FOOD PLANT-SELECTION BY REINDEER DURING WINTER IN RELATION TO PLANT-QUALITY

The relative palatabilities of nine plant taxa used as winter food by reindeer were estimated by presenting them in cafeteria and pairwise tests. Feeding preference indices were then related to the chemical composition of the plants. High preference indices were obtained for the lichens Bryoria spp., Cladina arbuscula, C. rangiferina and C. stellaris, while low values were obtained for the moss Pleurozium schreberi and the dwarf shrubs Empetrum hermaphroditum and Vaccinium myrtillus. The grass Deschampsia flexuosa and the lichen Stereocaulon paschale received intermediate scores. Feeding preferences showed a strong negative correlation with acid detergent fiber (ADF)-values. No statistically significant correlations were found between feeding preferences and contents of nitrogen, in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) or neutral detergent fiber (NDF).