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Background: Finnish beef production is largely based on dairy breeds. Eastern Finncattle, Western Finncattle, and Northern Finncattle (NFC) are native breeds, whereas Holstein (HO) and Nordic Red are the most important commercial dairy breeds. The NFC has been the closest to extinction among Finnish native cattle breeds. The objective of the experiment was to provide data on meat quality of NFC compared to HO. To our knowledge no previously published scientific data about the meat quality traits of NFC is available. Results: The targeted slaughter age was 600 days for both NFC and HO. The carcass gain of the HO steers was 60% higher compared to NFC steers. No breed differences in dressing proportion, carcass conformation, or carcass fat score were observed. Breed had no effect on the pH, color, drip loss, chemical composition, shear force value, or sensory tenderness of the longissimus lumborum muscle. However, beef flavor of the NFC steers was evaluated 7% better compared to the HO steers. In addition, the longissimus lumborum muscle of the NFC steers tended to be juicier than that of the HO steers. Conclusions: Only little variability in meat quality traits was observed between the breeds. However, NFC requires a longer growing period than HO when targeting the same carcass weight. To promote the use of the NFC in beef production, it is necessary to find other than economic production efficiency features, which would provide added value for premium meat quality to compensate the lower production efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The drastic change in global climate has led to in-depth studies of the geneticresources of native cattle adapted to challenging environments. Native cattle breeds may harbor unique genetic mechanisms that have enabled them adapt to their given environmental conditions. Adipose tissues are key factors in the regulation of metabolism and energy balance and are crucial for the molecular switches needed to adapt to rapid environmental and nutritional changes. The transcriptome landscape of four adipose tissues was used in this study to investigate the differential gene expression profiles in three local breeds, Yakutian cattle (Sakha Republic), Northern Finncattle (Finland), Mirandesa cattle (Portugal) and commercial Holstein cattle. A total of 26 animals (12 cows, 14 bulls) yielded 81 samples of perirenal adipose tissue (n = 26), metacarpal adipose tissue (n = 26), tailhead adipose tissue (n = 26) and prescapular adipose tissue (n = 3). More than 17,000 genes were expressed in our dataset. Principal component analysis of the normalized expression profiles revealed a differential expression profile of the metacarpal adipose tissue. We found that the genes upregulated in the metacarpal adipose tissue of Yakutian cattle, such as NR4A3, TEKT3, and FGGY, were associated with energy metabolism and response to cold temperatures. In Mirandesa cattle, the upregulated genes in perirenal adipose tissue were related to immune response and inflammation (AVPR2, CCN1, and IL6), while in Northern Finncattle, the upregulated genes appeared to be involved in various physiological processes, including energy metabolism (IGFBP2). According to the sex-based comparisons, the most interesting result was the upregulation of the TPRG1 gene in three tissues of Yakutian cattle females, suggesting that adaptation is related to feed efficiency. The highest number of differentially expressed genes was found between Yakutian cattle and Holstein, several of which were associated with immunity in Yakutian cattle, indicating potential differences in disease resistance and immunity between the two breeds. This study highlights the vast difference in gene expression profiles in adipose tissues among breeds from different climatic environments, most likely highlighting selective pressure and the potential significance of the uniquely important regulatory functions of metacarpal adipose tissue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Northern Finland, like the rest of the Arctic, has experienced increases in mean annual temperature, the number of winter rains, the number of thaw–freeze days, the number of extremely warm weather events, and a shortened snow season. These changes have produced numerous problems for reindeer herders whose livelihoods rely on a healthy ecosystem with predictable weather patterns. Methods: We performed a scoping literature review to assess how climate change induced extreme weather has negatively impacted reindeer herding as well as the health and wellbeing of reindeer herders. Results: Late snow cover negatively impacts reindeer herding through a more widely dispersed herd that increases the work to gather reindeer, leads to reduced calf weight, and results in less meat for sale. This increased labor, especially in extreme cold conditions, can also negatively impact reindeer herder health. Icing due to thaw–freeze and rain‐on‐snow events makes it impossible for reindeer to dig through the snow to access lichens, increasing the need for reindeer herders to keep the herd in winter enclosures and provide supplemental feed. Conclusion: Climate change induced weather events such as late snow cover and icing increase reindeer herder efforts and expenses, put their livelihood at risk, and put their health at risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: High levels of total energy expenditure (TEE, kcal/day) have been documented among numerous human populations such as tropical climate horticulturalists and high‐altitude agriculturalists. However, less work has been conducted among highly physically active cold climate populations. Methods: In October 2018, TEE was measured using the doubly labeled water (TEEDLW, N = 10) and flex‐heart rate methods (TEEHR, N = 24) for 6–14 days among reindeer herders (20–62 years) in northern Finland during an especially physically demanding, but not seasonally representative, period of the year for herders—the annual reindeer herd roundup. Self‐reported dietary intake was also collected during TEE measurement periods. TEE was then compared to that of hunter gatherer, farming, and market economies. Results: During the herd roundup, herders expended a mean of 4183 ± 949 kcal/day as measured by the DLW method, which was not significantly different from TEEHR. Mean caloric intake was 1718 ± 709 kcal/day, and was significantly lower than TEEDLW and TEEHR (p <.001). Herder TEEDLW was significantly higher than that of hunter gatherer (p =.0014) and market (p <.0014) economy populations; however, herder TEEDLW was not different from that of farming populations (p =.91). Conclusion: High TEE and low caloric intake among herders reflect the extreme demands placed on herders during the annual herd round up. Although TEEDLW was similar between cold climate herders and hot climate farming populations, there are likely differences in how that TEE is comprised, reflecting the local ecologies of these populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2nd NJF Seminar on Reindeer Husbandry Research was held at the Arctic Centre, University of Lapland, Rovaniemi, Finland from 19 to 21 October 2014. The seminar was organized under the framework of Reindeer Husbandry Research Section of NJF (Nordic Association of Agricultural Scientists), established in 2012. Over 100 Nordic and international delegates including researchers, managers, educators, students and reindeer herders participated in the seminar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined the effects of undernutrition on lipid metabolism in reindeer (<1 year) during mid-winter and spring, with particular focus on the proportions of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in major serum lipids. The reindeer (n=8) were fed their winter feed, lichen, ad libitum for 5 weeks, followed by 40% restriction of energy for 8 weeks and refeeding to normal for 6 weeks. The concentrations of major serum lipids, cholesterol and phospholipids decreased significantly during the ad libitum period (by 50 and 44%, respectively). The proportion of major PUFA, linoleic acid in serum cholesteryl esters, decreased from 48.2 to 38.4% during the ad libitum period (P < 0.01), and to 29.2% during the restriction period (P < 0.001). The proportion of linoleic acid in phospholipids decreased from 27.9 to 15.6% during the ad libitum period (P < 0.001), and to 13.0% during the restriction (P < 0.01). Also α-linolenic acid in the major lipids decreased significantly during the ad libitum and restriction periods. The decreases in the major lipids and linoleic acid were reversed during the refeeding. The control group (n=8) which was fed high-quality concentrates ad libitum gained weight most of the spring but showed similar although slower decreases in the major serum lipids and PUFAs than the lichen group. Our results indicate that feeding reindeer on lichen during winter leads to the retardation of growth and reductions in major serum lipids and their principal C18-PUFA proportions. The decreased proportions of the principal PUFAs most probably reflect their low dietary intake but may have been modified also by seasonal factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]