Meeting Abstract
Musk ox (Ovibos moschatus) tend to give birth in the spring (April-June), which provides adequate time for the provision of resources for growth and maturity before the following winter. However, occasionally birth takes place in the fall (September-November). In this study, I compared weight and fiber quality between spring and fall musk ox calves. I predicted that spring calves would be heavier, grow slower after weaning, and have courser fiber than fall calves. The calves were weighed weekly for eight weeks after being separated from their mothers. Fiber samples were collected in the spring proceeding their calving year and analyzed for fiber quality. There was only one fall calf that showed a smaller starting weight but a faster rate of gain over eight weeks. This calf also had a smaller mean fiber diameter and standard deviation. Finally, the spring calves displayed a slightly higher mean fiber curvature. These results indicate the challenges that fall calves face as they approach winter, and the need for adjustments in their energy allocation.
