Selection decisions among reindeer herders in Finland

摘要: Selection of breeding animals is a tool to improve the revenues in animal production. Information about selection practices and criteria are essential assessing possibilities for systematic schemes. Attitudes reindeer herders towards use improving production were investigated by means interviews. We interviewed managers herding cooperatives concerning their decisions. Fortyfive out 56 answered semi-structured questionnaire. Among operations, was regarded as critical calf’s autumn weight survival. The main health, vigour, body size muscularity, dam or line, maternal care. Hair quality hair length important well, while such often quoted traits antler characteristics, e.g. early shedding velvet thick bases, unimportant. results show that i) acknowledge importance effects selective breeding, ii) have empirical knowledge list most criteria.