Glad I'm not a Sami reindeer herder....any Sami's out there?

[DebJ]

"Research by Sami experts shows that sterilized males can grow larger and so are better at digging for food -- as Arctic temperatures vary more, thawing snow often refreezes to form thick ice over lichen pastures.

(snip)

"To make herds more resilient in the future, we need to re-learn the traditional knowledge of castration," said professor Svein Mathiesen, coordinator of the University of the Arctic's Institute of Circumpolar Reindeer Husbandry.

(snip)

Castration has traditionally been used by reindeer herders, partly to make wild animals more docile. Herders on the Yamal peninsula in Russia still neuter about half of all males — usually by biting into the testicles with their teeth."

Rest of article here:


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41275952/ns/us_news-environment/


On edit: I'm guessing that maybe having a hoof-scar on your body is a sign of reaching manhood?