Carbohydrate-vitamin-mineral fodder concentrate effect on domestic reindeer antlers

The purpose of research was to study the effectiveness of the use of the additive (carbohydrate-vitamin-mineral feed concentrate Felutsen for cattle (UVMKK Felutsen)) on the antler productivity of castrated bulls and male producers in the tundra zone of the Krasnoyarsk Region. Research objectives: to study the effect of the use of a feed additive on the antler productivity of castrated bulls and male producers and to assess the quality of antlers. The study presents the results of scientific and experimental research carried out on the territory of the Taimyr Dolgan-Nenets municipal District (the Taimyr Peninsula, the right bank of the Yenisei, reindeer husbandry farm IP "Gleb Alexandrovich Yadne") in 2020. The tests were carried out on a group of domesticated reindeer (DSO) of the Nenets breed. Experimental and control animals were selected according to the principle of analogues: young reproductive males of 3 years of age and adult castrate bulls of 4 years of age. The use of UVMKK Felutsen (10–20 g/head) for 20 days in the spring has a positive effect on the productive qualities of antlers of male producers and castrated bulls. The mass of antlers of 3-year-old male-producers, who received additional feeding, is 26.1 % more than in the control. There was also an excess of the length (by 6 %) and the girth of the neck of the trunk (by 18.5 %). For the experienced 4-year-old castrate bulls, an increase in the mass of antlers was noted by 14.3 %, the trunk length by 11.5 % and the trunk neck girth by 11.9 % in comparison with the control group. The effectiveness of feeding is due to the replenishment of the deficiency of minerals and vitamins in the diet of domesticated reindeer during unfavorable periods of the year.