Print Syllabus

Syllabus

HV0173 Reindeer biology and reindeer husbandry, 7.5 Credits

Renens biologi och renskötsel

Subjects

Animal Science Biology Animal science Biology

Education cycle

Bachelor’s level

Advanced study in the main field

G1F

Grading scale

Language

Swedish

Prior knowledge

- 30 credits higher education

- Biology 2 or Biology B

Objectives

The aim of the course is to provide knowledge about the reindeer’s biology and adaptation to the subarctic and arctic environment and to provide basic knowledge of reindeer husbandry as a pastoral system with a focus on the system in Sweden.

After completing the course, the student should be able to:

• overall describe where in the world the reindeer occur and what characterizes the environment in these areas,

• describe the reindeer’s adaptation to the environment and how the reindeer thereby differ from other wild and domestic animals,

• describe the reindeer’s grazing pattern and nutrition at different times of the year,

• describe how reindeer husbandry is conducted in Sweden and discuss how different factors can affect production,

• describe in general how politics, authorities and industry affect the conditions of reindeer husbandry and its place in Sami culture,

• describe the importance of reindeer husbandry for the Sami culture and the rest of society.

Content

Lectures, excursions, course literature, online teaching materials, exercises and project work dealing with reindeer adaptation to the Arctic and subarctic environment, where the reindeer are compared to other wild and domestic animals. The nutritional needs and nutritional intake of the reindeer are treated in relation to pasture availability, grazing patterns, growth and reproduction. The course also addresses the relationship between grazing, fitness, health and production, as well as management measures to improve survival and production. Adaptation of the number of animals to the pasture resources, control of the herd structure and selection efforts when recruiting animals to the herd are described. Reindeer herding pastoralism as a form of production is compared with other extensive animal husbandry. Furthermore, economic and social conditions within reindeer husbandry, land rights, competing interests, the authorities’ responsibilities in relation to the management of reindeer husbandry, and the history and future of the reindeer industry are discussed.

In addition to the written and oral examination, the course contains two compulsory physical meetings of 2-3 days (one in Jokkmokk and one in Uppsala) where excursions, study visits, lectures and seminars are included.

Grading form

The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.

Formats and requirements for examination

Passed written and oral examination, passed participation in compulsory exercises.

• If a student has failed an examination, the examiner has the right to issue supplementary assignments. This applies if it is possible and there are grounds to do so.
• The examiner can provide an adapted assessment to students entitled to study support for students with disabilities following a decision by the university. Examiners may also issue an adapted examination or provide an alternative way for the students to take the exam.
• If this syllabus is withdrawn, SLU may introduce transitional provisions for examining students admitted based on this syllabus and who have not yet passed the course.
• For the examination of a degree project (independent project), the examiner may also allow the student to add supplemental information after the deadline for submission. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.

Other information

• The right to participate in teaching and/or supervision only applies for the course instance the student was admitted to and registered on.

• If there are special reasons, students are entitled to participate in components with compulsory attendance when the course is given again. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.

Additional information

The course is given as a distance course at 25% speed. The course contains two compulsory physical meetings, a 3-day meeting at the start of the course in Jokkmokk, the Sami education center and a 2-day meeting in Uppsala, SLU. The student is responsible for costs and booking of travel and accommodation at both meetings. The meetings take place mainly on weekends.



In addition to lectures during the meetings, the course is based on self-study of assigned literature and information online, answering assignments and completing exercises via the internet. Communication, in addition to the physical meetings, takes place via the course’s website and e-mail.



The course website contains all information regarding the course and is used to complete the course elements. Access to a computer with an internet connection is required to be able to follow the course. Examination is conducted orally and via the web-based learning platform (Canvas).



Literature in Norwegian and English may occur.

Responsible department

Department of Animal Nutrition and Management