the first reindeer calf at the farm is a rite of spring. The newest calves, born to Bella and Nina, wobbled unsteadily on Monday morning and enjoyed breakfast in the fenced fields opposite the Georgeson Botanical Garden.

Carr said the calves seemed healthy. The first calf usually arrives in early April so it’s a little later than usual. Altogether, 14 calves are expected this spring.

“April 20 is usually peak calving,” she said.

The herd now includes 33 adults and three calves. All are part of the University of Alaska Fairbanks Reindeer Research Program, which conducts research on nutrition, animal health, meat quality and range management in support of the reindeer industry. It is the only program devoted to reindeer research that is affiliated with a U.S. university.

As is tradition, schoolchildren are encouraged to submit names for the calves, which are named in July or August, after they are weaned. Children may submit names on the Reindeer Research Program website at http://reindeer.salrm.uaf.edu/index.php. Names selected last year include Olivia, Sebastian, Blaze, Mr. Antlers, Anouk, Boris, Mabel and Kobuk.

See video footage.