Reindeer calves arrive at Fairbanks Experiment Farm

April 16, 2019

UAF photo by JR Ancheta. The third calf born at the Fairbanks Experiment Farm in spring 2019 walks with its mother, Lola, on Monday, April 15. The calf was born Saturday, April 13.

The first reindeer calves of 2019 began arriving at the Fairbanks Experiment Farm on Friday, April 12.

Male and female calves were born late Friday night, and the third reindeer calf, a female, arrived Saturday morning at 5 a.m.

“We found it Saturday morning when we came in to feed,” said reindeer caretaker Erin Carr.

Workers discovered two more calves Tuesday morning, April 16.

On Monday afternoon, the newest calf and its mother, Lola, rested in the pen closest to the barn, on the uphill side of West Tanana Drive. Visitors snapped photos of the gangly calf through the fence as it sniffed around the grassy field, nursed and stayed close to its mother.

The calf, who will be named this summer, weighed 13.5 pounds. Carr said the calves usually stand for the first time within an hour of being born.

Altogether, a dozen calves are expected this spring at the farm. The Reindeer Research Program herd now includes 33 adults and five calves. The University of Alaska Fairbanks program conducts research on nutrition, animal health, meat quality and range management to support the reindeer industry.

As is tradition, schoolchildren are encouraged to submit possible 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 (website no longer online). Names chosen last year included Zac Effron, Tater Tot, Pretzel and Hope. Reindeer calves have also been born at the university's Large Animal Research Station.