The genetic potential of ungulates of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation is rich and diverse, but requires modern research. The use of genetic systems makes it possible to study the genome of animals, determine the state of the genetic diversity of the species, suggest reasonable ways to maintain the level of heterozygosity in domesticated animals, purposefully obtain individuals that are necessary for humans. The analysis of the above-described gene pools of their structure is interesting both for modern breeding and environmental genetics, and may be in demand in the future when planning the development of animal husbandry in the Arctic zone for decades to come. The unique adaptive capabilities of animals to the harsh conditions of the Far North open up wide opportunities for their rational use. Reindeer, musk ox and snow sheep are the most important components of high-latitude ecosystems, in which other ungulate species can practically not live, so they are of great scientific and practical value in preserving agro-diversity in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation.

This article presents research findings on the chemical composition of fruits and berries found in the Southwestern Taimyr region, including bilberry (Vaccinium myrtíllus), northern redcurrant (Ribes triste), blueberry (Vaccinium uliginosum), prickly wild rose (Rosa acicularis), lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea), almost-holarctic crowberry (Empetrum subholarcticum), Siberian rowan (Sorbus sibirica), and cloudberry (Rubus chamaemorus). We revealed that rowan, blueberries, and prickly wild rose are particularly rich in crude fat. Additionally, prickly wild rose, and red currants were found to be high in crude fiber content, while bilberries, red currants, and cloudberries were dominant in crude protein. Potassium and calcium content were highest in prickly wild rose and rowan, while bilberries, red currants, and prickly wild rose had high sodium content. Moreover, crowberries and rowan berries were rich in phosphorus, and lingonberries, rowan berries, bilberries, and cloudberries were abundant in magnesium. Red currants, bilberries, and cloudberries had the highest total amino acid content, with essential amino acids being more prevalent than non-essential ones in redcurrant, bilberry, crowberry, and cloudberry samples. The content included high levels of leucine, isoleucine, valine, and threonine. Overall, the fruits and berries in the Southwestern Taimyr region have significant biological value and could be effectively used in creating functional biologically active substances.

The study was conducted to determine the possibility of using phenotypic correlations between traits as an indirect indicator of genetic correlations in domestic reindeer (Rangifer tarandus L.). The assessment of phenotypic parameters of the exterior and live weight of reindeer was carried out at the Yamal Experimental Station, a separate structural subdivision of the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution, the Tyumen Scientific Center, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The object of the study was a population sample of 94 adult females of the Nenets breed, selected at random, without constitution defects and having a calf. in October 2020. A total of 94 does (adult females) aged 3 to 9 years were examined. The animals were well-fed, had a calf and had no visible constitution defects. The sample showed high positive phenotypic correlations between “height at withers” and “height at elbow” (=0.84), “height at withers” and “chest depth” (=0.71), “live weight” and “chest girth” (=0.63), as well as between “live weight” and “chest depth” (=0.6). Genetic correlations between traits calculated using genotypes of microsatellite markers showed comparable results. For the pair of measurements “height at withers” and “height at elbow”, the genetic correlation was about 0.83, and for the pair “height at withers” and “chest depth” it was about 0.71. The results of comparative analysis between phenotypic and genetic correlation matrices demonstrated a high degree of consistency. It has been shown that phenotypic correlations can potentially be used as an indirect indicator of genetic correlations for reindeer selection for live weight and linear body dimensions.

Reindeer husbandry is the main branch of agriculture in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation, and a form of traditional environmental management of the North peoples. To preserve and grow the industry, government support and the development of the principles of traditional management with the help of biotechnology are necessary. The article discusses the prospects for using reproductive technologies in fence keeping of reindeer. In reindeer breeding, none of the reproductive technologies are currently used, unlike other types of animal husbandry. The advantages of using assisted reproductive technologies in fenced reindeer herding are that reindeer herders obtain offspring of animals with favorable characteristics and manage reproduction. In addition, the development of technologies for working with sperm and embryos, the creation of cryopreserved biomaterial banks are important for the revival of endangered subspecies and intrabreed local genotypes. When keeping reindeer in a fenced area, it is possible to accustom animals to manipulations with an artificial vagina or electroejaculator. Free-range keeping of reindeer complicates the identification and fixation of individuals, observation and selection. With free-range keeping, uncontrolled mating may occur, it is impossibility of separating selected individuals, and creating harems. Fence keeping will allow to create necessary groups (recipients, synchronized females, females for artificial insemination, males for sperm extraction, etc.) and graze them separately, fix them, quickly find the necessary animals and carry out manipulations. Division into groups will also allow to carry out harem mating with selected males and females. Development and implementation of assisted reproductive technologies in northern reindeer herding will allow to intensify the selection process and improve the quality of reindeer products.

Reindeer husbandry takes a leading position in the agricultural sector of the Russian Federation Arctic zone. The purpose of the research is to analyze the science-based assurance of the freedom from highly dangerous infectious diseases in reindeer herds of the Arctic zone. It has been established that diseases such as anthrax, brucellosis, footrot, rabies are still relevant for the reindeer husbandry and can cause not only significant economic damage, but also diseases in humans. The analysis of the archival data and literary sources, as well as own research data lead to the following conclusions: the greatest risk of anthrax occurrence and spread is posed by old carcass sites; to eradicate brucellosis, vaccination of animals along with the general disease control measures is necessary; in case of footrot, special attention should be paid to the control of blood-sucking insects and warble flies; to prevent rabies in reindeer herds, it is important to avoid contacts between deer and wild carnivores and consider emergency vaccination. Undoubtedly, the eradication and prevention of the above-mentioned infectious diseases requires constant epidemiological surveillance, including its element – monitoring, with all necessary special management, animal health measures. There is an obvious need for constant surveillance of infectious diseases in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation using GIS technologies. It is important to pay special attention to the generation of special information layers related to disease characteristics, including deer herd migration routes, sites where anthrax outbreaks were recorded, and the location of disease-infected facilities.

The breeding potential of reindeer husbandry is determined by competent work with genetic resources; therefore, the study of the phenotypic traits of reindeer must be carried out in combination with the study of the features of their gene pools. In this work, we analyzed the correlations and genetic associations of phenotypic traits in 98 female reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) of the Nenets breed aged from 3 to 9 years in a comparative fashion according to the main body measurements and physique indices calculated from these measurements. A panel of 16 microsatellite loci (BMS1788, RT30, RT1, RT9, C143, RT7, OHEQ, FCB193, RT6, C217, RT24, C32, BMS745 NVHRT16, T40, and C276) was used for analysis. The search for relationships between the genotype and phenotype of reindeer was performed using regression analysis; only for three phenotypic traits—height at withers, chest depth, and the stretch index—nonzero heritability was revealed. Using correlation analysis, we found that the live weight of adult females, taking into account age and genetic relationship, has a high positive correlation with the height at withers (r ≈ 0.70), chest girth (r ≈ 0.79), and chest depth (r ≈ 0.73).

Reindeer are a unique animal species that have adapted to the harsh Arctic conditions. Adaptive features of the structure of the gastrointestinal tract of reindeer allows you to eat actively digest and assimilate lichens, foliage, shrubs, snowy greens. Along with beneficial microflora, pathogenic and conditionally pathogenic microorganisms live in the reindeer rumen. The purpose of our research is to study and compare the features of the rumen microbiome in healthy and sick reindeer with necrobacteriosis. The subject of the study was samples of cicatricial contents taken from 38 reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) of the Nenets breed of different age groups. Microbiome studies were performed by NGS sequencing on the MiSeq next generation sequencing platform (Illumina, USA) using primers for the V3-V4 region of 16S rRNA.Based on the studies, it was possible to establish that the microbiome of the reindeer rumen in summer and winter is characterized by certain differences. During the summer grazing period, the presence of a greater number of pathogenic bacteria such as Fusobacterium sp., Parvimonas sp. and Porphyromonas endodontalis, while in the spectrum of pathogenic microorganisms, bacteria of the genus Fusobacterium, which are considered the main infectious agent in necrobacteriosis, were most often isolated. In the same period, the presence of bacteria of the genus Sharpea, belonging to the phylum Erysipelotrichaceae, which ferment sugars with the formation of lactic acid and can cause the development of lactic acidosis, was established in deer rumen samples. In calves, during the disease, the number of chytridiomycete fungi, which are involved in the fermentation of polysaccharides, decreases.

Reindeer are one of the most widespread and adapted representatives of the northern territories of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation. Features of skeletal development are an important ontogenetic feature that reflects the level of development of the animal and the degree of realization of its genetic resource in the phenotype. The purpose of the presented research is to study the characteristics of the growth and development of the skeleton of the Nenets reindeer breed, taking into account the sex and age of the animals. Data were obtained on the peripheral and axial growth of skeletal bones from birth to the end of growth of males and females. Based on the studies conducted, it was possible to establish that in the postnatal period, the axial part of the skeleton of male and female reindeer grows faster than the peripheral part. Linear bone growth in deer ends earlier than weight growth. Females, compared to males, are characterized by more intense weight and linear growth of the skeleton, which confirms the relatively earlier completion of the growth and development of the body of females in relation to males of the same age. The growth rate of the reindeer skeleton is inferior to the rate of increase in live weight, which increases mainly due to the active growth of other tissues and organs. The greatest increase in skeletal mass and linear growth is observed during the milk period. Consequently, the first six months of a reindeer’s life are of great importance for the formation of physique, physiological precocity and the level of future meat and labor productivity. The revealed patterns of skeletal growth for reindeer of the Nenets breed do not exclude the possibility of extending them to reindeer of other breeds.

The paper analyses the properties of Bacillus velezensis RT-26, a probiotic strain isolated from reindeer rumen, which has high activity towards fiber degradation, against bacterial and fungal pathogens. The analysis was performed using whole-genome sequencing of the strain using the Illumina platform. The study revealed that strain RT-26 possessed a complete set of metabolic pathways, including glycolysis, the tricarboxylic acid cycle, and the pentose phosphate pathway. 411 genes were involved in carbohydrate metabolism in the strain genome, 229 genes were related to vitamin and coenzyme metabolism, 149 genes were involved in fatty acid metabolism. The synthesis pathways of various amino acids, most B vitamins (thiamine, riboflavin, nicotiamide, vitamin B5) were identified in the genome. A complete pathway for synthesis of the dipeptide antibiotic bacilisin was detected in the strain. In addition, the strain is capable of synthesizing class A beta-lactamase. No genes responsible for the degradation of mycotoxins and xenobiotics were detected in the genome of the strain studied. A number of glycosyl hydrolase families were detected in the strain genome: GH 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 11, 13, 16, 18, 20, 23, 26, 28, 30, 32, 43, 46, 51, 53, 68, 68, 73, 101, 109, 126. Carbohydrate-binding proteins were of the SVM 50 family. Glycosyltransferases were of GT 1, 2, 4, 8, 26, 28, 30, 51, 83 families. In the genome of Bacillus velezensis strain RT-26, cellulases related to families GH 5, 6, 26, 51, chitinases related to families GH 18 and 23, and xylanases related to families GH 1, 3, 4, 16, 30, 43 were found. Thus, strain B. velezensis RT-26 has several phenotypically and genotypically proven properties that can characterize it as a good probiotic microorganism.

In the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District were studied 169 heads of Nenets deer from birth to 18 months of age The maximum rate of weight gain of live weight of calves is observed in the first 6 months of postnatal development and has sexual differentiation: in males it was 52.5, in females – 46.5 kg. From 6 to 12 months of age, which falls during the wintering period, in the studied groups of deer there was a drop in absolute indicators of live weight gain to minus values: males -5.3 kg, females -1.7 kg. In the period from 12 to 18 months of age, the absolute growth rates of males and females turned out to be equal. The rate of linear growth and the formation of the physique of young deer in the period from birth to 6 months of age, no significant difference between males and females was found either visually or instrumentally.. During the first wintering period, an increase in absolute value was observed by measurements associated with the growth of the skeleton: height at the withers, height at the elbow, head length, chest depth, oblique length of the butt. The age period from 12 to 18 months is characterized by a significant increase in linear body sizes in the studied deer, but the difference in almost all measurements did not exceed 4%. A comparison of 10 indices of physique in animals showed that at 6 and 18 months of age, the main proportions of the physique are close, which indicates a high rate of formation of the physique in young domestic reindeer. A comparison of the physique indices revealed no signs of sexual dimorphism for any of them, except for the pelvic index, which was higher in females at all age periods and the broadbodied index at 18 months of age.

The article presents the results of scientific and production experience in acclimatization and breeding use of reindeer males of the Chukchi breed in the reindeer herding economy of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug. Research and production experience on the acclimatization of Chukotka producers was carried out at the Tazovsky agricultural enterprise of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, where they were delivered by two groups from the Bilibinsky District of the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug. When assessing the relationship between the origin of the studied animals and the characteristics of the use of pasture fodder, it was found that the ratio of fodder fractions is more influenced by the state of pastures and the grazing season than the breed of deer. the ratio of feed fractions in the rumen of the Nenets and Chukchi deer on average per year did not reveal a statistically significant advantage of any of the studied groups. Timing of the grazing behavior of males of different origins showed that Chukchi deer were more active on pastures, but they spent almost a third of this time looking for food, while local Nenets peers spent half the time on these activities. The time spent directly on the process of feeding in deer of different origins turned out to be almost the same. The results of deer calving showed that the deadness of the breeding stock and the mortality of newborn calves in the experimental herd are lower than in the control herd by 1.1 and 1.0%, respectively. The increased number of stillborn calves is explained by cases of their death in first-calf heifers. The death of live calves during the calving period in both herds is almost the same, but the business yield of calves is higher in the experimental herd by 1.2%. During the first year after the relocation, the Chukchi deer adapted to the conditions of the Yamal forest-tundra and were successfully used as breeding animals.

According to the official data of the FSBU “ Center Of Veterinary Medicine”, brucellosis is still registered in reindeer herds of the Asian North of the Russian Federation as a whole in Russia in 2019. 48 sites of brucellosis-affected reindeer herds were registered, including 35 in the Sakha Yakutia Republic, 7 in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Region, one in the Taimyr Municipal District and 1 in the Chukchi Autonomous Region. It has been established that without the use of specific prevention measures anti-brucellisis measures in reindeer husbanding farms are not effective. Currently, a vaccine from the low-agglutinogenic strain “B.abortus 82 “is used to immunize reindeer. The purpose of our work is to clarify the optimal dose of the vaccine from the “B.abortus 82”strain based on experimental data on survival, reactogenity, agglutinogenity and duration of intense immunity,when administering different doses of immunopreparate. Based on two controlled experiments, it was established that the optimal dose of the vaccine from the strain “B.abortus 82” can be considered 10 billion m. In this dose, the deer do not have post-vaccination complications, the vaccine strain is well settled in the body of the vac cinated animal and eliminates 30-45 days after administration. The titer agglutinins and complementarity of binding antibodies reaches its maximum by 28 days after immunization and is gradually reduced; 180 days after vaccination agglutinins are registered in minimum credits. Tension of immunity in vaccinated animals was tested by direct infection with the virulent strain, the largest number of immune deer were recorded in 3 and 6 months. after vaccination (65,4 -86.7 % depending on the age group). Only regional infection was reported in infected deer, and the infection index did not exceed 12.8-15.4%.

МИКРОБИОТА РУБЦА У СЕВЕРНЫХ ОЛЕНЕЙ (Rangifer tarandus) С КЛИНИЧЕСКИМИ ПРОЯВЛЕНИЯМИ НЕКРОБАКТЕРИОЗОВ * К.А.ЛАЙШЕВ 1 , Л.А.ИЛЬИНА 2 , Е.А.ЙЫЛДЫРЫМ 2 , В.А.ФИЛИППОВА 2 , Т.П.ДУНЯШЕВ 2 , А.В.ДУБРОВИН 2 , Д.В.СОБОЛЕВ 2 , Н.И.НОВИКОВА 2 , Г.Ю.ЛАПТЕВ 2 , А.А.ЮЖАКОВ 1 , Т

ins. In the present work, we are the first to estimate the content of mycotoxins for the components of summer reindeer rations, i.e. Salix borealis , Vaccinium uliginosum, Betula nana , and B . pendula . The aim of the study was to analyze the distribution of mycotoxins in the components of the summer diet of reindeer. Samples of genera Cladonia and Nephroma lichens, higher plants of the species Salix borealis , Vaccinium uliginosum , Betula nana , B . pendula , and mixtures of perennial grasses were collected in early August 2017 in the pastures of the Harp town of the Yamalo-Nenets Auton- omous District, the Nelmin-Nos town of Nenets Autonomous District and the Pushnoy town of the Murmansk region. Aflatoxins (AFLA), ochratoxin A (OTA), T-2 toxin (T-2), zearalenone (ZEN), deoxynivalenol (DON) were detected and measured in the samples using ELISA test. During the mycotoxicological evaluation of the summer food ration components of reindeer, we found multiple contaminations with the mycotoxins. The samples of Embryophyta representatives revealed a greater number of toxic metabolites compared to samples of the genera Cladonia and Nephroma lichens. Practically, in all samples of higher plants, the presence of mycotoxins T-2, ZEN and DON produced by Fusarium pathogens which affects plants during vegetation, as well as AFLA and OTA metabolites of micromycetes Aspergillus sp. and Penicillium sp. which previously were considered not adapted for growth and reproduction in plant tissues during the growing season. However, AFLA and OTA were the least represented on virtually all samples. It is of interest that OTA was not detected in any of the lichen samples assayed. In most of the samples, DON Fusarium tox- ins dominated with accumulation in lichens up to 0.15 mg/kg and in Embryophyta samples up to 33.8 mg/kg, as well as ZEN at the amount up to 0.1227 mg/kg and 2.543 mg/kg, in concentrations that may pose a threat to animal health. T-2 toxin and deoxynivalenol. Our findings indicate that the problem of contamination of higher plants by mycotoxins is much more acute com-784

Nenets breed is the most numerous indigenous breed of domestic reindeer (Rangifer tarandus). Due to their biological versatility, the breed’s representatives easily adapt to new pastures. The breeding zone covers the territory from the Kola Peninsula in the west to Taimyr in the east. However, there is still no information on the genetic structure of the Nenets domestic reindeer breed. This paper is the first to present data on STR markers of reindeer of the Nenets breed from the Russian regional populations, the breeding zone of which almost completely covers the current range of the breed. The aim of our work was to characterize the allele pool of domestic reindeer of the Nenets breed, which originate from different regional populations. The sample included 787 specimens from 15 Nenets populations collected in Nenets (KAN, ILB, IND, TAB, HRP, PIL, IZH, SEV) and Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Districts, the Komi Republic (INT), Murmansk (MUR) and Arkhangelsk (ARH) regions, as well as from the Taimyr municipal district (TUH, DUD). Polymorphism in 14 STR markers, including NVHRT21, NVHRT24, NVHRT76, RT1, RT6, RT7, RT9, RT27, RT30, RT25, RT13, NV03, RT5 and NV73, was studied with the genetic analyzer ABI3130xl. Data processing was performed using software GenAIEx 6.501, GENETIX 4.05 and R package “diveRsity”. The Neighbor Net graph based on pairwise values of Nei’s genetic distances was created with SplitsTree 4.14.5 software. In the studied populations, the average number of alleles per locus (Na) ranges from 9.71 in INT to 6.07 in DUD. The effective number of alleles (Ne) is minimal in the groups DUD and KAN (Ne≤3.63) and the maximum in PIL, IZN, INT, SEV, and MUR (Ne≥4.55). The number of informative alleles increases from 4.42 in KAN to 5.57 in INT and TAB. Private alleles are found in the INT, MUR, TAB, and TUH groups. In 14 populations, observed heterozygosity (Ho) varies from 0.604 (DUD) to 0.693 (TAB) and 0.695 (IZM). The allelic richness (Ar) ranges from 5.727 in KAN to 7.070 in INT. A heterozygote deficiency was detected in all populations under study. The analysis of Neighbor Net graph showed that the populations of NAO (except KAN) are clustered together with the groups SEY, INT and ARH, the grazing and migratory areas of which are located in the NAO. The Taimyr groups DUD and TUH are separated from the other populations of the Nenets reindeer. The KAN differs from the other populations of the NAO territory, with Fst from 0.058 between KAN and IND to 0.083 between KAN and INT, which is indirectly indicated by the lowest level of genetic diversity (Ho = 0.539; Ar = 5.727). Thus, our present study provides the most complete data on the status of the allele pool and level of biodiversity of the Nenets reindeer breed.