The reindeer husbandry area in Finland covers around one third of the country, or all of Northern Finland. There are over 200,000 reindeer in Finland. The number is carefully controlled, as suitable pastures are limited.
Male reindeer weigh between 90 and 160 kilograms, females weigh less. The most common colour of reindeer fur is greyish brown, but the fur is lighter in wintertime. Both males and females boast antlers.
Reindeer are slaughtered in the autumn because their meat is at its prime at the time. When there is no more green grass available, reindeer begin to burn off the fat stored in their backs. During the winter months, the animals lose weight and the structure of their meat changes.
Over 70 percent of the reindeer that are slaughtered for meat are calves that have eaten only food that they have found while grazing in nature. Winter feeding is normally used only to ensure survival during the coldest part of the winter season.
Helsingin Sanomat / First published in print 4.11.2004
