In the past five years there has been a sharp increase in studies of both the physiology of domestic animals and their genetics. Much of these laboratory tests are done on samples, often taken from museums, where there is very little information on how that animal lived or where. Standard research protocols document place (GPS co-ordinates) species, and sometimes type (domestic, wild).
It has become clear that standard biological classifications do not give enough information to make judgements about evolutionary behaviour, social behaviour, or the division of animals into groups (either phenotypic or haplotypic). The goal of this programme is to gather as much information about the life of a specific animal as possible – as if that animal were a person – and to link that information to genetic and/or bone samples.
The following questionnaire has been developed on the basis of the questions that laboratory scientists ask of collections, and those recorded by herdsmen when describing their animals. The questions are designed to elicit the difference between a specific animal and the surrounding herds of wild or tame animals. It is not assumed that wild and tame animals are categorically different.
The questionnaire is open-ended. Please pay attention to local terms to describe animals – even if those terms may not find a translation in a scientific term. Please avoid using scientific terms such as `tundra reindeer`, `forest reindeer`, `wild reindeer` unless these are used by the person whom you are speaking with.
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Individual Data
Sex:
Age/Function Class (breeding bull, cow, castrate):
Approximate Age/Age at Death:
Date/Season of Death:
Nickname:
Describe the Animal’s Physical Qualities: a) Height at shoulder b) Length of legs c) Approximate weight (perhaps relative to others ‘heavy’, ‘normal’) d) Strength of Back,Rump e) Speed when running f) Endurance when carrying weight g) Antlers. Structure (dense, large, intricate). Where they trimmed? h) Coat Colour (colour [black, white, albino, grey], spotted, shiny, dull) – specify the season
Reproductive Behaviour
Males a) Castrated? Breeding bull? Adolescent? b) Date/month of rut c) Breeding success – impact on herd
Females a) Breeding cow? Sterile? Adolescent? b) Date/month of rut c) Date/month of calving d) Number of liveborn calves over lifetime e) Ability/interest in nurturing calves
How does the animal’s breeding cycle differ from that of wild animals?
Are animals culled or castrated with reference to their breeding cycle?
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Comportment
Nervous, Leader, Stays near home, Wanders, ‘Wild’, ‘Gentle’
Economic Aspects a) Riding/Cargo Transport a.
Was the animal ever ridden? b.
Was the animal used to carry loads on its back c.
Ridden with saddle, without? d.
Cargo with soft saddlebags or with wooden frames e.
Lead reindeer or following reindeer? f.
From what age/ age class? (for example after 3 years of age) g.
In what season? h.
In each season how often (every now and again, almost every time transport wad needed) i.
During travel, for how long could the animal be ridden in one instance (half-day, one day, day after day) j.
Who would ride the animal? How heavy, skilled was that person? b) Harnessing a.
Was the animal ever harnessed? b.
Describe the equipment (person sled, cargo sled, by itself, harnessed in a team of two, three, five) c.
Lead reindeer, side reindeer, or following reindeer? d.
From what age/ age class? (for example after 3 years of age) e.
In what season? f.
In each season how often (every now and again, almost every time transport wad needed) g.
During travel, for how long could the animal be harnessed in one c) Milking instance (half-day, one day, day after day) a.
Was the animal milked? b.
For how many weeks, until what season?
Health Disease Trauma
Was the animal ever sick? (feet, lungs) Did it suffer any trauma (saddle sores, sore legs, back)
Was it treated?
Was the animal inoculated?
Geneology/Ancestry
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Describe the animal’s relationship to the rest of the herd. Does the animal represent a particular type or breed? Is there evidence of breeds imported by the veterinarian service during the Soviet period? Are there links to local wild groups?
Special relationships
Was this animal special?
Was it owned by one person exclusively?
Was it used by one person exclusively?
Did the animal have any special qualities regarding the safety and state of peace of the herd?
Was the animal sacred?
Was this animal sacrificed at a grave site, why was it chosen?
Individual/Group Data
Diet
What would this animal, what would this age class, eat in these seasons. a) Early spring as patches of snow melt b) Late spring, calving time c) Full summer d) Early autumn e) Late autumn, rutting season f) Early winter g) Full winter, deep snow
Was the animal ever fed –in what season (chemical food, hay/grass, gathered lichen, fish, bread)
How much forage, food does one need per animal per day/season?
Territorial Range
Describe the yearly round of the animal/herd. The yearly round will differ for males and for females. Collect place names and seasons. Pay special attention to the time and location of calving, rutting, and the early spring. Describe the ecology of each place (alpine tundra, open tundra, thick forest, meadow)
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