First reindeer calves born at Fairbanks Experiment Farm

The third reindeer calf hangs close to its mother, Lola, at the Fairbanks
Experiment Farm on Monday. UAF photo by J.R. Ancheta

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The first reindeer calves of 2019 arrived at the Fairbanks Experiment Farm over the weekend.

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 additional calves this morning. On Monday afternoon, the newest calf and her 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 fall, 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 the farm. The Reindeer Research Program herd now includes 33 adults and five calves. The program conducts research on nutrition, animal health, meat quality and range management in support of 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. Names chosen last year, included Zac Effron, Tater Tot, Pretzel and Hope. Reindeer have also been born this spring at the university’s Large Animal Research Station.