Chemical Composition of Forage Plants from the Reindeer Preserve, Northwest Territories

Abstract

Quantitative analyses of crude protein, crude fat, crude fiber, ash, calcium, phosphorus, and carotene were performed on 9 forage species, collected on 5 dates during a year. Crude protein levels were low in most forage species by mid-winter. Phosphorus levels were low in most plants throughout the year. Lichens, an important winter forage of reindeer, appear to be deficient in crude protein, calcium, phosphorus, and carotene.